by Andromeda
"My baby," Zuleikha whispers as the nurses begin to do as I say.
I grab Henrik's arm and drag him from the room. "Look...whoever you are. If you really those children's father, where have you been for the last couple of hours?"
"Looking for her!" he says. "She's been hiding from me!"
"Why?" I ask. "Are you some kind of Mafia King?"
He cracks a grin at that. "Well...you got the King part right..."
I raise an eyebrow and have the sudden urge to look behind him. Men in black are everywhere, and they all have blond hair? A tall girl who looks almost exactly like him steps over. "Henrik, is Zu alright?"
"Who are you?" I ask her.
"His sister and Zuleikha's best friend," the blond says.
"I’m her best friend!" Angel snaps.
"I met her before you did!" the blond snaps back.
"Girls please!" I groan, rubbing my temples. "Geeze, will you stop all this yelling? I'm going to get a headache." I look to Henrik. "Who are you? And why was Zuleikha hiding from you?”
"Because he broke her heart and used her," Angel grumbles.
Henrik shoots her a look, and she cowers before he turns back to me. "I am King Henrik of Sweden," he says. "And Zuleikha is my Queen."
My jaw drops. Merde!
********************************
For a moment, my whole world stops as I try to get my bearings. Ok, the guy in front of me is a King...and the girl about to have a C-section is his Queen. A while ago this might have shocked me, but after all I've been through not anymore.
"And your point is..." I finally manage to say.
Henrik looks shocked. "Y...you're not going to bow?"
"Why would I bow?" I ask with a shrug.
"I'm a king!" he demands.
"On American soil," I say, waving it off. "And you're interfering with my work. Now go outside."
"I'm going in that operation room!" he yells, his fists balling.
I cross my arms with a raised eyebrow. "If you're a child prodigy who went to med school at 18, graduated at the top of her class, and then got into the best residency program in the country; then yeah you can. But I highly doubt you’ve done any of that."
His eyes bug out of his face. "B...b...b..."
"No way are you getting into my operation room," I snarl. "End of discussion!"
Shoving past him, I go to OR 8 where Zuleikha is being prepared. As the nurses get me ready, I look to her.
"What's the deal with Henrik? Is he the twin's father?"
She looks a moment, but gives me a small nod. The nurses get a mask and put it on her face; within 5 minutes, she's out like a light.
The C-section is easy and successful, Zuleikha's baby girl is soon joined by a baby brother who, unlike his sister and mom, doesn't scream his head off coming into the world. Handing him the nurse, I sew Zuleikha up before stepping out; I’m instantly greeted by Henrik, Angel, and his sister. They flood me with questions.
"Is she alright?"
"What happened?"
"Where is the baby?"
"Where is the first baby?"
I answer them one at a time. "Yes she's alright. The baby was breech and had the cord wrapped around his neck. He's in the nursery where his sister is waiting."
"Tell me when Zuleikha is 100% healthy," Henrik commands me. "She and the babies are getting on a plane and we're returning to Sweden." I look at him with sharp eyes.
"First of all, your royal assness, Zuleikha isn't in any condition to travel for a good 2 weeks, let alone get on a plane. Second of all, I listen to what the mother wants, not you. And third of all, I'm not one of your citizens for you to order around, so shove that up your ass and crap it out!"
I know, I know, I know. I should filter my mouth, but between being seven months pregnant and having a spoiled King and a runaway Queen on my hands, I'm accepting like zero bullshit!
Henrik's mouth moves as if he's a fish gasping for air and I turn on my heel, marching away.
********************************
"Good morning, Zuleikha," I say with a smile as I walk into her room.
She looks up from where she'd been breastfeeding her son. "Hey Dr. Robin," she says with a weak smile.
"How are the little ones doing?" I ask, setting her tray down. I am officially on my maternity leave, but that doesn't mean I don't come to visit my patients sometimes.
"Kicking and screaming," she says with a laugh.
