Chapter 2

The fluorescent lights of Mount Sinai Hospital cast a harsh glow over my wounded leg as the doctor carefully stitched the jagged tear in my thigh. Each prick of the needle sent a dull throb of pain through my body, but it was nothing compared to the ache in my chest.

"You're lucky," Dr. Patel said, her gentle fingers working with practiced precision. "The bite didn't reach any major blood vessels. But you'll need to keep this clean and watch for signs of infection."

I nodded absently, my eyes drifting to my phone for the twentieth time. Still nothing from Ryan except a brief text: "Handling things at the office. Will be there soon. Promise."

The office. On Sunday.

"Mrs. Alexander?" Dr. Patel's voice pulled me back. "Did you hear me? I said you should stay off this leg as much as possible for the next few days."

"Yes, of course," I murmured, resting my hand protectively over my baby bump. "What about... is my baby okay?"

Dr. Patel's expression softened. "Your ultrasound looked normal, but stress isn't good for either of you. I'd like you to come back for a follow-up in a few days, just to be safe."

As she finished bandaging my leg, a nurse poked her head in. "Is Mr. Alexander still in the waiting room?"

"He... he had to step out," I lied, heat rising to my cheeks. Even now, I was protecting him, covering for his absence.

The ride home in the taxi was silent and lonely. I watched raindrops begin to gather on the window, small harbingers of the storm that weather alerts had been warning about all day. By the time I limped into our Upper East Side apartment, leaning heavily on the crutches the hospital had provided, the first rumbles of thunder were already rolling across the Manhattan skyline.

I tried calling Ryan again. Straight to voicemail.

By nightfall, the storm had intensified. Wind howled between the skyscrapers, and rain lashed against our bedroom windows with violent intensity. Each crack of thunder made me flinch, memories of childhood terror flooding back—being alone in our house during the worst storm of the year, my parents out fighting somewhere, no one to hold me as I hid under the covers counting seconds between lightning and thunder.

I wrapped myself in a blanket, trying to steady my breathing as another thunderclap shook the apartment. The baby kicked inside me, responding to my racing heart.

"It's okay," I whispered, rubbing my belly. "Daddy will be home soon."

As if summoned by my words, I heard the front door open. Relief washed over me as Ryan's footsteps approached our bedroom.

"You're still up," he said, loosening his tie. His hair was damp from the rain, his expression unreadable.

"I couldn't sleep," I admitted, hating the tremor in my voice. "The storm..."

Ryan's face softened as he sat beside me on the bed. "I forgot about your thing with storms." He brushed a strand of hair from my face. "How's the leg?"

"Painful," I said truthfully. "Where were you, Ryan? I needed you today."

"I told you, the office. The merger's falling apart, and I had to—"

A particularly violent thunderclap cut him off, making me jump. Ryan wrapped an arm around me, pulling me against his chest.

"It's just noise," he murmured against my hair. "I'm here now. I'll stay with you."

I closed my eyes, letting myself believe him, needing to believe him. For a few precious moments, I felt safe again.

Then his phone rang.

The specialized ringtone—the one I'd heard too many times before—cut through the room like a knife. Ryan tensed, then slowly pulled away, reaching for his phone.

"Don't," I whispered, grabbing his wrist. "Please, Ryan. Don't answer it."

His eyes met mine, and for a moment, I thought he might actually listen. Then the phone rang again.

"I have to take this," he said, his voice suddenly distant. "It's Vanessa."

"Your assistant," I said flatly. "Calling at 11:30 at night. During a storm."

Ryan was already standing, phone pressed to his ear. "Vanessa? Slow down, what's wrong?"

I watched his face transform with concern—real concern, the kind I hadn't seen when I was bleeding on that park path.

"Your apartment is flooding? Jesus. Okay, stay calm. I'll be right there."

"Ryan," I pleaded as he hung up, tears blurring my vision. "Don't go. I'm scared. The baby's restless. Please stay with me."

Lightning flashed, illuminating his face—conflicted for just a moment before hardening with decision.

"She has no one else, Jess," he said, already grabbing his coat. "Her building's basement is flooding, and she's panicking. I'll be back as soon as I can."

"I have no one else either," I whispered, but he was already heading for the door.

"It won't take long," he called back. "Try to get some sleep. I'll be back before you know it."

The front door closed with a finality that echoed through me. Outside, thunder crashed again, and I curled into myself, one hand on my belly, the other clutching my phone.

As the storm raged both outside and within me, I realized with sudden clarity that I truly was alone.