I’m sitting at Zoe’s side, one hand in hers and the other covering my eyes so the doctor can check the progress of her labor. I would’ve loved to be out in the hallway for this, but she wouldn’t let go of my hand. I have to be here for her any way I can, so here I sit, hoping and praying that I don’t see or hear anything I shouldn’t.

“Okay, Zoe,” the doctor says. “John, you may open your eyes now. She’s all covered.”

I remove my hand slowly, peeking in small amounts just to be sure he’s not trying to trick me. Once I see the blanket at the foot of the bed, I remove my hand completely and sit upright instead of being scrunched down in the chair.

“It looks like you are in the very early stages of labor.”

“What? No, I can’t be going into labor yet. Jake isn’t here!”

The doctor holds up his hand. “This could take hours or even days. I suggest you go home and relax. When your contractions are closer together or your water breaks, come back.”

She takes a deep breath and nods before the doctor leaves the room. “What are we going to do, John? We have to get Jake out of there.”

I look over at her and brush a stray hair from her face. “I will. I’m going to take you back to my house so Brooklyn can keep an eye on you, and then go after Jake. I have to hurry before they try moving him again.”

She nods as she sits up, swinging her legs over the side of the bed. “Hand me my clothes.

I turn and grab her clothes off the table and pass them to her. “I’ll be outside when you’re done.”

I make my way into the hallway and pace back and forth while waiting for her. Somewhere in the middle of my pacing and being lost in my thoughts, a nurse’s voice pulls me away.

“Can you believe that? Now tell me, why would they put such a dangerous man in a minimum-security prison. Someone had to know he would bust out eventually.”

My pacing stops, and I turn toward her voice. I take a few steps in her direction to find her in a patient’s room, standing in front of the TV.

Without thinking, I walk into the room and turn to look up at the TV to see the words, jailbreak, scrolling on the screen over and over. The announcer is going on about not picking up any hitchhikers, but I can’t tear my eyes away from the screen. The images are flashing from the police, to the guards, to the prisoners all behind bars while they cheer for their fellow inmate.

“Who broke out?” I ask the nurse, still not averting my eyes from the TV.

“That big pharmaceutical bigwig, Knox,” she answers. “Hey, don’t I know you? You’re the one that led to his arrest, aren’t you?”

I don’t answer her. I spin around and head for the door, nearly bumping into Zoe. “Are you ready?”

“Yeah, I just need my discharge papers.”

I take her arm and lead her down the hall. “No time for that.”

“What’s going on, John?” she asks once we’re in the elevator.

“Nothing for you to worry about. I’m just in a hurry to get to Jake.”

It doesn’t take long before I’m leading Zoe through the house. I sit her down on the couch and walk into the kitchen to find Brooklyn pouring a cup of coffee. She spins around to face me, and I immediately notice the dark circles around her eyes. She’s been working too hard and not getting any sleep.

“John! Did you find Jake and Zoe?” she asks, rushing into my arms.

“Zoe’s in the early stages of labor. She’s on the couch resting.”

“And Jake?”

I shake my head and walk her a few more steps into the kitchen, so Zoe doesn’t overhear what I’m about to tell her. “They still have Jake.” I place my hands on her biceps and level my eyes on her. “Knox broke out.”

“What?” she asks, covering her mouth with her hand.

“I had to take Zoe to the hospital, and I saw it on the TV. That means he’s coming here for the cure.”

“But…but it’s not ready!”

I pull her against my chest and hug her to calm her nerves. “I’m afraid he will have no use for Jake anymore. I have to get to him before he’s killed.”

“What? This is what you’ve been keeping from me since we left the hospital?” Zoe says, rushing to my side.

Damn it. I didn’t want her worried any more than she already is. I turn to face her but keep Brooklyn at my side. “It’s okay, Zoe. Knox just got out. It will take him some time to get here. I can get Jake and be back before he arrives.”

She’s shaking her head while tears flow freely from her eyes. “If he’s out, what if he’s already had him killed?” Her legs give out, but Brooklyn and I each catch an arm before she hits the floor.

I help her back to the living room. Just as she sits down on the couch, she grabs her stomach and calls out.

I turn around to face Brooklyn. “I need you to keep an eye on her. Time her contractions. If they get closer together or her water breaks, get her to a hospital even if I’m not back with Jake. Got it?”

She nods and follows me to the door. “John!” she calls out, stopping me.

I stop and to see her come running up to me. Her arms are wrapped around my neck, and her lips are against mine. “Be careful. I love you.”

“I love you too. Make sure all the doors and windows are locked. Don’t let anyone in while I’m gone.” I lean in, press one more kiss to her lips and walk out the door.

I stop by my shop and load up with guns and ammo since I lost all mine. I’m going to kill the guy, save my brother, and get my guns back.

After I have a handgun strapped to my body and another riffle on the bike, I’m taking back off to save my brother. Nothing will stop me this time. I feel like a dumbass for being caught off guard to begin with. Running into them like that took me by surprise. I wasn’t expecting to crash into them, nor was I expecting Zoe to be in labor. I admire Jake for what he did; I would’ve done the same thing, but now it’s time to get him out of there. I missed L.J. being born, no way will I let him miss out on an experience like that. All I hope is that he’s still alive and in the same place. There is no time to waste.