Chapter Twenty-Eight
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
RYDER
THREE MONTHS LATER
I stood on the back deck, leaning against the wooden railing as the late summer breeze carried the scent of freshly mowed grass and blooming flowers. The house—our house—spread out behind me, its soft white siding and black shutters gleaming in the evening light. It wasn’t much, but it was ours. And for the first time in my life, I felt like I had something solid beneath my feet.
When Delilah told me she needed a real home for our baby, I listened. And I’d acted. The idea of staying at her father’s place had never sat right with me. I didn’t want to live under another man’s roof, especially not hers. So, I bought a house. Not a mansion, not a sprawling estate, just a good, solid home in a quiet neighborhood where we could start fresh.
The thought of her and the baby running around inside—their laughter filling the halls—made every grueling second of putting this place together worth it. I’d even built the crib myself, despite the hell Delilah had given me when I almost smashed my thumb in the process.
“Ryder?” Delilah’s voice called from inside, soft but firm. “Can you grab the drinks?”
“On it, Kitten,” I replied, pushing off the railing and heading inside.
The smell of dinner wafted through the open space. Axel and Mia were already seated at the table, their laughter mixing with the clatter of plates and silverware. The truce between the Vipers and the Reapers still held though it was as fragile as glass. Axel and I weren’t exactly best friends, but for Delilah’s sake, we’d made it work. And Mia? She was a grounding presence, the kind of person who kept Axel in check without even trying.
I grabbed the tray of drinks from the counter and stepped back outside, setting it down on the table as Delilah smiled up at me. She was glowing—all curves and softness, her hands resting protectively on her swollen belly. My chest tightened at the sight of her, and for a moment, I just stood there, drinking it in.
“Sit, Ryder,” she said, rolling her eyes when she caught me staring. “You’re making everyone uncomfortable.”
Axel snorted, shaking his head. “Nothing new there.”
I gave him a smirk as I dropped into the chair beside Delilah. “Keep it up, Axel. We’ll see how comfortable you feel after.”
“Oh, please,” Axel shot back, leaning forward with a grin. “You’ve got nothing on me, Ryder. I could take you in my sleep.”
“Is that a challenge?” I raised a brow, leaning back casually. “Because I’m pretty sure the last time we went head-to-head, you ended up flat on your ass.”
“That’s because you cheat,” Axel growled, pointing a fork in my direction. “Always finding some underhanded way to win.”
“Underhanded?” I scoffed. “It’s called strategy, Axel. Maybe try using your brain next time instead of your fists.”
Mia sighed dramatically, throwing her hands in the air. “Do you two ever stop? Honestly, it’s like watching a couple of teenagers.”
Delilah’s laugh was soft and sweet, cutting through the banter like a balm. “Leave them alone, Mia. They’re bonding. This is as close to a truce as we’re going to get.”
“Bonding?” Mia gave her an incredulous look. “It’s a miracle they haven’t killed each other.”
“Oh, don’t worry,” Axel said with a wicked grin, “I’m saving that for a special occasion.”
“Good luck with that,” I shot back, grabbing a roll from the basket in front of me. “You’d have to get through me first, and we both know how that’d go.”
“Enough,” Delilah said, her voice filled with amusement but firm enough to shut us up. “Can we just have one nice dinner without the two of you turning it into a pissing contest?”
“Fine,” I muttered, popping a piece of bread in my mouth. “But only because you asked so nicely, Kitten.”
Axel rolled his eyes, but his grin lingered. “I’ll let it go. For now.”
The laughter settled into a more comfortable rhythm, the four of us falling into easy conversation. The teasing and banter were still there, but the edges had softened, replaced by something that almost felt like camaraderie. It was a stark contrast to where we’d started, and for a fleeting moment, I allowed myself to believe we could make this work.
The evening passed in easy conversation, the four of us slipping into a rhythm that almost felt normal. It was a stark contrast to the chaos of a few months ago, and I couldn’t help but feel a flicker of pride at how far we’d come.
And then Delilah screamed.
The sound shot through me like a bullet, shattering the calm of the evening and sending a jolt of adrenaline through my veins. My chair clattered to the ground as I moved, my heart hammering in my chest. Delilah’s scream echoed in my ears, drowning out everything else. She clutched her belly, her face pale and twisted in pain, and the sight made my stomach twist.
Time seemed to slow as I dropped to my knees in front of her. My hands hovered over hers, unsure for a split second before instinct kicked in.
“Delilah?” I crouched beside her, my heart pounding. “What’s wrong?”
