She pulled out her phone with trembling hands and dialed quickly. “Prep an operating room,” she said into the line. “Emergency C-section. Have a stretcher ready out front. She’s unstable.”

She ended the call and leaned close to Desiree once again, checking her pulse. “We’re almost there, Desiree,” she whispered. “Hold on.”

Desiree’s lips parted, a soft painful moan slipping out, but she didn’t respond.

The car jerked to a stop.

That was the first thing Desiree ...