Page 110 of Rafe’s Future

When Coulter snorted, Alex shot her new husband a playful glare.

“Nobody asked you.”

Laughter filled the air, and before long, the kitchen and dining room were crowded with people. Conversations overlapped, drinks were poured, and someone—probably Apollo—had already started arguing with Bones about something that mattered far more to them than anyone else.

Lena stood beside Rafe, soaking it all in. She’d spent most of her life alone. Not lonely, exactly. There was a distinct difference. But this was also different. This was family.

Rafe reached for her hand.

She looked up at him. There was that expression again. The one he’d flashed earlier, right as Alice and Digger walked in.

He looked serious. Almost nervous.

Her fingers squeezed his as she asked, “What?”

“I was just thinking.”

“Uh oh.” Lena chuckled. “We both know that can be dangerous.”

Rafe’s delectable mouth twitched, but then Avery suddenly gasped. Everyone stopped talking and turned her way.

“What?” Falcon’s attention immediately went to his wife.

Avery looked down. “My water just broke.”

For one full second, nobody moved. And then—the room exploded into a frenzy of shouted words. Lena didn’t even bother trying to keep track of who said what

“Hospital.”

“Where’s the bag?”

“It’s in the car.”

“Avery, sit down.”

“She can’t sit down. We need to get her to the hospital.”

“I’m fine.”

“You’re in labor.”

“Garret, breathe.”

“I am breathing.”

Lena grabbed her purse and keys.

Rafe looked to his daughter and her husband. “Alice, Dig, you’re with us.”

Within minutes, everyone was piling into cars. Lena glanced back at the house as she climbed into Rafe’s SUV.

Dinner was untouched, but the oven and stove were off, and the pies were still cooling. She’d spent most of the day preparing for the meal they hadn’t shared, and by the time they got back, most of the food would be ruined.

Still, she couldn’t stop smiling.

This was what she’d been missing. Lena hadn’t really even known it until now. The chaos. The noise. The unexpected. The love.

This is my family.