My baby.
“Hey there, tiny one. I’m your daddy.” My voice wavers as I press a gentle kiss to her belly. “I promise to do everything in my power to take care of you and your mama.” My forehead presses against the edge of the couch as I try to regain control of myself. “I love you so much already.”
“Did I fall asleep?” Claire’s sleep roughened voice pulls me from her bump.
“You did. Want to come to bed? I promise to be the perfect gentleman,” I whisper.
“Yes please.” I can see how tired she is in the way she doesn’t argue with me. She shifts to stand, but I hook my good hand under her back and the other under her legs.
“You’re going to hurt yourself more. I’m heavy.”
“Shh. I’m strong.” I press a kiss to her temple as she sinks deeper into my arms. It takes me seconds to make her comfortable in bed before I strip down to my boxers and join her.
Sleep doesn’t come soon, though. All I can think about is what I need to do to prove to Claire that I’m in this one hundred percent.
The sun penetrates through the haze of sleep.
My arms reach up as I stretch my tired body, trying to figure out what time it is. That’s when my arm hits another body. Out of instinct, I reach to my nightstand to grab my gun before I remember who is in bed with me.
Claire.
A smile so large stretches across my face.
Six months.
It’s been six months without her smile, her smart mouth, and the companionship I didn’t realize I wanted so badly. And now she’s carrying my baby. God, I never thought I would be a dad, and yet all I can see in my mind is our little family.
“What time is it?” Claire’s gravelly voice is a flame to my dried-out soul.
“Around eight, judging by the sun.” I roll over, draping my arm over her waist and pulling her to me.
“Too early.” She groans.
“I have to call in soon,” I murmur, inhaling the scent of something that’s purely Claire.
“I figured you’d be driving back today.” She hesitates.
“Hmm. You think I only want one night? That I drove over an hour just to sleep next to you? That now that I know you’re carrying our baby I’ll run away?” I ask. My hand splays against her small, rounded stomach as my nose trails up her neck.
“I-I’m honestly not sure. I didn’t want to assume,” she whispers and stops my hand.
“Assume away, Claire. I …” Sighing, I attempt to put my thoughts into words. “I thought you didn’t want to see me. That the lies and undercover stuff was too much.”
“I didn’t realize saying I need a breather immediately after being rushed off would mean I couldn’t see you ever. I just … Everything was so much. I killed Cano. Then I was whisked off to a house, alone, with zero answers. And then I found out I was pregnant, and I think I’m still coming to terms with that.”
“You didn’t kill Oscar,” I interrupt.
“What?” She turns over to face me.
“The knife didn’t kill Oscar. One of my guys took the shot, and that’s what killed him. If no one was there, he probably would have bled out from the knife to the neck, but it would have taken a really long time.” I promised myself on the drive here that I would be honest with her about everything. We couldn’t have complete honesty before, but we’re damn well going to now.
“Oh.” She rolls over to face me. “I …” Tears well in her eyes, and I realize this has been weighing on her and that Lex didn’t tell her shit. “These damn hormones are going to kill me.” She waves a hand in front of her face.
“Damnit, Lex should have told you.” I curse, pulling her closer to me. She nods but doesn’t respond. “I’m sorry I didn’t come here sooner.”
“It’s fine.” She hiccups on a sob. “It seems I haven’t really processed anything. I’m sorry. For everything. I should have told Lex or Juliette.”
Fucking Lex. This is his job, and yet it seems like he hasn’t done anything to help her in the last six months. He’ll be lucky not to get a black eye the next time I see him.
