23. Sandro #2
I was almost certain they’d gotten in through either the medical office door that led out to one of the gardens, or the door near Master Vincent’s and Marcello’s offices. The front door couldn’t be broken through, but the others were glass, and it wouldn’t take much to get past them.
“You can have the baby now, Leo. Your body is telling you that it’s time. There is no way anything can stop that.”
“But what about out there?”
I shook my head and placed a hand on his shoulder.
“You and I are in here. We are going to worry about you and the baby and nobody else, mio amato. There are only two people we are thinking about, and that will soon be three once our little guy is here.” I pulled up his shirt, which was soaked, and found his omega line completely open.
That wasn’t too surprising since he said he felt like he needed to push.
What was surprising was the fact that it was open when it was just barely pink earlier when we were in the shower together.
Leo bit down on the corner of the blanket again and pushed up on his arms. I realized he must have been having a contraction and was now pushing.
“Leo, I need you to open our bond completely with me. I cannot feel your contractions. It will help me if you do.”
After several more moments that felt like an eternity, Leo fell back onto the pillows and relaxed.
When he did, he opened the bond, and I was suddenly flooded with the pain he was going through.
The contraction was already building again, and I could feel that now.
I knew that even with the bond open as it now was, what I was feeling was nothing like he was.
“Leo, I want you to push up onto your arms again and push really hard like you’re trying to go to the bathroom. Push until you feel like you can’t anymore. All right? The baby’s head is right here, and it won’t take much for him to be out.”
Leo nodded, then did exactly as I’d asked of him.
I hated that we were doing this completely in the dark, but there was nothing that could be done about that right at the moment.
Leo made a noise, trying his hardest not to scream and shout through the pain.
He pushed, and I helped guide our son’s head through the opening.
Leo relaxed and fell back onto the pillows once again.
“I don’t want to hurt you or the baby,” I told him.
“Can you push just a little more for me? I need to get one of his shoulders out.” Leo nodded and sat up, pushing again, his groan of pain getting louder as the baby’s shoulder finally appeared.
That was enough for me to be able to get hold of him and carefully pull him out the rest of the way.
I’d never delivered a baby in pure darkness, let alone expected to be delivering my firstborn under such circumstances. The power turned back on seconds after I placed the baby on the towel that was beside Leo.
“Sandro?” Rio called out from the other room.
Leo gasped, and then our son let out a loud cry. Leo inhaled sharply and then started crying. “Sandro. Our baby. They’re going to hear him,” Leo said as he tried to roll over to reach for the baby.
“No,” I said as I rushed to hold Leo down in place on the bed.
His stomach was open, the baby’s cord was still attached, and the last thing my sweet, amazing beloved should be worried about right now was if someone heard our baby cry.
He should be thrilled that our son was born and had taken his first breaths.
“Rio, please help. He’s upset that someone is going to hear the baby and is trying to move.”
Rio was suddenly at our side, his hand glowing green, and Leo took a deep breath before suddenly relaxing.
“Oh. That…I could have used that feeling not long ago,” he said quietly.
“There is no need to be quiet. Those that had gained entry into the villa have all been dealt with,” Rio said. “I’m so terribly sorry I wasn’t here.” Rio immediately moved to where he could tend to Leo.
“You are allowed to have a life, Rio,” I told him.
He sighed. “But tonight, of all nights. It seems as if they knew I wouldn’t be here.”
I shook my head. “The one I dealt with said he was looking for Alfio’s grandson. He was very much human.”
“I have no doubt that they all are. Well, they were. They are all dead now.” Rio looked back up at Leo. “How are you doing?” he asked. “Sandro is going to cut the cord and then start taking care of your son. I’m going to see to you, all right?”
Leo took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I’m good. Especially now that I don’t have to worry about anyone hearing our baby.”
“You don’t. He can scream and cry all he wants now.
” At just that moment, I cut the cord that Rio had tied off with clips.
It was as if our little guy knew his connection to Leo had been severed because he cried louder then, but it would be short-lived.
He was cold and all of a sudden in a new place and didn’t have his warm swaddle around him. We would change that soon enough.
“Leo, I need you to push just a little for me. I need to deliver the placenta, and then your omega line will start to close.”
“All right.” Leo sat up a little and gave the little push that was needed. The placenta popped out of the omega opening, and Rio quickly moved it to a pan that hadn’t been there a moment ago. Leo fell back onto the pillows and closed his eyes.
“This was not how I ever envisioned giving birth.”
“I’m sorry, Leo. I got here as soon as I saw Sandro’s message. I also had messages from Master Vincent and Marcello. One message isn’t unusual. Three so closely together was. Then they kept coming. I am terribly sorry I wasn’t here to stop everything.”
I placed my hand on Rio’s shoulder. “You are not a member of this coven to stop things such as this from happening. That is not your position here. You are here to take care of everyone after things such as tonight happen. And to help deliver babies if needed.” I smiled at Rio. He was being too hard on himself.
“I can’t help it,” Rio said. “I’m a new member of this coven, and already I’ve let it down.”
“You haven’t,” I said. I picked up the baby and moved him off the messy towel now that he’d been wiped somewhat clean.
“Let me get his measurements and clean up,” Rio said. “You go and hold your beloved’s hand, give him kisses for doing an amazing job, and love on him until I bring the baby to the two of you.”
I did exactly what Rio said because I absolutely wanted to hold my beloved.
I knelt down beside him and placed one arm across his chest and threaded my fingers from the other through his hair before I gave him a lingering kiss.
“I love you, Leonardo. More every day. You are so strong and amazing, and I’m thankful you’re in my life.
” I kissed him again, and when I pulled away, Leo smiled at me.
“I love you too.”
“See, now that’s what I wanted for the new daddy,” Rio said. “Here’s your little guy, Leo.” Rio handed our bundled son over to Leo, and I felt something in the center of my chest shift as my beloved held our baby for the first time.