Xander stormed out the door in nothing but his bathrobe. "She can hit you all she wants, but you don''ty a finger on her, do you hear me!"


    Dan was speechless.


    "If anything happens to her or the baby, I swear, you''re going down with them," Xander spat out.


    “Oh, please! I''m the one who got beat up!" Dan exploded. “You talking about death? I''m the one in the hospital, for God''s sake! Frankly, I''m looking for someone to take down with me how about you sign up?" The word "down" hit a nerve; rage shot straight through his skull. He absolutely lost it, yelling into the phone.


    But Xander was unfazed. "Keep dreaming." He hung up without another word.


    On his way downstairs, Xander dialed Shawn. “Find out exactly where Yvonne is. Now."


    It wasn''t long before Shawn called back. "She''s at the hospital."


    That ratcheted up Xander''s anxiety several notches.


    Driving over, Shawn eyed the bathrobe Xander was still wearing. “Seriously? I know you''re worried, but would it have killed you to change first? You know, just for appearances?"


    "My wife and kid are out there in the middle of a brawl-what do I care what I look like right now?" Xander shot back.


    Shawn could only sigh. Truth was, the boss''s wife really did have a red-hot temper.


    “So, she put Dan in the hospital again?” he muttered. The woman truly didn''t care if she was in the heart of Litamark, right on ck Gate''s turf. Sure, things were in chaostely, but ck Gate was still the local kingpin. Was it really wise for her to stir things up here?


    "Dan called and ranted at me himself. You think he''d make something like that up?” Xander snapped. "Now step on it!"


    Shawn was lost for words. Was Dan really shameless enough to phone in with such an embarrassing report? That took some nerve.


    The hospital wasn''t far. They arrived in minutes.


    Xander found Yvonne just as a doctor was lecturing her. "You''re pregnant, Ms.


    Quinn. You absolutely must keep calm!"


    "Where''s that bastard Dan? Did he die or not?" Yvonne fired back.


    The doctor could only gape, speechless Xander and Shawn, standing at the door, exchanged looks. Shawn had that helpless, speechless expression-what a


    do


    powerhouse she was. She''d just put Dan in the hospital and still had enough energy to start shouting.


    And here Xander was, so frantic he hadn''t even managed to get dressed before rushing here, terrified Dan might have hurt her.


    The doctor pinched the bridge of his nose, exasperated. “Ms. Quinn, I really must remind you, your pregnancy isn''t stable. You simply can''t afford these mood swings!"


    "If it''s unstable, great. Let''s just end it now," Yvonne snapped, icy as ever.


    The doctor was floored, words dying in his throat.


    Before he could recover, Xander barged into the room. The doctor tried to follow, but Shawn quickly intercepted him, pulling him gently aside Doctor were her family. there''s anything you need too discuss, please let''s talk outside.”


    The doctor adjusted his thick ck sses with a huff. “A pregnant woman shouldn''t be this emotional. Honestly, what a temper..."


    "Yes, yes, of course. This way," Shawn said, ushering him out as politely as possible.


    Left alone, Yvonne red at the wall, refusing to look at Xander.


    Xander dragged a chair over and sat by her bedside. "You..."


    He paused, realizing he had no idea what to say. Dan had spent their whole call ming Xander for not exining things to Yvonne. As if he hadn''t tried! He''d been perfectly clear,pletely straightforward. What more could he possibly do?


    Fuming, Yvonne snapped, “Schedule the operation. I want it over with."


    Xander cringed, head pounding harder. "Don''t say that. Don''t say that. Don''t even think it. This child is part of you—and me.”


    Every time something happened, she threatened an abortion. That was the one thing Xander had been dreading ever since Ronald''s call yesterday. If she really believed this child was Dan''s, beating him up was the least of it-she''d never stop trying to get rid of the baby.


    And now, it seemed he''d guessed right.


    "What''s there to be upset about?" Yvonne shot back coldly. "It should never have


    been born."