“Would you like me to go with you?” Kane asks, rubbing circles along my hips.
We’re still in bed, both of us naked and tangled around each other.
“I don’t want you to do anything that will make you uncomfortable, but”—I clear my throat—“if we’re getting married soon, then you’re about to become family, and my family is around a lot.”
“Then we’ll go.” He slides closer to me and kisses my lips softly. “But first, I’m pretty sure it’s almost lunch, and I’m starving.”
He waggles his brows, and his cock thickens against my leg.
“Okay,” I agree. “First, lunch, and then we’ll go to the hospital.”
“Oh, Dani,”I coo, taking the sweet little girl into my arms. “She’s absolutely perfect,” I choke out, leaning in and closing my eyes and inhaling her baby scent.
The last babies I held were Dominick and Peyton’s twin boys, and they smelled similar—like perfection and innocence, mixed with baby powder. I wonder if all babies smell like this … and then my thoughts go to my unborn baby. Would he or she have smelled the same way?
I open my eyes, blinking back the tears that are threatening to come, and Dani meets my gaze with knowing eyes. I shake my head, not wanting to go there, and she nods in understanding.
“Welcome to the world, Alba Antonov,” I say softly. “You are so loved.” I press a kiss to her forehead and take a calming breath. I should be past my abortion by now. It’s been years, and I was barely even pregnant, but that doesn’t stop my heart from mourning the loss.
“And you’re going to be so spoiled by your auntie Bri,” I add to lighten the mood. “Starting with this …”
Holding her carefully, I go to bend down to grab the gift bag, but Kane beats me to it, handing it to Dani.
“Thank you,” I murmur.
Dani opens the bag and then cracks up laughing, holding up the Burberry onesie with a built-in pleated skirt over it.
“You didn’t,” Dani says with a laugh.
“My niece will be the most stylish baby there is,” I say with a grin, but I can’t help but think about Kane’s and my conversation earlier. About how my expensive clothes are a cover for the scars I hide underneath. And as I stare at my niece, rocking her gently, I say a silent prayer that she never needs expensive clothes to hide her scars.
“So, when do they let you go home?” I ask, bringing Alba back over to Dani.
“Tomorrow.”
“Well, be prepared because I’ll be stopping by often to get my fill of this precious little girl,” I say, handing her to her mom.
“You’re welcome anytime,” Matteo says.
“Would you like to hold her?” Dani asks.
I look at her in confusion because I already held her, but then I follow her line of sight over to Kane, who’s back to standing against the wall.
“Dani,” Matteo murmurs, the warning in his tone clear.
“He’s family,” Dani says softly to Matteo, then turns her attention back to Kane. “What your brother did was horrific, but”—she sniffles back a sob—“she’s your niece.”
Matteo growls, and Dani glances at him, silently begging him not to lose his shit. He doesn’t say a word, but he plucks the baby out of her arms and protectively holds her to his chest.
Kane’s jaw clenches like he’s pissed, but his eyes are filled with a myriad of emotions. I’m about to say something to save him from this moment, but before I can, he speaks.
“She might be biologically related to me, but she’s your family, not mine.”
Matteo’s eyes shoot to Kane’s in what looks like appreciation.
“Well, a child can never have too much family,” Dani says. “And with you marrying Bri soon … you are family.”
Kane doesn’t hold the baby, but after that, the tension eases in the room. We spend the next several minutes talking about the labor and delivery and how she’s breastfeeding but is also pumping because Matteo wants to be able to feed the baby as well.