Her hand gripped mine tightly, her knuckles white. “It’s happening,” she gasped. “The baby…”
For a moment, everything froze. And then I was moving, barking orders at Axel to grab the car while Mia tried to keep Delilah calm. My mind raced, torn between panic and an overwhelming wave of excitement.
The bright lights of the hospital room illuminated Delilah’s face as she lay back on the bed, her breaths coming in short, sharp bursts. I stayed glued to her side, clutching her hand tightly as the monitor beeped steadily behind us. The antiseptic smell of the room was sharp, but all I could focus on was her.
“Ryder,” she whispered, her voice raw with pain. Her fingers gripped mine so tightly I thought they might break. “I can’t… I don’t know if I can do this.”
I crouched closer, brushing a strand of damp hair from her forehead. “You can,” I said, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me. “You’re the strongest person I know, Kitten. You’ve got this. I’ve got you.”
Her eyes met mine, glassy with unshed tears, but I saw the fire in them. She nodded once, drawing in a deep breath as another contraction rolled through her. Her entire body tensed, and a guttural cry tore from her throat. I felt helpless, watching her go through it, but I stayed right there, holding her hand, murmuring encouragement.
“You’re doing so good,” I whispered, pressing a kiss to her temple. “Just a little more, Kitten.”
The doctor’s voice cut through the tension. “You’re almost there, Delilah. Just a few more pushes.”
Delilah nodded, her face contorted with determination. Her grip on my hand tightened as she bore down, her screams filling the room. My heart pounded in my chest, each second feeling like an eternity as I watched her fight through the pain.
“You’re amazing,” I said, my voice cracking with emotion. “You’ve got this.”
She gave one final push, her cry of pain mixing with a new sound—a baby’s wail. The world seemed to stop as the doctor lifted the tiny, squirming figure, its cries filling the room.
“It’s a girl!” the doctor announced, placing the baby on Delilah’s chest.
I stared, completely frozen, as Delilah reached out, her hands trembling as she cradled our daughter. Her hair was matted to her forehead, her face pale and streaked with tears, but to me, she had never looked more beautiful. She was glowing, her expression a mixture of exhaustion and pure, unfiltered joy. The baby’s wails were sharp and strong, but they were the sweetest sound I’d ever heard.
“She’s perfect,” Delilah whispered, her voice trembling with awe. Her hands shook as she adjusted the tiny bundle on her chest, stroking her soft, pink skin. Tears streamed freely down her face as she looked up at me. “Ryder, look at her. Look at our little girl.”
My legs felt like they might give out as I leaned closer, the enormity of the moment crashing down on me. This was my daughter. Ours. A piece of Delilah and me, a life we’d created together. My throat tightened, and I blinked rapidly, trying to clear the tears clouding my vision.
She was so small, her tiny fists flailing as she let out another indignant cry. Her skin was pink and wrinkled, her face scrunched up in a way that was somehow both fierce and fragile. I reached out, my fingers trembling, and gently touched her hand. Her skin was impossibly soft, and when her fingers curled around mine, gripping tightly, a sob broke free from my chest.
“She’s beautiful,” I choked out, my voice barely above a whisper. My heart felt like it might burst as I glanced at Delilah, her eyes shimmering with the same overwhelming emotion I felt. “You did it, Kitten. You brought her into the world.”
Delilah laughed softly, the sound watery but full of pride. “We did it,” she corrected, her voice breaking as she leaned her head against my shoulder. Her tears mixed with mine, and we stayed like that for a moment, huddled together as a family.
I bent down, pressing a kiss to Delilah’s temple before brushing my lips over the top of our daughter’s head. She smelled of newness, a mix of baby and something uniquely her. My chest ached with a kind of love I hadn’t known was possible.
“Welcome to the world, little one,” I murmured, my voice breaking again. “You’ve already got me wrapped around your finger.”
Delilah chuckled through her tears, her hands never leaving the baby as she adjusted her closer. “She’s going to have you completely spoiling her, isn’t she?”
I smiled, unable to tear my eyes away from our daughter. “Damn right, she is.”
The three of us stayed like that, cocooned in the moment. The chaos of the world outside faded away, leaving only the overwhelming love I felt for the two most important people in my life. The weight of everything we’d been through melted away, replaced by a single, unshakable truth: this was our family, and I would do anything to protect them.
“So, what are we going to name her?” Delilah asked, glancing up at me with a soft smile.
I chuckled, brushing a hand over the back of my neck. “We’ve been dancing around that question for months.”
