3:47 a.m.
The contractions were coming every three minutes now.
Luca drove through empty city streets while Mara sat in the back with Isla, timing contractions and offering encouragement that Isla barely heard through the pain.
"Almost there," Luca said. "Five more minutes."
Five minutes felt like hours.
The hospital was ready. Dr. Reeves had been called. A private room secured. Everything arranged for the wife of Killian Archer—currently serving seven years in federal prison—to give birth to his daughter.
Alone.
They admitted Isla immediately. Got her into a gown. Checked her dilation.
"Six centimeters," the nurse said. "You're progressing quickly. This baby wants to meet you."
Isla should have been excited. Should have been focused on meeting Sera.
Instead, all she could think about was Killian. In a cell. Sleeping, probably. Not knowing his daughter was about to be born.
Not knowing he'd become a father in the next few hours.
