Chapter 71 Welcome, Lord Hubert
"Take a deep breath and push Danica," Dr Jeff encouraged. Danica gripped Loney's arm tightly, she thought it might rip off. She huddled a long breath and gave a strong push. This was her eighth push so far and she was exhausted.
"Just two more, Danica. Two strong pushes. I can see your baby's head already," Dr Jeff continued to encourage her.
"I'm tired," she yelped. Loney kissed her sweaty forehead, caressing her bump. He hovered around her, trying to find any way to help. He wished he could help. He desperately did.
"Please, do it for me. For our child. I wish I could take the pain from you," Loney pleaded with her. He hated seeing her in pain. It ached him so much that Danica rejected Dr Jeff's suggestion.
Danica gripped Loney tightly, another strong push. Then, she took deep breaths. She felt her walls overstretch, she thought it was going to rip apart. The pain was excruciating, she was breathing through her mouth. She was about to push again when Dr Jeff spoke. "Wait! We have to perform an episiotomy. Which means, we have to give a little cut to widen the entrance of your vagina."
"Will it hurt?" Loney was the one asking. He had begged for other options and Dr Jeff had suggested an epidural but Danica blatantly rejected it. She had helped pregnant women when she had the chance and they endured it so she was determined.
"Not more than the pain she's already feeling," Dr Jeff explained. Loney nodded softly and he went ahead. She felt a sharp pain before Dr Jeff yelled, "push."
Another push made Danica feel something big come out of her. Instantly, her pains died. There were no more contractions. It was as if the baby took all the pain along with it as it began bawling.
"It's a boy," Dr Jeff announced, placed him on Danica's stomach and covered him with a sheet. She touched his flesh and so did Loney. Joyful tears poured from their eyes before Dr Jeff took the baby. "We have to clean him up."
A few minutes later, Danica's episiotomy was being stitched. Dr Jeff brought the baby, wrapped and sleeping. We would take him to the nursery to run some tests in a few minutes but you can feel your baby and even try to breastfeed. Dina would help with that," he explained before taking care of other things.
"He's beautiful," Danica exclaimed, still unable to believe the miracle in her arms. She also realized it was already 3 am. She hasn't slept since yesterday just like Loney who looked equally tired.
"Just like you" he whispered, kissing the baby gently on the head. Then his lips captured Danica's. It was a hot passionate kiss.
"He looks like you. What do we call him?" Danica asked, her cheeks flushing red after breaking from the kiss.
"What name do you have in mind?" Loney's tired voice sounded so alluring, Danica knew she wanted him but with the stitch down there, she would need at least two weeks to break from sex.
"Can we call him Loney?" She whispered.
"That's flatter but I would say, Lord Hubert. What do you think?" Loney asked.
Danica beamed tiredly, "I think I like it," she nodded in agreement. Dina came to take the baby to the nursery just when the door pushed open and Mabel walked in with so many goodies in her hand. "Thought I wouldn't be worried when you step out and don't return?" She reprimanded.
Danica's tired eyes widened in shock. "It's so late. How did you get here?" Just then, a familiar figure appeared in front of the door.
"Gideon?" Both Danica and Loney exclaimed in aghast unison.
"You were at the hospital," Loney tried to confirm. He knew Gideon would be taken care of for as long as he sent his men over to watch him and hadn't checked on him due to everything going on.
"Yes I was but my injury wasn't severe because I was wearing a bulletproof vest underneath. The bullets to my chest posed no threat. My only injury was to my upper arm but we've survived at least four bullets at a go so what is one bullet?" He said casually. Then his gaze caught the newborn. His lips thinned, "anyway, congratulations!!" He said to Danica and Loney.
"Thank you and thanks for your help," Danica said in a soft voice. She recalled how Gideon tried to protect her and almost died because of her.
"It's my responsibility but I will wait outside," he nodded his head politely.
"No, take a month off to rest," Loney instructed.
"No, I'm fine but if you insist, then I will take three days off, starting tomorrow."
"As you wish." Loney firmly concluded. Gideon loved his job, he did it with due diligence and was greatly rewarded by Loney.
"Danica, you have to eat," Mabel interrupted.
"I'm not hungry yet. I just want to sleep," Danica yawned
"I will keep it here anyway. Let me get a few things from the car. I will be back." Mabel said and left tbe ward.
Danica closed her eyes to sleep when something cropped into her mind. "Loney, I have a request."
"Anything, Danica, anything."
Danica bit her lower lip, swallowed hopefully and said, "the guy who brought me here. The one who saved me. His name is Jerome. I want you to help him and his friends."
Loney's expression darkened, his rage awoken. It seemed to have died when Danica was in labour but now, a fresh thirst of revenge awakened in him. His voice turned bitter. "They are to be put behind bars and not to be helped, Danica. What they did to you was an offence and I will make sure they pay."
Danica froze. She was tired but she knew she wouldn't have a peaceful sleep if Loney avenges her. She had already forgiven them and wanted to help as she had promised. "But they disobeyed their orders and brought me here instead. I would have died or anything could have happened if they had kept to their instructions," she appealed to his conscience. She already knew it wasn't going to be easy convincing him but she had to try.
Silence descended. What she said was the truth. Besides, they didn't know that she was his woman and the only one to be blamed for everything was Daniella.
"Excuse me," he let out after the deafening silence. He stepped out of the ward and Danica felt instantly hungry. Perhaps, it was her nervous rings circling her. She began eating the food Mabel placed close to her bed. She couldn't eat much due to the blend of excitement and nervous cords cruising through her. Minutes passed and Danica was anxious. More minutes passed before Loney returned.
"He is on the phone," he uttered softly, handing over the phone to her.
"Hello," Danica mumbled. She didn't have to ask who.
"You are an angel, Danica. I never believed it when you said your boyfriend would help but you should have told us it was Loney from the onset. We would have aborted the mission. Thank you very much," Jerome's excited voice sounded on the phone, lifting Danica's warmth.
"Thank you too for helping even when you didn't know me."
"Loney gave us enough money. I will leave the country with my family and start a new life. He also sent money to my men so we will start a new life and stay away from crime. You are God-sent, Danica," he genuinely expressed.
"Well, we thank God. Goodbye," She ended the call quickly, her eyes glistened towards Loney. "Thank you, Loney."
"Anything for you, Danica including my life, I would gladly give but I also need something from you." Loney made the request throbbing in his mind for some time now and he was prepared for it too. Well prepared.
"What is that?" Danica asked eagerly. Oh, she would do anything for him.
Loney faced her. His grey eyes held hers. "Marry me, Danica. That is the only thing I want from you."
It was unexpected. So unexpected. She wasn't expecting this. She loved him yet, "But, I can't..."