Chapter 4
DANTE
“I knew I should’ve killed her,” I say, pacing in the giant-ass hospital room, Raquel on the bed, looking too damn calm for someone about to have a baby.
“Babe, come here,” she calls stretching out a hand, the IV sticking out from her arm. “It’s going to be fine. You’ll see.”
I release a heavy sigh, rushing back to her, my hand in hers as I finally settle in the chair beside her bed.
I made sure she had the best room this hospital had.
She’s on a luxury floor, only two labor rooms here.
“Which part is okay? The fact that the doc said you have preeclampsia a day after we saw that bitch?”
“I mean, I’d blame her for everything.” She squeezes my hand on a shaky laugh. “But the doctor also did say with my BP going up and down during the third trimester, he’s not surprised.” She brings my palm to her mouth and leaves a soft kiss there.
My heart lurches. Fuck, I’m worried about her.
“Good thing is,” she goes on. “This baby is coming and he’s fine. I’ll be fine too. Don’t worry.”
“Well, sorry, baby, worrying about you guys is about all I can do right now.”
Her eyes grow bright and glossy, her brows drawing tighter as she presses my palm to her chest. “I love you, Dante.”
“Me too, baby.” A rush of an exhale leaves me in a hurry. I’ve never been this nervous in my entire life.
When Carnelia came, sure I was a wreck too, but she came fast. One minute, Raquel was having contractions, the next minute, we were in a room and she was pushing.
Five minutes later, and that kid was out.
I didn’t even have a second to breathe with that girl.
She’s always been on the go. But little man, hell, Raquel is getting induced, and this wait is fucking me up.
“How about you go get a coffee or ahh, maybe tea?” She giggles.
“Babe, stop laughing.” But now I’m chuckling too because she’s looking at me with hilarity and pity. “I don’t even drink tea.”
“I think you should start. Might relax you.” She giggles, pressing those damn fuckable lips together.
I can’t even think about that right now. I know how hard it’s been for her this time around, and I keep reminding her how proud I am of her. She’s an amazing mother.
The way she’s looking at me right now—her cheeks all flushed, bare faced—fuck, I’d knock her up again and again because I love her pregnant. Minus the complications we had this time. But having kids with her, knowing she’s growing our children—it does something to me.
“I’m sorry. I clearly suck at this whole ‘having babies’ thing.” I reach a hand for her, my thumb stroking down her rosy cheek.
“You don’t suck at a damn thing, Dante Cavaleri.” Her eyes burn with affection, her hand coming to cup mine. “You’re allowed to be nervous. This is your baby too.”
“It’s not just him I worry about.” Raw emotions claw at my heart. “If anything happens to you . . .” I swallow against the lodge of pain in my throat.
“Oh, Dante.” She slants her head to the side. “I love you. I’m right here.”
I’m instantly on the bed beside her, tugging her to my chest, stifling the ache building in my chest. “I can’t help it. I want this to be over so I can take you both home.” I brush my fingers up and down her arm.
“I want that too. But the doctor said it could be a few hours until the meds start to work. That doesn’t mean anything will go wrong.”
As soon as we checked her BP this morning and saw that it was high, we went to the hospital and they immediately admitted her.
“I’m supposed to be the one calming you.” I peer at her. “Not the other way around.”
“Daddies are allowed to stress out too. It’s part of the job.”
“Daddy, huh?” I wag my brows.
Her gaze turns to a narrowed slit as she pinches her lips and shakes her head. “Yeah, no, don’t do that. Literally. No.”
I burst with a laugh. “Daddy likes it when you look at him like that.”
“Mmm, yeah, no. Still nothing.”
“But are you sure?” I wink, teasingly.
“Sooo sure.” Her eyes grow large as she shakes her head, her mouth flanking with amusement.
I love making her laugh, and she’s damn good at making me laugh too. It’s one of the reasons we get along so well. She’s more than my wife and the mother of my kids. She’s my friend above everything, and I’d set the world on fire if it messed with her.
There’s a sudden knock on the door.
“Come in!” she calls. “Saved by the knock,” she whispers at me, biting her lower lip, her eyes still dancing with a smile.
“Daddy can always torture you later,” I say just as Jade and Enzo come strolling in.
“Ugh!” she groans before slipping on a grin as they stride up to us.
“Hey, guys!” Jade greets as she leans over to kiss Raquel hello, and Enzo clasps his palm to mine. “We just got here,” he explains. “Everyone is already downstairs I see.”
“Yeah, they got here a little bit ago,” Raquel answers. “You guys know you may be here a while, right?”
“We don’t care.” Enzo stands behind Jade as she takes a spot on the chair beside the bed. “Wouldn’t miss my nephew being born.”
“Aww . . .” Raquel teases, slanting her head to the side. “You think if he sees you before your other brothers, he’ll like you the most, don’t you?”
