Cutter (The Core Four #3)

I was about to snap. “Are you trying to piss me off?”

“No. Just fun getting a reaction from you. You’re so jealous.” She smiled.

“Listen you little tramp. That man back there is taken. You so much as talk to him I’ll rip limb from limb.”

“He’s my boss. Pretty sure that means I have to talk to him.”

I was going to lose my shit. She had no clue how close to death she was right now. I saw Dodger coming out of his office following behind an older man. He smiled at me, but it was quickly wiped away when he saw my face.

“Not for long.” I grinned.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Her nasally voice asked.

I leaned across the counter and said, “We’ll see if your job sticks.”

She jerked back. “What does that mean?”

I sounded even menacing to myself. Dodger was quickly approaching me. I spoke so only her and I could hear. “It means watch your back. One little slip up and you’re gone.”

“Babe, everything okay?” Dodger said as he looked back and forth between us.

I looked up at him, batting my lashes. “Perfect.”

He knew something was up. “Right.” He glanced at Dana. “You good? I’m out for the rest of the day.”

I stood slightly behind him and mouthed ‘fired’ while using my finger to mimic slashing my throat. Her eyes got wide. Dodger twisted to look at me. My arm dropped and I smiled sweetly. Oh no, I’m not up to anything.

“You’re clear for the day,” she said apprehensively.

Her ass better be nervous. She may think she was mistress of her games, but she had never dealt with me when I wanted something this badly. I was a force to be reckoned with. I watch when no one else watches. She had no clue how bad I wanted her gone.

When we turned to leave, I flipped my long brown hair over my shoulder and made eye contact with her one more time just as Dodger was holding the door open. I winked. Her eyes narrowed, and I knew . . .

Game on.



“Macie Rosewood?” An ultrasound tech called my name from a door that led back to the rooms.

Dodger and I stood, and headed toward her. She smiled at us both and led us to our room.

“Hi, I’m Amy. I’ll be doing your ultrasound today.”

“Nice to meet you,” Dodger greeted.

When we got into the room, she instructed me to lay down on the bed and unbutton my pants. She placed a white towel over my slightly extended abdomen and tucked it under my pants’ line. She flipped through some papers and clicked around on her high tech machine entering in my information. I didn’t know much about what her profession did. I only knew a decent amount of what I was looking at when things popped up on the screen.

“Okay, so today your doctor wants us to check the fetus’ growth, make sure all ten fingers and toes are there, and possibly check the sex. Are you guys wanting to know?”

“Yes.” I said way too quickly.

Dodger smiled at my eagerness. “Feels like we’ve been waiting forever.”

Amy smiled. “I know. These week twenty appointments are pretty brutal. Most moms and dads don’t wait and go to those ultrasound places that let you peek early. I know when I was pregnant with my youngest, I decided to try one out. I was only fifteen weeks.”

“You can know that early?” Dodger asked.

“Mhmm. Granted it’s not one hundred percent accurate. They can still usually get a decent idea.”

“What in the hell did we wait so long for?” He directed at me.

I rolled my eyes. “We had other things going on. It wasn’t going to kill us to wait. Besides we are here now, and we’ll know soon enough.”

Amy said, “Yes we will.” She squeezed some warm blue gel on my belly. She placed the wand in it and moved it around, spreading it so it coated me. “Okay, so first I’m going to get some measurements of the head, kidneys and placenta.” She clicked on her keyboard while she simultaneously did her work.

Dodger was watching with rapt attention. I knew he had no clue what he was looking at, but the look on his face right now was something I’d remember the rest of my life. It was complete awe and wonderment. He was seeing his child for the first time and he didn’t take his eyes off the screen. Amy explained a few things about what we should be seeing. I should have been watching just like he was, but I was focused on him and how he took in this whole moment. All I saw was pure love in his eyes. I felt myself getting emotional and I swallowed hard.

“Do you guys see this red flashing? I’m currently checking the blood flow through the umbilical cord.”

“Wow.”

“How does it look?” I asked.

“Technically I’m not supposed to tell you anything, but you’re a nurse, you know a lot of the medical jargon. Everything is measuring perfectly. Valves of the heart look great, placenta is in a good location. Baby is already head down, although I’m sure you know baby can still do flips in there, so it may not stay head down.”

“Whoa!” Dodger exclaimed. “Did you feel that?”

Our baby had done some crazy kicking movement. I’d only recently been feeling some slight fluttering movements. I chalked most of it up to gas.

“A little, but I feel more of the wand on my stomach right now.”

Amy gathered a little more gel and moved to the other side of my stomach.

“Awe, what a perfect little profile. Would you like me to print one out?”

“Yes,” Dodger replied.

More clicking sounds and a printer started up. She didn’t hand us the photo, probably because she was going to print us a few more. Amy pointed out a hand and a tiny foot. The both of us stared at the screen with adoration. It was the sweetest thing I’d ever seen, aside from I’m sure, the actual baby.

“Okay, you ready know the sex? Baby is being super cooperative and its legs are wide open.”

Dodger grasped my hand tightly. I felt a little tremor, like he was shaking in nervousness.

“Any guesses?”

“I say girl,” I stated.

He looked at me. “Really, you think it’s a girl?”

“Mhmm, I do.”

“What about you?” Amy asked.

“Ummm . . .” Dodger was trying to hide his smile. “I’m going with boy. That way our bases are covered.”

Amy laughed. I shook my head and grinned at him.

“Real slick there, sir,” I teased.

“Okay, moment of truth.” She shifted the wand in the correct position and there it was. I knew right away what I was looking at.

“Oh my god.” I couldn’t catch my tears fast enough.

A cheerful and expectant Dodger became concerned.

“What? What’s the matter?”

I shook my head and laughed. “Nothing’s the matter.”

“Congratulations, Dodger. It’s a boy,” Amy announced.

He whipped his head back to her so fast, I’m surprised he didn’t hurt himself. His hand was squeezing the life out of mine, and I had to wiggle my fingers to get blood flowing again.

“A boy? You’re sure?”

“Mhmm. See this right here?” Her cursor pointed on the screen. “It’s definitely a penis.”

“That whole hamburger and hot dog bit you learn in school and all that.” I laughed some more.