Chapter 5 - The Hospital Entrance
The SUV stopped at the private hospital curb.
Wet pavement reflected gold lobby lights and black headlights. Security men stepped out first. Rain blew sideways across the entrance.
Lucian got out, then turned back to help me.
I tried to stand.
My knees nearly failed.
He caught me instantly.
For one second, I leaned against him, humiliated by how weak I felt.
He lowered his voice.
“You are not weak. You are under attack.”
That sentence steadied me more than any comfort could have.
Across the entrance, Nathan saw us.
His face shifted from control to shock.
He had expected me alone.
Wet.
Frightened.
Easy.
He had not expected Lucian Blackwood standing between us.
Nathan stepped forward anyway, his legal team behind him.
“Ava,” he said sharply. “You need to come inside with me.”
Lucian turned slowly.
“No.”
Nathan’s eyes flicked to him.
“This is a private family matter.”
Lucian looked at the attorneys.
“Then why did you bring three lawyers to meet a pregnant woman in distress?”
One attorney looked down.
Good.
Nathan recovered fast.
“These are my children.”
I flinched.
Lucian noticed.
He moved half a step in front of me.
“They are not assets.”
Nathan’s mouth tightened.
“You have no idea what you’re interfering with.”
Lucian’s voice stayed calm.
May you like
“Then he can answer to me.”
For the first time since I had known him, Nathan Drake looked uncertain.