"Well that's good, they don't seem sick at all?" I ask. We had been a little afraid for her son since he was the one with the cord wrapped around his neck and seemed a little underweight.
"No, they are perfectly healthy," she says. "And this one is greedy." She gestures to her son. "Aljashe alttifl alssaghir," she laughs.
I have no idea what she said, but it sounds Arabic. "Have you talked to Henrik?" I ask quietly.
She tenses up and I frown.
"Zuleikha, you can't hide from him forever..."
"I'm not hiding," she says sharply. "I'm just...staying in one place until I figure out my next move."
I cross my arms. She has been in the hospital for almost two weeks. Even though her babies are healthy, she refuses to leave until her brother comes to get her.
"What did he do?" I ask, taking a seat. "If you don't mind me asking." Hurt and anger flash across her face.
"He used me," she says bitterly. "I was the governess to his younger sister, and he made a bet with his friends that he could sleep with me, 'the new meat', within 6 months." She gestures to the babies. "As you can see, he succeeded."
Hearing her tell me of what he's done makes my blood boil; why men think they can get away with using women for their own devices and then toss them aside is beyond me. My hand then goes to my stomach; feeling one of the triplets move, I sigh.
"He seems sorry..." I whisper.
"Yeah right," she spits. "He's sorry that I found out! And in the most shattering way possible! His ex-fiancée told me!"
I flinch. Of course he had a fiancée, of course he did. I can never understand this world's double standard when it comes to women. When a man cheats, people shrug unless it's someone in very high regard like the president or something. Kings, I'm sure, have always gotten a free pass with such a thing; but if a women cheats, everyone wants to burn her at the stake.
I tenderly reach over and take her hand in mine. "I know this began in the worst possible way," I begin. "But look what you got out of it. Two beautiful children...and a man who wants to try to make things up with you."
She blinks back tears. "I don't believe I can ever trust him again. I don't know if I can trust any man again."
Her words strike home with me. I had said the exact same thing when it came to Derrick; I had sworn off men and promised to never have anything to do with them. I was so stupid!
"I know how you feel," I finally say after several moments. "Your story is similar to my own. I said the same thing, but I was wrong. I tried to close myself off, but it took a very special man to open my eyes again."
She looks to my stomach. "The father of your child?"
"Children actually," I correct her. "I'm expecting triplets."
He eyes bug out of her head. "Alllah yubarik ruhuk," she murmurs.
I laugh, recognizing the word Allah as the Arabic word for God.
"When God made men, I think he knew they were going to be complete assholes," I say. "But I think He also knew that they could bring joy to our lives. I think God made women to truly rule the world since we're the only things keeping them from going insane."
"At our own expense," she says, but there is a twinkle in her eyes and she smiles a bit.
"I can't tell you what to do," I say. "But I will advise you...to give him a chance. I gave the man in my life a chance, and it was the best chance I took. I'm happily married, have two children with 3 more on the way...I couldn't be more blessed."
She nods slowly, thinking this over.
"Besides," I say
with a devilish grin. "Who can shower you with more gifts and affection to show his love than a king?"
She laughs at that. "True," she smiles at me. "Thank you, Dr. Rinaldi."
"Call me Malaika," I say. "And you're welcome."
"Malaika," she says, rolling the name over her tongue. "I love that name!" She looks to her sleeping daughter. "Well then Malaika...I want you to become my daughter's godmother. And...with your permission, I'd like to use your name as her middle name."
"What are you going to name her?" I ask.
"Nima," she says with a smile. "It means Blessing in Arabic."
"And your son?"
"Bahadur, it means brave," she smiles. "Nima Malaika and Bahadur Leon."
"Will they take their father's name?" I ask, holding my breath for what seems like for eternity.
"Yes," she says, smiling as she looks down at them. "Yes they will."
Chapter Twenty-Five: Let the Good and Bad Times Roll
Giovanni
"I'm home!" I yell as I walk through the door.
"Daddy!" Rosie yells as she and Robyn charge over and tackle me to the ground.
"Ooof!" I yelp, crashing down on my back. "You girls are strong!"
