"Harper, I'm not negotiating with you. You are my wife, and you're carrying some bastard's child."
"You should be grateful that murder is illegal. Because right now, I want nothing more than to kill you."
I didn't know if it was the fall or the panic, but a sharp, cramping pain twisted through my lower abdomen.
Kieran had lost all reason. Going head-to-head with him now would only make things worse.
I wrapped my fingers around his hand, trying to loosen his grip on my collar.
"Kieran, I'm begging you. Don't hurt this baby."
"Please. Please. Please."
He froze. His eyes went wide, as if he couldn't believe what he'd just heard.
"You're begging me, Harper?"
"You're actually begging me for the sake of that bastard in your belly?"
He shot to his feet, turning to Paula, who stood off to the side.
"Call your mother's hospital. Tell them to send an ambulance."
"Today, that bastard dies."
Paula's lips curled into a faint smile. She turned and walked out to the balcony to make the call.
I scrambled up from the floor, crawling on my hands and knees to Kieran's side, clutching the hem of his pants with everything I had.