“What’s wrong?” I appeared calm, but my heart was slamming so hard against my chest you’d think it was trying to break through my skin. “Is it the baby?”
Luc wiped a tear, “Uh I think? I don’t know, maybe it’s just my imagination but, I keep getting weird contractions, like stretching across my stomach.”
I was fucking out of my element for once in my life.
I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to think, then opened them when I heard her sniffle again and wrap her arms around her middle in the protective stance I knew she wasn’t even aware she was doing. God she was going to be an incredible mom.
Singing our baby lullabies and making chocolate chip cookies while I slit people’s throats.
I gave my head a shake. “Do you want me to call Sergio?”
She chewed her bottom lip.
“You’re hesitating, you’re not sure, I’m making the call—”
“—but,” She grabbed my arm. “What if it’s a false alarm.”
I pulled her into my embrace and kissed her forehead. “Then I’ll rub your feet until you fall asleep.”
“You’ve gone soft you know,” She winked.
I didn’t laugh.
I was too freaked out.
I stared into her trusting gaze. Unbelievable that she’d look to me out of all the people on the planet. My fears weren’t unfounded, I didn’t deserve her—but that didn’t mean I wasn’t going to do everything in my power to keep her.
“Our secret.” I finally whispered as she wrapped her arms around me as best she could. I rolled my eyes and picked her up like she weighed nothing, she’d gained weight but if you looked at her from behind you’d think she was this tiny little waif, almost like the baby was stealing every ounce of water and fat her body possessed in order to sustain itself. I asked if it was normal at least once a week, and then the doctor would say something like, she’s gained fifty pounds, I think she’s going to be okay.
I didn’t see it.
All I saw was beauty.
My baby.
Both of them.
Shit, I wouldn’t survive this again.
And she wanted kids, plural, not singular.
My heart sped up a little faster as I deposited her on our bed and made a quick phone call to Sergio.
“Not again” He yawned, “Could you at least keep your midnight killing sprees to once a week? People need to sleep! I’m people by the way and swear on Tex’s life if you’re just worried about the baby because you heard hiccups I’m changing my number.”
I growled into the phone.
He sighed. “Fine, what’s going on?”
“Contractions,” I hissed, “She says they’re different than before and she’s embarrassed to go all the way to the hospital and have it be—”
“—I’ll be there in five.”
Thank God he lived down the street.
“Thanks, man.” Yup, still felt weird to say thank you but there I was, ready to slit my own wrists just so he could make a house call.
Things change.
They have no choice but to change, I just didn’t realize how much I’d be a part of the change. I still battled, I battled like hell with the demons in my head and the love that tried to surge into my heart.
And I knew without a doubt if I was on my own.
If I didn’t have her.
I wouldn’t have made it another day.
Possibly another ten minutes.
I ended the conversation and went downstairs to open the door right when Vic rounded the corner and handed me a newspaper then started making coffee.
I groaned, took the newspaper and then checked the time. It was six in the morning, too early for me, but right on time for the vampire who refused to leave our family’s side like we actually wanted him around when we had more important things to do.
He grabbed a bagel.
I watched with amusement as he pulled one out, the entire hole was cut out like it needed to make room for something. I snorted into my coffee, completely out of character for me when he continued to stare at it like he’d purchased defects from the grocery store.
“What the hell?” He looked over at me. “Do I even want to know?”
“I’d probably throw that one away.” I nodded seriously, “Then again maybe you’re into that sort of thing, I try not to judge.”
“I miss grumpy Chase.” He tossed the bagel into the toaster completely against my advice.
“Yeah well,” I sighed, “He’s still in there so I’d watch your back.”
“Trust me, I know, you could smell the bleach from ten miles away.”
I just shrugged. “I protect what’s mine.”
“But is it completely necessary to dissolve their bodies with acid?” He wondered aloud.
“Necessary? No.” I sighed. “But it’s a fucking joy hearing them scream.”
“Monster.” He seemed amused.
“Thank you.” I smiled and then walked to the door, opening it just as Sergio was about to knock.
He scowled. “Stop being creepy.”
“Are those joggers?” I pointed down at his black and white Adidas pants with my coffee cup.
He glared like he was seconds away from putting a bullet through my chest. “I was in bed you jackass, and Val was naked, as in no clothing on her perfect body so if your wife isn’t actually in labor I’m taking one of your thumbs just to remind you that I’m still scary as fuck.”
“Noted.” I gulped knowing he would do it, but he’d have to actually get through me first, and I’d been doing all the fighting lately while his fighting took place online.
Sergio stepped in the contemporary one level house we’d moved into a few months back. It was a stark contrast to what I’d been living in.
Everything reminded me of life.
From the white marble floors to the high ceilings and wood beams to the indoor garden that I surprised Luc with so she always had herbs to cook with.
I inwardly smiled as Sergio looked his fill and then headed down the hall toward the master suite.
The same one that had a connecting plunge pool, jacuzzi, and floor to ceiling windows that pulled back to give Luc access to the backyard.
She never asked for any of it.
I could have moved her into a one-bedroom shithole, and she would have found something beautiful about it.
But I wanted to give her it all.
She cried for two hours when she saw our master bedroom. I was in agony thinking she was upset when she was just so thankful that when her tears ran dry, she jumped me so hard and fast I nearly got a concussion from the marble floor.
“Luc,” Sergio smiled brightly down at her.
She had that effect on people.
And pregnancy only made her more… beautiful, caring, just… good. Fuck she was so good.
Her hair was longer trailing down past her shoulders in healthy waves as she sat up and puffed out air between her teeth. “I’m so sorry Sergio, I’m probably being ridiculous.”
“Never apologize.” He cupped her face like she was an angel as if he hadn’t just threatened me downstairs, then again, she had that calming effect on everyone including Nixon who seemed more pissed off than normal now that the De Langes were refusing to cooperate. The man was ready to raise Hell, and I was more than happy to oblige him.
“Where does it hurt?” Sergio asked, she explained the contractions, he started timing them and then gave me a weird look.
“What?” My heart thudded to a stop. “What’s wrong?”
“Well, I think she’s in labor, but… she must have a really strong pain tolerance because those contractions are extremely close together.” He felt her stomach. “I need to see how far she’s dilated.”
“Like hell you will!” I roared.
“Chase,” Luc gripped my arm with her hand, tears in her eyes. “Please?”
I pulled out my gun pointed it at Sergio’s head and said through clenched teeth. “You look, then you touch only as long as you need to touch, anything suspicious and I shoot off your right ear, got it?”
“Not my left?” He rolled his eyes as Luc tried kicking off her shorts.
I gently leaned down and helped her pull the silk past her ankles and then put the blanket over her body and did the same with her lacy underwear. I really shouldn’t be getting turned on, but my body was more than ready to help that baby come out by any means necessary.