Chapter Forty-one
I stare at the pile of flat-packed furniture in the middle of the now empty room.
We moved Lily into the spare bedroom temporarily while we get this room redecorated to suit her better.
We’ve officially been living together for a week.
Sloane has moved into my bedroom and arranged for the rest of her belongings to be packed up and moved over next week, officially handing in the keys to her landlord at the same time.
We’ve slipped into a natural routine, making it seem like this has always been the way.
Across from me, she pours the nude-colored paint into the tray, ready to tackle the darkness in the room and lighten it up for Lily.
Three of the walls will be that color, while one will be the accent.
We picked a bright, floral wallpaper that had pinks and greens, and blues threaded throughout.
The first piece of its kind in this house, but if Sloane wants to completely renovate, then she has free rein to do so.
I’d offered to hire contractors to do the work, but Sloane wanted us to do it, so here we are.
“That crib isn’t going to build itself,” Sloane reprimands teasingly as she pushes the roller through the paint and loads it up.
I cock my head as she walks, her tight leggings molding to the shape of her thighs and ass, while she has knotted her old band tee at the front to show off a slither of skin across her abdomen.
She has her ashy hair piled high in a bun, her face fresh, a little pink blush from the hour we spent in bed before we got to work on her cheeks.
While she gets to painting the walls, I start unboxing the crib, leaving the set of drawers, changing table, and shelving for last. The rocking chair that was in here before is staying.
We work silently, comfortably. She paints while I put the furniture together. Lily is with Willow and Sebastian while we get this done during the day, but we’ll be picking her up a little later when we go to dinner at their place.
Willow had offered when we dropped Lily there this morning, and it was Sloane who’d accepted, excited to spend time with them.
Bast confirmed three days ago that Richard was dead, buried in some unmarked grave behind the estate where Malakai and Olivia live.
His business is gone, seventy-five percent and counting, of the women he sold have been found with their buyers being prosecuted.
Richard had a complete list of buyers saved on his computer, which I now have.
Anyone who attempted to take over from him was killed, and the mercenaries on his payroll are now on ours.
It’s over with him.
Sloane manages to get two walls painted, and half the crib is built, when my cell buzzes.
Bast’s name flashes on the screen, and my heart sinks a little.
“Everything okay?” I answer.
He chuckles, “All good, brother, Lily is fine.”
I release my breath.
“But we will have to raincheck on dinner tonight and grab something while we are out.”
I put the drill down and wipe away the sweat on my brow. Sloane looks toward me, paintbrush in hand, as she listens. “What do you mean?”
“Gotta meet us down at the hospital; Olivia just had her baby.”
“Oh, shit!” I laugh, “Serious!?”
“Little boy,” Bast says proudly, “Malakai called ten minutes ago, born healthy, and Olivia is doing well.”
“We’re on our way,” I tell him and put the phone down.
“She had the baby!?” Sloane squeals, “That’s exciting!”
“Going to head down to the hospital now,” I pocket my cell and tidy up a little.
“Okay,” She smiles warmly, “I’ll just get this painting done while you’re gone.”
My brow lowers, “What?”
“I promise I have a steady hand,” She laughs as she puts the roller back to the wall and continues to work, “I can cut in. You’ve got a step ladder right?”
“Sloane,” I catch her attention, “You’re coming.”
“Huh?”
“Malakai wants his family to meet his son,” I explain, “That means you too.”
“But I–”
“You’re family, Sloane. Come on, let’s go before we hit rush hour.”
There’s a little bit of paint on her, a smear on her cheek, a speck on her shirt but she looks so damn beautiful right now.
“Are you sure?”
“Never surer of anything, Sloane.”
Her bottom lip quivers a little, but she pulls it together and cleans up, covering the paint in the tray so it doesn’t dry up while we’re gone, and skips out of the room.
I follow a little slower, reveling in the skip in her step and the general lightness about her now.
And yeah, I’m damn proud to be part of the reason it’s there.