Robyn laughs. "That's because we drink plenty of milk, Gio."
I smile at the girl who I've really viewed as my daughter the moment Malaika and I began this journey so many years ago. Almost a decade now as I think about it, well we’ve known each other for almost a decade now. I knew her for three years before I asked her to be my surrogate, add that to the five since I did ask her to be my surrogate; this journey has been a tough one.
. I've told her she can call me Dad, but she hasn't yet and I won't press her for it.
"Have you seen your mom?" I ask, getting up.
"I'm right here," Malaika says with a smile rounding the corner.
My eyes roam over her. She's dressed in leggings and a long T-shirt. My mouth begins water as I picture peeling them off her. Damn, this woman could make anything sexy...and she's all mine.
"Welcome home," she says, walking over and giving me a quick peck on the lips before pulling away.
I smirk; smart girl. Knowing me, any kiss lasting longer than five seconds with me will lead to a full blown make out session with clothes flying in all directions. Smart girl.
"How was work?" Malaika asks as the girls run off.
"It was ok," I say, snaking my arms around her waist and pulling her close. "But I'm more worried about you."
"Why are you worried about me?" she asks.
"You're 8 months pregnant and moving around like a Mexican jumping bean," I point out. I cup her chin in my hand. "Cara mia, you should be resting."
"I hate being cooped up here," she sighs, pulling away. "Gio, you know how I am."
"I know, love," I say pulling her back. "I know…but with our crazy exes out there, I'd rather you be home with me and the girls rather than be out there where they can get to you."
Malaika hangs her head. "Gio...I'm not an animal...I need to go outside. What about Boris and Eugene? If I take them with me...can I go outside the gates more?"
I frown a moment. I would have said no in a matter of seconds a while back, but looking into her eyes I can see that she really does hate to be locked up in here.
"Alright," I finally say with a sigh. "Alright my love, you know I can't say no to you."
She smiles and presses her lips to mine in thanks...much longer than five seconds, and that gives me a whole bunch of thoughts. Sweeping her into my arms, I run up the stairs, gently placing her on the bed. Within a matter of seconds, our clothes are off and for the next couple of hours, I show her exactly how much I love her.
When it's over and I hold her sweaty and sleeping form in my arms, I marvel at how truly I am blessed to have her in my life. Placing my hand on her stomach, I feel one of the triplets kick and I smile to myself.
"I won't let anything happen to you," I whisper in the darkness. "I will kill anyone who dares try to harm either you or your mother."
********************************
Brittany
I drum my fingers on the steering wheel of my car, waiting. My dark car hides me from prying eyes and I look at my clock: 12:01. Pouting, I lean back in my seat; where the hell is this guy? We had an agreement: 12:00 on the dot and he's late. I have things to do!
Knock! Knock! Knock!
The sound of someone rapping on my window almost scares me out of my skin. The dark human-like figure looms over me, and I'm almost afraid to open it but I know it’s him. Frowning slightly, I roll the window down.
"You're late!” I snap at him.
"Chill out," he says with a roll of his eyes. "By like one minute."
I can hardly understand a word he says with his weird accent, but I unlock the car and he walks around before sliding into the passenger seat. I study him a second: that bitch's ex. He looks nothing like Giovanni with his short black hair, dark skin, and red-rimmed eyes—most likely from smoking of some kind of drug.
I found out that he was using his influence from his drug organization not long ago; he was the cause that bitch lost her first child by sending some of his men here. However, once I found the jail in Jamaica he was in, made a couple of calls, got on my knees a few times and got him out. Getting him smuggled here wasn’t that hard, though he almost gave me a heart attack when he went to their wedding. I told him not too, but he did it anyway.
I was enraged when I found out, as I told him that Giovanni is most likely going to be even more protective of the bitch now than he was in the beginning, so it will be harder than ever to get to the both of them. We did make a pact and want the same things: the person who belong to us. Giovanni is mine, and that bitch is his.
"So what's the plan?" I ask him.
