Chapter 49 – Liam #2
A long sigh fell from my lips. “As much as I would love to haul you to bed and seal this moment properly, I’m afraid there’s still work to be done tonight, cailín.”
Gabriella’s brows creased in surprise.
“What’s happened?”
I rubbed my jaw, the leather glove scraping against the scruff on my face. “There’s been some challenges to the chain of command. After I take care of one more threat, it should solidify the ranks internally.”
Her lips pressed into a thin line. “Who’s going to die this time?”
She wasn’t fooling me. She sounded like she was trying not to sound thrilled.
“The one who put the hit on us,” I explained.
“Don’t leave me hanging,” she insisted. “Who put the freaking hit on us?”
I smirked. “My cousin Kevin.”
Gabriella shuddered. “I never liked him.”
It was the pubes on his upper lip. “He skewed the books to pay for the hitman. He’s gone to our enemies trying to entice them to take the job themselves.
Your father and him met more than once. When that failed, he tried stirring up trouble within our own ranks.
I have one shot to rally the men and unite them.
Otherwise…we might be facing civil war.”
Gabriella’s face paled.
I clasped both my hands around hers and brought her fingers to my lips.
“You’re safe,” I murmured. “They won’t hurt you.”
“But you?” she insisted. “What happens if you can’t unite them?”
Joy, bright and glistening swelled in my chest. Darting forward, I pressed my lips to hers. “I’ll force them. Or else.”
She rolled her eyes, which made my groin tighten instantly.
“Can I do anything?” Gabriella asked. “I know I’m not very popular—”
I hissed.
“It’s true,” she said evenly. “Nobody was happy at our wedding or when you were crowned. There were whispers.”
“Those were only whispers,” I snapped. “The core group of our organization are more than happy that you’re my queen.
The outliers will come to heel, or they’ll find their foreheads decorated with a bloody hole.
I have to go now, though,” I said, pulling away.
“I just came back to check that you and our little guy were okay.”
“Our little guy,” she murmured softly. “I like the sound of that.”
“Well, good,” I said awkwardly, rubbing the back of my neck. “Because that’s how things stand. He’s ours.”
“Let me use the bathroom before you go.”
Gabriella carefully untangled the bundle from her arms and passed him to me. I cradled the wee lump tightly like a football player carrying the American sports ball. The babe stirred slightly, then settled back into a deep sleep. His wispy hair was light brown, the color of an acorn.
So small….
But already so perfect. I rubbed the tip of my finger over the shell of his ear. I would burn the world for this wee lad, and we’d only met a few hours ago.
When Gabriella came back out, stretching, she looked over the mountain of packages. “I took your suggestion literally.”
“Good,” I replied. “You would have been punished if you hadn’t.”
The flash of heat in her eyes nearly made me postpone the meeting.
“I can’t believe you took the time to come back and check on us,” she said.
“You come first,” I told her. “You always will.”
“I know,” she breathed. Brushing her fingers along the fuzzy green blanket, she added, “And now that he’s safe, I can pay more attention to you instead of having one foot in this relationship and one out the door.”
“We’re going to be good parents, Gabriella. We’ll figure this out together.”
My little wife sighed.
That was not the response I was expecting. Toxic, brackish feelings surged to the surface, but before I could feel self-conscious about this kid having a brutish monster like me as a father, Gabriella spoke.
“You’d think with all my sisters I’d know what the hell I’m doing. But I really don’t know the first thing about babies.”
I blinked. It wasn’t me.
She wasn’t ashamed of me.
A ragged breath whispered through my lips. That was going to take some getting used to.
“How is that possible?” I asked, handing Luca back.
“Mom had a nanny raise us. The older kids weren’t involved. I know diapers and laundry and chores and tears, but I don’t know how to be a good mother.”
Gabriella was as nervous about this as I was. Relief made me want to scoop her into my arms and spin her around.
With the bundle between us, I thought better of the outburst.
“My only experience comes from my parents,” I admitted. “They were good examples, so there’s that. We’ll figure it out. With my father gone, my mom will love to know she’s a grandma.”
“We’ll figure it out,” she agreed. “Oh! And as soon as the paperwork is situated, we can tell your mom she’s a grandma!”
Those whiskey eyes blazed.
This woman…fuck. I was the luckiest man alive. “Get some sleep, my little bird.”
As I leaned in to kiss her goodbye, she pulled back. “Betty will be here in ten minutes.”
I frowned. “Why is my secretary coming?”
“Because I’m coming with you,” Gabriella asserted. “You need me, and I’m going to be there for you. And after having twelve kids, Betty will be the perfect babysitter.”
This time, nothing was stopping me from picking her up.
I took the sleeping bundle, set him carefully behind the boxes against the couch, and grabbed my wife before she could protest.
I spun her in the air and kissed her hard.
“You’d do that for me?” I murmured against her mouth.
She nodded. “You were the only man brave enough to make me his queen. My place is by your side. And I’m happy I don’t have to give that up.”
Emotion clogged my chest.
The blood in my veins burned hot, while a cold sweat ran down my spine at how close I had come to losing this perfect—this beautiful—future I didn’t deserve but would fight like hell to keep.
And then the words tumbled out.
“I love you, little bird.”
Gabriella pulled back, pressed her lips to my forehead, and held my head between her hands. “I love you, my handsome, vicious prince.”
Hearing those words once was not enough. Later, when my cock was buried deep between her legs, she was going to say it again…and again…and again as I filled her up.