24. Leonardo #2
I’d started to move Santino so Master Vincent could take him, but I froze. “Are you uncomfortable holding him?”
Master Vincent’s arms hesitated and pulled back slightly. “Not at all. It is an honor that you would allow for me to hold him when he is so young.”
I looked up at Sandro, who was smiling down at us.
I held out Santino again, and Master Vincent expertly took him from me.
I didn’t know how much experience he had with holding babies, but I’d seen him with the three in the coven so far, and he’d always been wonderful with them.
Master Vincent’s smile couldn’t have been faked as he looked down at the newborn now in his arms.
“He’s adorable,” he said. “What is his name? Or have you not picked one yet?”
“We have,” I answered. “We’re going to call him Santino. We had several names that were on a list, and we decided to give him his own identity and not tie him to anything or anyone.”
Master Vincent looked up at me and then over at Sandro.
“Understood. I can see the benefit of that.” Santino started to wiggle and then make little noises.
Master Vincent carefully handed him back to me, and it was almost instantly that the baby quieted and went back to sleep.
“Too soon to be away from Daddy. But I appreciate that you let me hold him. He’s adorable.
Congratulations to both of you on your new baby. ”
“Thank you, Master Vincent.” I quickly looked down to hopefully hide the yawn that there was no stopping.
“Yes, thank you, Master,” Sandro said. “We’re excited he’s here. His timing could have been a little better, but babies come on their own schedule, and his said tonight was the night.”
“Indeed,” Master Vincent said. “I won’t stay long. I only came to both congratulate the two of you and check on you to see how you were doing or if you needed anything from anyone.”
I shook my head. “Not that I can think of. Is everything all right in the rest of the villa? I heard screaming.” I knew it wasn’t my place to ask, and normally, I wouldn’t. But I was tired. And I’d just given birth, and I wasn’t quite thinking how I should be, I was sure.
“You don’t need to worry about anything but little Santino there,” Master Vincent said. “I will say that everything and everyone are fine now. All of our members are healthy and accounted for. Including our newest one, apparently.”
I smiled at that and couldn’t help but look back down at the baby.
He was mine, and I could do that all I wanted.
Master Vincent standing drew my attention away from the baby, but only for a brief moment.
“Thank you again, Master Vincent. I appreciate you taking the time to come and check on us. I know how busy you are at a moment like this.”
“Of course,” he said. “Rest. Tomorrow is going to be a busy day for the coven, but I will make certain everyone respects your need for privacy.” Master Vincent shook his head. “Although I know that Abel is going to want to at least peek in. You, of course, can say no.”
I laughed a little as I leaned my head back onto the pillows behind me. “No. I don’t mind if Abel comes to see Santino. If someone could let Mazzi know, I’d appreciate it as well. He was excited to meet the baby too.”
“Mazzi already knows of your little guy’s arrival. Perhaps he and Abel can drop by sometime mid-morning for a short visit.”
“That will be fine, Master,” Sandro said. “I’ll make certain nobody overstays.”
“Good to hear.” Master Vincent turned back to me. “Enjoy your new baby, but be certain to get some rest. As proven by tonight, babies have their own schedule. Rest when you can.”
“Thank you, Master Vincent. I will.” I was starting to get some feeling back in my legs, which felt a little odd.
I’d never experienced this before, but I was certainly all for it because the pain of childbirth was no joke.
I knew it was nothing compared to what Sandro had gone through though.
Sadly, he didn’t have Rio there with him to stop the pain or take it away.
Of course, if Rio had been there, either Rio also would have been a victim, or he would have gotten Sandro out of there like Mazzi had done.
I realized my mind was wandering, and my body was shutting down when I suddenly jerked and sat upright. I looked around and found Sandro staring at me with concern on his face.
“Can you take Santino? I’m sorry, but I’m really tired all of a sudden. It’s like a wall of exhaustion just hit me.”
“The adrenaline of everything has finally worn off. It’s time for you to rest,” Rio said.
He carefully took Santino from me and expertly passed the baby to Sandro.
I remembered them helping me lie down on the bed, and that was it.
My body’s exhaustion became overwhelming, and I was unable to fight it any longer.
I woke to pure darkness in the room, panic the first thought because what if they’d come back and the power was out again?
Where was Sandro? Where was the baby? Sandro’s bedside light turned on, and I looked that way.
My mate rolled out of bed and bent over the mini crib and picked up the baby.
I sat up, and when Sandro turned, he seemed to notice that I was awake.
“It seems that Santino is ready for his first bottle and most likely needs to be changed as well.”
“Oh, I can help.” I tossed the blanket back and moved my legs to get up out of bed. I realized then that they were definitely working, and when I looked down at my lap, I could actually see most of it. My stomach wasn’t flat yet, but it was well on its way.
“Go to the bathroom and take care of business that you might have, and I’ll change his diaper.
You can hold him when you get back, and I’ll go grab a bottle from the refrigerator in the other room and warm it.
” I wasn’t going to say no. I carefully stood, and when my legs held me securely, I looked over my shoulder at Sandro and found him smiling at me. “All good?”
“Yes. I didn’t know if I was going to have any issues or not, but everything seems to be working as it should.
” I hurried to the bathroom, and after relieving my bladder, I washed my hands and had just returned to the bedroom as Sandro finished changing the diaper.
Santino was starting to make little noises, and I had a feeling that if we didn’t get a bottle in his mouth soon, those little noises would quickly turn into louder ones.
“He was wet. I’ll go grab a bottle now.”
“Are you sure? I can do it.”
Sandro passed me the baby and shook his head. “No, you sit in the chair, and I’ll be back in a couple of minutes with a bottle.”
I moved the baby into a more comfortable position, and after I’d settled into the chair, I stared down at the baby that Sandro and I had created.
“Hello, little fella. You don’t know it yet, but your papa and I love you very much,” I whispered to him.
I knew the words didn’t mean anything to him yet, but the quiet tone of my voice did.
“You’re going to grow up and be a strong vampire like your papa. ”