“I know,” she said, her gaze shifting back to the baby. “But now that she’s here, I feel like she deserves to have her name.”
I nodded, leaning closer to get a better look at her. “What about Grace? It was my mom’s middle name,” I said, my voice quiet. “Strong and beautiful, just like her. And for her middle name, what about your mom’s name?”
Delilah’s eyes softened as she looked up at me. “Grace,” she murmured, testing the name. She glanced down at the baby, brushing her fingers over her cheek. “Hi, Grace. Do you like that, sweet girl?”
The baby let out a soft coo, and we both laughed, the sound breaking the tension that had lingered in the room. Delilah nodded, her decision made. “Grace it is,” she said, her voice filled with certainty. “Grace Kane.”
“Grace Maria Kane,” I echoed, my chest swelling with pride. “She’s going to move mountains, Kitten. Just like her mom.”
Delilah smiled softly, her gaze falling back to Grace. “Maria was my mom’s name,” she said quietly, her voice laced with emotion. “She always wanted me to have the kind of life she didn’t, to be strong enough to make my own choices. Naming Grace after her… it feels like she’s part of this, part of her granddaughter’s life in some way.”
I nodded, my throat tightening. “Your mom would be proud of you, Delilah. Of the life you’ve built, the strength you’ve shown. And now, Grace will carry that with her, too.”
Delilah reached up, brushing a tear from her cheek. “She’s a part of both of us, Ryder. A little bit of our history and a whole lot of our future.”
I leaned down, kissing Delilah softly. “Our family,” I murmured, my voice filled with awe. “She’s perfect, just like her name.”
Delilah leaned into me, her head resting against my shoulder as we both gazed at our daughter. “And her dad,” she whispered. “She’s already got the best of both of us.”
I pressed a kiss to the top of Delilah’s head, my heart full in a way I’d never thought possible. “Yeah, she does.”
A soft knock at the door drew our attention, and Axel’s voice followed. “Mind if we come in?”
Delilah smiled, her exhaustion melting into warmth. “Come in,” she called, her voice gentle.
Axel pushed the door open, stepping inside with Mia close behind him. Axel’s usual smirk was gone, replaced by an expression I’d rarely seen on him—softness. His gaze immediately fell to Grace, and he froze, his hand resting lightly on the doorframe.
“Damn,” he said quietly, his voice rough. “She’s tiny.”
Mia nudged him with her elbow as she stepped around him, her smile wide and genuine. “She’s perfect,” Mia said, her eyes shining as she crouched slightly to get a better look at Grace. “Oh, Delilah, she’s beautiful.”
Delilah’s face lit up, and she shifted Grace slightly to show her off. “Meet Grace Maria Kane,” she said proudly.
Axel stepped closer, his movements careful and deliberate as if he were afraid to disturb the moment. He peered down at Grace, his brows knitting together as a small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “You named her after Mom?” he asked softly.
Delilah nodded, her voice steady but emotional. “It felt right. She’s a part of all of this.”
Axel’s jaw worked for a moment before he nodded. “Mom would’ve been over the moon. She’d be proud of you, Delilah. And happy for you.”
“Thanks, Axel,” Delilah said, her voice thick with gratitude.
Mia leaned over slightly, her gaze locked on Grace. “She looks so much like you, Delilah,” she said, grinning. “Except maybe the nose. I think that’s Ryder’s.”
I chuckled, shaking my head. “She’s got the best parts of both of us,” I said, pride swelling in my chest.
“Lucky kid,” Axel muttered, his smirk returning as he clapped a hand on my shoulder. “Congratulations, Kane. You’re officially outnumbered.”
“Don’t remind me,” I replied, though I couldn’t hide the grin tugging at my lips.
Mia reached out to gently touch Grace’s tiny hand, her eyes soft. “She’s going to be so loved,” she said. “She’s lucky to have you two as parents.”
Delilah looked up at me, her eyes shining. “She is lucky,” she said, her voice full of warmth. “But we’re the lucky ones, too.”
Axel cleared his throat, stepping back slightly. “Alright, we’ll let you two get some rest,” he said, his usual bravado softened by the moment. “But let us know if you need anything.”
“Thanks, Axel. Thanks, Mia,” I said, watching as they headed for the door. Mia gave us one last smile and a wave before slipping out.
As the door clicked shut, the room settled into a peaceful quiet. I looked down at Delilah and Grace, my heart swelling as I realized this was the start of something bigger than I’d ever imagined—our family, our future, and it was perfect.