Then Josh laughs softly. “It’s a girl.”
Tears spill down my cheeks as he lifts the tiny, crying baby and places her gently against my chest.
She’s warm. Real. Perfect.
Luke lets out a shaky laugh beside me while Hank just stares, completely stunned.
“Holy shit,” Hank whispers.
I look down at our daughter, my heart so full it feels like it might burst.
Epilogue 2
Vee
Ican’ttakemyeyesoff my daughter, who is currently sleeping peacefully in my arms. The living room is quiet except for the low murmur of my men moving around the house.
Still, my stomach is in knots. A dread that something bad is about to happen.
“Why does Ryker want to talk to us?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper, not wanting to wake my girl. I just got her to sleep.
“I don’t know,” Luke says from the kitchen doorway, running a hand through his hair. “He just said it was important and couldn’t wait.”
I shift Brynlee slightly against my chest, careful not to wake her. “When is he getting here?”
“Should be any minute,” Hank answers from the floor where he’s putting together a baby swing.
I nod, but the nerves won’t go away. Everything has been so good lately—too good, maybe. Peace never lasts long in our world. And this just feels like an omen; something bad is about to happen.
“Want me to put her in the bassinet?” Josh asks softly.
I glance down at Brynlee. Her tiny fingers curl against my shirt, her lips puckered in sleep. Her and my three handsome men have filled my heart with so much love.
“Yeah,” I say, carefully handing her over.
Josh takes her like she’s the most precious thing in the world, which to us, she is. He carries her to the bassinet beside the couch and lays her down gently, adjusting the blanket with surprising tenderness. They’ve all been like that. The most doting fathers I could’ve imagined.
They each take turns getting up with her at night. Making sure I sleep. Making sure I eat. Always watching over both of us like we’re the center of their universe. And in a way, I guess we are.
A sharp knock sounds at the door, and every muscle in my body tenses.
Luke moves immediately, crossing the room and opening it.
Ryker steps inside, shutting the door behind him. His expression is serious, more than usual, and that does nothing to help my nerves. If it were Mack or Colin who wanted to talk to us, I don’t think I would have this much unease. But Ryker? He’s always been the one to share bad news.
“Hey guys. Vee,” he says, nodding at each of us before looking around. “Where’s the little one?”
“Brynlee’s asleep,” I tell him quietly, pointing to the bassinet.
His eyes soften for a second before he rubs his hands together and steps further into the room.
“So, I have something I need to talk to you about, Vee. But I need to wait for Luca to get here. He was on his way when I called him.”
“What is it?” I ask immediately, needing to know. Especially if it involves Luca.
“When he gets here, I’ll tell you,” he says. “I just want to say it once, and you both need to hear it.”
Great. I just get to sit here and panic more.
