CHAPTER 4
Thirty minutes later, inside the heavily secured private delivery suite on the top floor of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, the sound of a sharp, healthy cry filled the air.
"It's a healthy baby boy!" the chief surgeon announced, holding up the crying newborn before quickly wrapping him in a warm, sterile blanket.
Claire collapsed against the pillows in pure, overwhelming relief, tears streaming freely down her exhausted face as they laid her son gently against her bare chest.
She cradled the small, fragile life in her arms, kissing his soft, wet forehead while the nightmare of the last six years finally began to evaporate from her soul.
Mateo stood near the foot of the delivery bed, his hands tucked into his trouser pockets, observing the mother and child with an unreadable, intense expression.
"He's perfect, Claire," Mateo said softly, stepping closer to gently adjust the warm blanket around the baby's tiny shoulders.
"Thank you, Mateo," Claire whispered, her voice cracking with profound gratitude. "If you hadn't broken into that house tonight... they would have let me die on that floor."
Before Mateo could respond, the heavy reinforced doors of the private suite burst open, revealing three high-ranking FBI special agents flanked by hospital security.
"Claire Whitmore?" the lead agent demanded, holding up a federal badge and a court-ordered emergency custody warrant. "We have a federal warrant issued by the Los Angeles County Family Court."
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Claire’s heart slammed into her throat as she pulled her baby closer to her chest, her protective instincts instantly flaring back to life.
"Grant Whitmore and his mother have filed emergency kidnapping and child endangerment charges against you," the agent declared sternly. "You are ordered to surrender the child to child protective services immediately."