He looks over my car, and I make a note to get the seat he's in washed thoroughly.
"I've been watching their house," he says, his eyes snapping to me. "And there is no way we can get to them. It's too damn well-protected." I grip the steering wheel tightly in frustration. "There also is no way that Giovanni is going to let her out of his sight. She's so fat, I'm sure she can hardly walk."
That puts a damper on our plans. We originally planned to sneak into their house and kidnap Malaika. I’d give her to him and, then I’d swoop into Giovanni's life again—simple. However, knowing that she's protected like a damn princess in a damn tower makes us have to rethink our plan.
Noise on my radio catches our attention, followed by the words of the newscaster.
"We have heavy, heavy snow coming in ladies and gentlemen," the man says. "In the next week or two. Make sure to stock up on food, and that your generators are up to date because we're going to be iced in for a good while."
Derrick looks at me and then smirks. "This will work out for us."
"How so?" I ask.
“He is going to take her to the hospital.”
“Why is that?”
“Think about it,” he says. “She is going to drop any day now, and if this guy is as protective for her as you say he is, then he is going to take her to the hospital as that would be the most feasible place if for her.”
“But the hospital is going to be open the public,” I point out.
“He owns the hospital,” he says. “He is sure to have a private room set up for only her that I am sure can we found out. And, if I know Malaika, she is going to hate it, and try to help people.”
“The bitch is going to be done in by her own stubbornness,” I say with a grin. With a smirk I look at him; slowly, we begin to make our plan.
Chapter Twenty-Six: We Gotta Get Out of This Place
Giovanni
"Giovanni Octavian Rinaldi, I swear by all that's holy, if you don't let me go I'll tear off your arm and shove it up your ass!" Malaika snaps at me.
I chuckle at her words, yet keeping a firm grip on her. "Cara Mia, just get out of the car please!"
Malaika glares at me one last time and d
oes as asked. Outside, the biting cold nips at our faces as snow is falling down and coating our hair. A couple weeks ago, the forecaster said that we'd be in for a snow storm and here we are. It took some arguments with her, but she finally convinced me to bring her, the girls, and her siblings to the hospital.
I am still against it, still thinking that our home would be safer, but with the snowstorm coming in, people might be injured and they will need any doctor on call. Even though she is supposed to be on Maternity leave, she refuses to abandon her patients, as she is the Head of Peds.
As for myself, I brought some of our guards and got a private room for us that we ‘make camp’ in. Robyn and Rosie are taken to Glitterland, happily playing with the other kids as Malaika plugs in her earphones, listening to songs from one of her favorite plays Hamilton. As I’m tying on my computer, the door opens and Pearl rushes in, her hair a mess.
"Thank God you're here," she says. "Mala, we can use all the doctors we can get. We have so many..." I hold up my hand to stop her.
"Mala isn't here to work," I say firmly. "She's here to rest and be safe for when the triplets come."
"We can really use her help," Pearl argues. "We need all the doctors we can get."
I frown at her, her mouth opening to argue back, but Malaika gets in the middle.
"Enough Gio," she says. "Why don't you go and make sure Rosie and Robyn are settled, and I'll do some light rounds."
I wrap my arms around her, pulling her close, my face full of worry. "Mia angela..." I whisper.
"I'll be fine, Gio," she says with a smile. "I'll...I'll even take Boris and Eugene with me if that makes you feel better."
I look to Boris and Eugene. "She better be safe," I snarl. "Or I will have your heads."
********************************
Malaika
I tell Giovanni that I’ll be fine and that everything will be alright; I am so wrong. I get puked on, bled on, peed on, and a whole bunch of other things that I refuse to go into detail about. I make 12 cycles around the hospital, working from babies to the elderly, doing everything from simple stitches to having to cut out metal bars from some poor souls who had gotten impaled by them. When I finish with my last patient, I was exhausted and to sit down to rest. Boris and Eugene are watching over me when suddenly I feel a weird pain in my side. I flinch but shrug it off; it's nothing.
