The cold night air hit them like a physical blow as Serena burst through the front doors. The wind was howling off the ocean, carrying the salt spray from the nearby beach.
"Security!" Katherine yelled from the doorway behind them. "Stop that woman!"
Two massive men in black suits stepped out from the shadows, blocking the path to Serena's car. They didn't look like they wanted to hurt her, but they were walls of muscle that she couldn't pass.
Serena skidded to a halt. Leo was gasping against her neck. The sobbing had turned into a wheezing, high-pitched whistle.
Asthma.
Serena's panic spiked. Leo's asthma was triggered by stress and cold air.
"Move!" she screamed at the guards. "He is having an attack!"
Katherine hobbled out onto the porch, followed by Julian and Victoria. "Stop the theatrics, Serena. Put the child down."
"He can't breathe!" Serena fell to her knees on the gravel driveway, setting Leo down. She ripped open her purse, her hands shaking violently as she dug for the inhaler she always carried.
Leo's face was turning a terrifying shade of gray. His little chest was heaving, fighting for air that wouldn't come.
Julian froze halfway down the steps. He saw his son's face. The anger drained out of him, replaced by fear.
"Give her the inhaler!" Julian barked at the guards, who had taken a step toward Serena.
Serena found the blue plastic canister. She shook it, put it to Leo's lips. "Breathe, baby. Big breath. One. Two."
She pressed the canister. The hiss of the medicine filled the silence.
Leo gasped, sucking in the mist. He coughed, his body convulsing, then sucked in another breath.
Serena rubbed his back in slow, rhythmic circles, humming the lullaby she used to sing to him when he was a baby. Slowly, the wheezing subsided. The color began to return to his cheeks. He clung to Serena's lapels, his knuckles white.
Serena slumped forward, resting her forehead against Leo's shoulder. Relief washed over her, followed immediately by a sharp, stabbing pain in her lower abdomen.
It felt like a needle being driven into her uterus.
She gasped, clutching her stomach. The world tilted. Black spots danced in her vision.
"Serena?" Julian's voice was closer now. He sounded concerned.
He reached out to touch her shoulder.
"Don't touch me," Serena whispered. She slapped his hand away. The movement sent another jolt of pain through her body.
Katherine sniffed. "Look at her. She is hysterical. She is not fit to drive, let alone care for a child. Take Leo inside."
One of the guards stepped forward.
Leo screamed again, a raw sound of terror. "No!"
"Unless you want to kill him, you won't touch him," Serena hissed through her teeth. She wrapped her arms around Leo, curling her body around his to protect him. "I will die before I let you take him right now."
Julian looked at Serena. He saw the sweat beading on her forehead, the way she was clutching her stomach. He saw the absolute, feral desperation in her eyes.
"Enough," Julian said. He held up a hand to stop the guard.
"Julian," Katherine warned.
"He just had an attack," Julian said, his voice flat. "He cannot be moved into a car. And he is terrified."
He looked down at Serena. "Take him to the guest wing. Stay the night. Do not let him leave the estate."
Serena looked up at him. She hated him. She hated that she had to accept his charity. But she couldn't drive. She was in too much pain, and Leo was too fragile.
"Fine," she whispered.
She stood up. It took every ounce of her willpower not to double over. Her legs felt like lead.
She picked up Leo, who refused to walk. The weight of him pulled on her abdominal muscles, increasing the pain, but she didn't let go.
She walked past Julian, past Victoria who was watching with narrowed, jealous eyes.
She carried him into the house, through the silent hallways, to the guest room on the first floor. She laid him on the bed and took off his shoes.
She went into the bathroom and locked the door. She lifted her skirt.
There was no blood. Not yet.
She sank to the floor, leaning her head against the cool tile.
"I'm sorry, baby," she whispered to her flat stomach. "Mommy has to protect your brother first. Please hold on."