We drive across the city and pull up to the hospital twenty minutes later, parking beside Killian’s Audi.
It doesn’t look like Bast is here yet, but he’s a little farther away than the rest of us.
We find out what floor she is on, but Sloane insists on heading to the little shop first, selecting several items on her way through.
A few little things are for the baby, but most of the things she gets are for Olivia.
I pay at the front and bundle everything into a bag, and then we take the elevator up to the fourth floor.
Her hand slips into mine as we walk down the long corridor, the sound of crying babies filling the air.
Olivia is at the very end, in a private suite that looks better suited for a hotel than a hospital.
I should hardly be surprised when it comes to Malakai.
Malakai stands at the window, a swaddled bundle in his arms, while Killian and Savannah cuddle up on the couch beside him, and Olivia is in the bed, her skin a little pale, but she looks happy. A little tired.
That’s where Sloane goes immediately, taking Oli’s hand in hers.
“How do you feel?” She asks.
Something softens in Olivia, “I’m okay. Tired.”
A low whistle sounds from Sloane, “I bet.”
I watch them from a distance for a moment and then come up beside my girl, leaning down to kiss Olivia’s cheek before I pass the bag of gifts over.
“I got you those aloe pads,” Sloane begins to rush out, “I’ve no idea how good they are, you know, no babies here, but I have heard really good things about them. If you put them in the freezer first, apparently they work wonders.”
Olivia chuckles, “Thank you.”
“And there’s chocolate. I was going to get you wine, but I had no idea if you’d want it, or if you wanted to breastfeed or drink at all.”
She’s rambling, and it’s adorable.
“Sloane,” Olivia grasps her hand, “I’m really happy you’re here.”
“Fuck,” Savannah hisses from the other side of the room, drawing everyone’s attention, “I’m going to cry.”
“Do you want to meet him?” Olivia asks. “His name is Wyatt.”
“Can I?” Sloane blinks rapidly.
“Of course you can,” Malakai answers for her, coming up beside us with the bundle in his arms. The sleeping baby is so small, too small, surely. Was this how big Lily was when she was born? This fragile?
He carefully pulls the blankets away from the baby’s face, letting us get a good look at his son.
“He’s so beautiful,” Sloane strokes a finger down his cheek and looks back at Oli, who watches the whole thing with tears in her eyes.
Bast turns up a couple of minutes later, a whole bundle of balloons in one hand and a giant teddy bear in the other, while Willow pushes a double stroller in, the baskets side by side with Hope and Lily inside.
“Did you buy a double just for Lily?” I ask, and Willow widens her eyes and shakes her head frantically, but it’s too late. Olivia has clocked it, completely ignoring Sebastian and his bouquet of balloons.
“Why do you have a double stroller?” She demands of her best friend.
“Uh,” Willow stammers.
“Did you see the bear!?” Sebastian attempts to distract, but Olivia has her sights set.
“Willow.”
She doesn’t answer.
“Oh my god. You’re pregnant!” Oli squeals and then winces, prompting Malakai to step closer, but the baby in his arms stops him from reaching for her.
“I was going to wait to tell you,” Willow winces.
“What? Why?” Olivia frowns.
“I didn’t want to steal your thunder,” Willow says to her best friend, putting the brake on the stroller to go to her friend.
“Babies everywhere,” Savannah sing songs, her eyes turning to Killian. He chuckles down at her, hearing what she doesn’t say out loud, “If that’s what you want.” He says simply.
Sloane wanders over to me and tucks herself against my arm, but her attention is on Lily, making sure she’s okay and still sleeping, which she is.
When Olivia’s sister arrives a couple of hours later, we all head out to give them some time and rest.
“Dinner on fourth?” Bast pats his stomach, “I’m fucking starving.”
“The pizza place?” Savannah questions.
“Obviously,” He tuts at her.
So that’s where we go, that sense of everything just being right making my whole body light.
I’m a damn lucky man.