I help Zoe into the back seat while Knox’s goon climbs behind the wheel. I slide in beside her, and she grabs my thigh, digging her claws in. I let out a yell, and her head jerks up. Her eyes lock on mine, and I swear I can see the pits of hell in them.

“I’m about to squeeze a baby the size of a watermelon out of my vagina, and you can’t handle a few fingernails?” She’s breathing heavily with her contraction.

“I’m fine,” I say, removing her hand from my thigh and holding it in mine. “Just squeeze my hand as hard as you can.”

She pulls her eyes away from mine but nods as she breathes through the pain. I hear the man in the front seat snicker as he turns over the engine and shifts into drive.

“What are you laughing at up there? I’ll trade you places.” I wouldn’t ever let him touch Zoe, but it seems like a good threat.

“Nope, I’m just fine where I am,” he replies.

Zoe lets out a scream that fills the car, making the driver jerk the wheel and causing my ears to ring with pain.

“Fuck, Zoe. Are you okay? You about busted my eardrum.” I place the tip of my index finger into my ear and wiggle it, trying to make the ringing stop.

“John, I swear to God, I’m going to rip off your favorite part if you don’t help keep my mind off the pain,” she threatens.

“Okay, okay.” I’m in full-on panic mode now. I don’t remember Brooklyn being this violent when she was having Jack.

I pull my wallet out of my back pocket and open it to show her some pictures. “Here look at this.” It’s a picture of Brooklyn and the kids sitting on the grass in the backyard.

She smacks the wallet from my hand. “I love those two kids to death, but I don’t need any reminders of children at the moment.”

I pick up my wallet and put it away. “I hope Jake can handle you. You’re kind of mean, you know that?”

Slowly, she turns and gives me the evil eye again. I immediately apologize.

As another contraction starts up. The grip she has on my hand tightens, grinding my bones together. I want to pull it away, but I don’t. She needs me.

I’m not a weak man by any means, but this is not the strength of a normal woman. This is Zoe who is currently possessed by a demon. I’m convinced that she is using every fiber of her being to hurt me in any way she can.

I force myself to stay quiet instead of yelling out like I want to. So to deal with the feeling of my bones shattering, I join in on her Lamaze breathing.

“What the hell are you doing, John?” she asks around labored breaths.

I shake my head. “Helping you breathe.”

“You’re going to pass out doing that.” The hold on my hand starts to release.

“I’m fine. Just concentrate on the baby.” I am a little dizzy, so I lean my head against the headrest and try to find my bearings.

Zoe starts rubbing her stomach. “Do you think Jake and Brook will be okay?”

With my hand now free, I massage it, hoping to ease away any pain and bruising that may occur. “Everything will be fine. Jake will take care of Knox, and he will be with you before you know it.”

“I hope you’re right,” she whispers.

We pull up to the hospital, and I throw open the door. Stepping out, I reach out my hand for Zoe to take. She slides across the black leather seat and gets out, holding her swollen stomach. We walk slowly through the entrance doors, and I find a wheelchair for her to sit in. I’m damn near running through the hospital while pushing her in the chair.

“John, you’re going to give me whiplash with the way you’re running. Slow down!” she yells.

I slow my pace to a light jog instead of a full-on sprint. When we get to the maternity ward, I stop at the counter, but nobody is behind it. I bang on the top with my hand. “Hello? Pregnant lady in labor here!” I yell.

Zoe places her hand on my arm. “John, it’s okay. We have time.”

“We have time? Your contractions are getting closer and closer together. We don’t have much time.”

“Yes, we do. Jake’s not here yet.” I can see the pain etched on her face. It’s not labor pains though; it’s the pain she feels when she thinks about the father of her child missing being here for this. It fills me with pain because Brooklyn had to go through the same thing when I was locked away.

I kneel down to her level. “Zoe, I know you don’t want to hear this, but there is a chance that Jake won’t make it. This baby is on its way. There is no stopping it. But I promise that I will be here every step of the way.”

Tears fill her eyes, and she nods her head while biting her bottom lip. “I know. I’m just praying that he makes it in time.”

“Can I help you?” a nurse asks as she rounds the corner.

I jump up to my feet. “Yes, she’s in labor.”

The nurse smiles kindly. “How wonderful. Has your water broken yet?”

“Yes, about ten minutes ago.” The second she gets the words out, she lets out a scream while holding her stomach.

The nurse jumps into action. She takes Zoe’s wheelchair and pushes her down the hallway, into a room.

“Dad, you need to put this on.” She hands me a gown.

“I’m not the dad,” I say, pulling my arms through the yellow sleeves of the gown.

She helps Zoe up and sets her on the edge of the bed. “I don’t care who you are, just get it on and get into position. This baby is coming now.” She digs around in a drawer and pulls out another gown. “We need to get this on you, honey.”

Zoe nods while breathing heavily. I turn my back while the nurse helps Zoe undress and get into the gown. When I’m told I’m in the clear, I make my way to the side of her bed, sitting down in the empty chair at her side.

“We’re going to do a quick check here,” the nurse says as she lifts the sheet on Zoe’s lower half.

I jump and quickly turn my head to look at her face. Her eyes land on mine, and she giggles. “What’s the matter, John? Feeling a little uncomfortable?”

“A little bit,” I answer with wide eyes.

“I’m going to get you moved into a birthing room and call the doctor. This baby is coming now.” The nurse lowers the blanket back into place before running from the room.

“John, I can’t do this,” Zoe cries.

“Shhh, you can. It will be okay. I promise, Zoe.” I hold her hand and offer any support I can.

She shakes her head. “No, he’s not here. He’s not going to make it.”

I use my free hand to push fallen hair out of her face. “Jake will be fine, and he’ll be here as soon as he can. I’ll help you with this. I mean, we do look a lot alike,” I joke. “Pretend I’m him.”

She cries harder. “You don’t look anything like him.”

“We’re twins for God’s sake!”

“We’re ready to move you now,” the nurse says, walking back in with another nurse behind her.

I stand and move out of their way, staying close behind them as they push Zoe’s bed out of the room and down the hall.

As I’m following along, I hear nothing but screams — screams from other women in labor and screams from Zoe. I feel like it’s judgment day and I’m being led to the gates of hell.

Please hurry up, Jake, I silently pray.