When Olivia starts to cry, Knox pries her from my arms.
“You’re scaring her. Look at that ugly face looking back at her. Frightening.”
I get up so he can sit with her as I rib him.
“We’re identical, dickhead. If I’m ugly, so are you.”
Heather immediately scolds me.
“Killian! You cannot use that language around her.”
I’m tempted to remind her Olivia doesn’t know any words, but decide against it as Heather’s brows knit together with a scowl on her face. She really is fucking adorable when she’s pissed.
“Sorry.”
She nods and turns to Carter.
“Do you want to hold her?”
He shakes his head, his eyes wide as he speaks, his voice filled with self-hatred. My brother has come far since meeting Heather but he isn’t cured. He still struggles from time to time.
He stares at her, his eyes are filled with shock.
“No. I don’t want to hurt her.”
Carter laughs but there’s no humor behind it.
“Would you really trust me with her?” He says with disbelief.
She gets up and goes to him, climbing onto his lap.
“I trust you with everything, Carter. You are not going to hurt a baby. We both know that. I trust you, and maybe it’s time you trust yourself, too. If it’s too much, say your safe word and we will get her from you. If I thought you’d hurt her, I’d never let you hold her but I know you.”
He nods, but I see the uneasy emotion in his gaze. I agree with her, but understand his concerns as well.
Knox walks over to him and places the baby in his arms while Heather sits on the arm of the over-sized chair.
Carter stares at Olivia as if he’s witnessing a miracle. He lets out a shaky breath as he strokes a finger over her tiny hand.
She lifts her gaze to his and makes a small cooing noise as she closes her small hand around his thumb. Knox and I exchange an uneasy glance, both of us holding our breath.
“You’re like your aunt, aren’t you? A miracle. You don’t hurt, you heal.”
Tears fall down Carter's face as Knox and I both swipe the wetness from our cheeks. This is what our girl does. She heals because she loves without judgment. Carter needed acceptance from someone outside of the three of us. I think he always felt like we had to accept him because he’s our brother. Heather gives it to him freely and allows him to work through his trauma without shame.
This is why Carter is marrying her legally. We knew it would be an impossible choice for her to make. We want her to be a Bonetti, but it doesn’t really matter to Knox and I who makes her one officially. For Carter, it matters. I think for him it’s further proof of that acceptance.
Chapter Sixty-Three
THE HEATHEN
One Week Later…
I’m outside with my men taking in the evening sky when I spot Bianca coming towards us with Raven and Athena on either side of her. My focus is on the baby in Bianca’s arms and I can’t control my excitement. I squeal with excitement as I run to her. Raven holds his hand up, telling me to stop.
“Do not break my wife or my son, you damn psycho.”
Bianca rolls her eyes at him as I hold up my middle finger with a grin.
