UNFORGETTABLE (Able Series Book 3) by Gigi Aceves Page B

because if things go south. . . .”
    “Stop, right there. I haven’t lost a child. I thank God every day that he didn’t allow me to experience such pain. But you do know, He doesn’t give us anything we can’t handle. You are much stronger than you think. If I were you, would I be fearful? I would. However, what is it we do all the time?”
    “We gear up and go.”
    “I’m glad you haven’t forgotten. We’ve all experience fear in our lives at some point, but there’s no way around it, only through it. Going around it or running away from it is a short cut that won’t work. They never have. Do you get what I’m saying?”
    “I do. If I could protect her somehow from . . .”
    Jack starts shaking his head, not agreeing with what I’ve said. “There’s no way to protect her from this, Brian. I know we want to shield them from pain, but this is something you can’t protect her from.”
    “I know. It still doesn’t make it any easier to accept. But don’t worry, I’ll fix it, Jack. I’ll fix it tonight.”
    With a nod and a smile Jack leaves as quickly as he came, and the silence in my office is deafening. Other than the clanging of my heart, which I know no one hears, but every beat of it . . . I feel. It’s a constant battle in my head, but a battle I’m trying to win for Tami and for our baby.
    Itching to talk to her, I go for broke and call. One ring, then two, then three, as I’m about hang up, she picks up; or at least I thought she did until I hear the voice on the other end.
    “Tami’s exchange, how may I direct your call?”
    Blowing a frustrated breath while imagining I’m strangling him with my bare hands, “Neil, can I talk to Tami, please.”
    “She’s not available at the moment.”
    Fear spreads like wildfire through my entire being, making my hands clammy, my heart beat in rapid succession, and my knees weak. While my ears hear imaginary clanging bells echoing in the distance, and my eyes see invisible red flags dancing in the air. I feel it all at an alarming rate while my brain is trying to calmly process what Neil just said.
    “What do you mean ‘not available’? Be specific, Neil!”
    Clearing his throat, I hear a door being shut in the background. “Err, she’s gonna hate me for this, but Tami’s been throwing up since I got here thirty minutes ago. I found her in a fetal positon on the bathroom floor. She . . .”
    “What!”
    I move quickly, turning off my computer, locking up all important documents, then reaching for my keys as I head out the door while yelling at Neil.
    “Talk to me, Neil! How is she?”
    “God! Don’t yell at me! I’m already nervous; you’re making it worse. I feel like a hyped up energizer bunny with freaking ADD. Just get your ass over here.”
    Getting in the car, I put him on speaker while giving him instructions as to what to do. Being a typical, whatever the hell Neil is, he’s losing his mind faster than I can let out a breath.
    “Where are you?”
    “In your ass, you househole. Shit! I mean, I’m in your house, you asshole! I just told you, I found her in the bathroom.”
    “Go back in there. Calm your shit down and stay with her. Do it, now! I need a sit rep ASAP.”
    Breathing heavily, he answers, “I’m in. Hold a second while I check on hot mama.” A few seconds later, I hear him mumbling, “Tami, why don’t you lie down on the bed, sweet thing. It’s cold on the floor.”
    I can hear Tami mumble something and Neil’s very frustrated voice in the background. I’m trying my hardest to be calm, give Neil instructions, and drive safely all at the same time.
    “Neil, sit rep!”
    “What the hell is a sit rep? Your baby mama is sprawled on the floor. Nobody’s got time to do sit ups!”
    Groaning loudly, I follow it up with, “No! Just hang tight, and I’ll call Cody.”
    Without waiting for his answer, I call Cody. I’m already lining up the things I want to tell him in my brain to save time.
    “Yo, this better be