He jerks his head back. “Shit, am I that obvious?”
The girls laugh, the conversation continuing while my mind is elsewhere. I can’t stop thinking about something happening to her or our baby. It’s fucking eating me alive.
“Dante?” Enzo calls. “Where the hell did you go?”
I run my free hand past my face. “Sorry.” I release a heavy breath, holding Raquel closer.
“How about we go get some coffee and bring the ladies back a cup?”
“Great idea!” Raquel practically jumps to her feet with excitement. “Please take him. And if you got some whiskey stashed somewhere, get him that too.”
“Woman, I’m not getting drunk while my son is born.” I chuckle.
“Of course.” She waves a hand, glancing over at me. “I’m only kidding . . . sort of.” She gives Jade a wide-eyed look on that last part, and Jade tries to strangle a laugh.
“I’m on it, sister-in-law.” He walks around to me, throwing a palm on my shoulder. “Come on, bro. Wife wants you to chill out.”
“Yeah, yeah.” I reluctantly rise, not wanting to leave her alone. I cup her face and kiss her forehead. “I love you, baby. Call me if you need me. I won’t be gone long.”
“I’ll be fine. My BP has been great. See?” She points to the monitor beside her.
“Okay.” But it’s like my mind won’t let me believe everything will be okay.
With a long look at her, my brother leading the way out, I leave the room and close the door behind me.
As soon as we’re out, I breathe in long and deep, dragging air through my nose.
“Damn, man,” Enzo whispers. “You’re really bent out of shape.”
“Yeah, I can’t stop the shit going through my head,” I tell him as we enter the elevator, pressing the button for the lobby.
The back of my head meets the wall with a thud. “This preeclampsia has made me scared. I’ve been reading up on it.”
“Bro, if you read anything about anything on the internet, you’re going to think you’re dying from a fucking paper cut.”
I shake my head. “Nah, this is different. I don’t get scared of a lot, man, but her BP was so bad when we got here, even the doc went white. They thought they would have to do a C-section, but then it stabilized with whatever they gave her.”
The elevator arrives and I follow him out, marching toward the waiting area where Dom and Matteo wait along with their wives.
Enzo stops short before we reach them and faces me. “You gotta believe everything will be all right. If you’re too busy stuck in the worst-case scenario, you’ll never live in the moment.”
I nod, not sure what else to do or say.
“You’re having a son, bro. A Cavaleri. He’s gonna be alright. Mom and Pop are gonna make sure of that. You know it.”
At the mention of my parents, my chest tightens. I still talk to them, all the time. I want to believe they’re looking out for all of us. “Maybe Raquel is right. I do need a damn drink.”
“Now we’re talking.” He clasps my shoulder. “I got some in the trunk.”
“Of course you do.” I chuckle as we start toward everyone.
“I had a feeling you were gonna need it.” He nudges my ribs with his elbow.
He’s definitely right.
RAQUEL
There was a time when my world seemed impossibly small. When the light faded. When the possibilities only led to my death, the life dwindling, crumbling with every breath.
Until he came.
Until he saved me.
Even when his every intention was to hurt my family, by using me for a marriage he didn’t want, he still took care of me.
And while we were both hurting, love found us when it was the last thing either of us thought we’d find.
But in each other, we found something else—a love that created a family. And with every passing year, I find more reason to smile.
With him huddled against me on the hospital bed, we stare into the face of our son, Tristen, our hearts carrying so much devotion and awe, they’re ready to split.
Once he left with Enzo, I was ready to bring our boy into the world twenty minutes later. Then, in another ten, he made it out safely. The most beautiful little boy I’ve ever seen with thick black hair and large brown eyes. He’s a perfect blend of the two of us.
“I can’t wait for Carnelia to meet him,” I whisper as Tristen coos in my arms, sucking on a bottle.
“You know that kid is going to think she’s the mother, right?”
“Oh, I know.” My soft laughter splits free, and I’m unable to peel my gaze from my son. “She already told me she’ll babysit while I sleep.”
Dante chuckles. “You in any pain, baby?” He tips my chin up with his hard knuckles, staring deep into my eyes, and the sentiment slams right into my heart. He always worries about me and it’s the sweetest thing on earth.
“I’m just fine.” I flash him a wide smile. “Thank you, Dante. For all of this. If it wasn’t for you, I don’t know where I’d be.”
“You saved me, too, sweetheart.” He brushes a thumb across my lips, glancing down at them for a quick moment. “I have you to thank for the man I am today.”
I release a weighty sigh, a smile radiating my face. “I guess we have each other to thank.”
“And I will. Every damn day. Because you, Raquel”—he kisses the top of my head—“you’re my everything.”
“And you’re mine.”
“Damn right I am.” Together, with the new life beating in my arms, we hold each other, cherishing every moment.