EPILOGUE
My hand brushed over my round belly, poking back at the little feet that constantly kicked inside me.
I was in the last weeks of this pregnancy, and so goddamn ready for this baby to be out. He never stopped moving, never slowed down, just like his father.
“Do you need anything?” the father asked for the one millionth time while I stretched out on my chair in the garden of our Hamptons house. We were here on vacation, a last moment of relaxation before the chaos of a new baby changed our lives once again.
“I’m fine, Max,” I responded with a laugh. My hand rounded my belly again. “We’re both fine.”
Our other kids played in the yard in front of us with their other dads while Max continued to fret about and continually ask me if I was okay.
It had taken him a long time to decide that he wanted to be a father. He was the last of my men to ask me to carry his child, and this child would be all our last. Massimo. Named after Max’s father. A soft smile broke over my face as I watched our wondrous family at peace. At home.
After fifteen years, the last piece of our family would slot into place.
“Mom! Watch!” Nico called, Cas’s and my firstborn child. Niccolo. I laughed while our twelve-year-old slid down the slip and slide, water spraying all over his father, his other dads, and the rest of our children.
“Oh, no, you don’t!” Ryuji called as he stepped up to the slip and slide, holding the hand of our five-year-old daughter, Rin. “We’ll destroy you with our splashes!”
“Mama, can I feel your belly?” Adaeze, Obi’s ten-year-old daughter, asked. “Is he kicking a lot today?” Her twin brother, Akachi, waited right behind her, the same question written on his face. They both looked so much like their father and were our second eldest behind Nico.
“Of course, my loves.” I pulled their hands to rest right over the spot where their little brother was kicking. I adored how their eyes widened as they looked at each other and giggled. My hands cupped each of their cheeks. “Baby brother is doing flips today. Can you feel it?”
Ada leaned forward, giggling. She nudged Akachi, and he put both palms against my belly.
“Mama!” His eyes went wide when Massimo stretched, pushing his leg against my skin like a little alien. “That’s crazy!”
“I know, right—” A pain rippled low in my belly, and I winced.
“Let your mother rest,” Obi’s deep voice rumbled from behind me. “Go play.”
“Oh, it’s fine,” I chided while the twins ran off. “Obi, I’m okay. We’ve all been through this before.”
I’d been having periodic contractions for a few days and could tell Massimo was getting ready, but I was too stubborn to admit it. I wanted to enjoy our last few days of summer together first.
“It never becomes less worrying, ifunanya’m,” he murmured while he bent over to kiss my forehead. “How are your contractions?”
“Fifteen minutes apart,” Max answered. “Getting closer.”
Obi’s hand rested on Max’s shoulder. “Keep an eye on her.”
“Always.”
I rolled my eyes. “Can we just enjoy the afternoon without mother hens hovering everywhere?”
“Nope,” Ciel said from behind me. I craned my head and smiled when he walked over carrying our three-year-old daughter. She was our youngest until Massimo came. “We’re awake from our nap, Mami.”
“Oh, goodness, look at you, beautiful,” I cooed while I plucked her from Ciel’s arms and pressed a kiss to her sleepy forehead. “Did you have a good nap, Mari?”
Mariposa nodded, nuzzling her head into my neck.
“Good, I’m glad.” My hand brushed down her head of curly brown hair, exactly like her father’s. She was slightly sweaty, her curls sticking to her temples. She always napped hot. “Ready to go play in the water?”
She looked over her shoulder at all her siblings frolicking in the splash pad and the slip and slide. The late summer air was stifling and humid, but I was convinced this was heaven on earth.
“Yeah,” she finally responded, her little voice making me smile even wider.
Ciel grinned while he picked her up out of my arms. “Let’s go get changed, then, mija. We’ll be back.”
He passed by Wynn, giving him a lingering kiss before heading back inside.
Wynn chose not to have a child of his own, but he doted on all of our other kids—especially Mariposa.
He was an amazing dad, always the first one to wake up in the middle of the night and the last one to go to sleep once everyone was tucked away in bed.
He played the longest and cleaned up the messes, and treated our children the most patiently—especially when I got overstimulated from all the constant noise.
He basically held us all together and kept our family running smoothly.
“Darling,” he said, handing me a plate of snacks. “Eat.”
“Oooo.” I reached for a few dates he’d put on the plate. They weren’t my favorite thing ever, but they were beneficial leading up to labor. Then, I grabbed a couple of Oreos. Just as a treat.
Max grabbed one from my hand. “You should eat healthy food.”
I scoffed, popping an entire Oreo into my mouth. “Are you really trying to tell a nine-month-pregnant woman what she can or cannot eat? The mother of your children, no less?”
He stared at me for a second while chewing his own cookie. “Nope.”
“Didn’t think so.” I settled back into my chair with my plate of snacks balancing on my tummy. We watched the kids playing. Max’s hand reached over to entwine with mine.
“Our summers used to be like this,” he said.
Cas and Nico splashed around until a little too much water landed in Rin’s face.
Nico was the first to scoop her into his arms and comfort his little sister.
While Nico tossed her into the air and got her to laugh again, Ryu pulled Cas in close for a kiss.
Cas squeezed Ryu’s ass when he thought the kids weren’t looking, but I saw Nico gag and scowl.
I giggled into my little plate of snacks, joy bubbling up inside my chest right next to the crippling heartburn.
I loved my men, and I loved that they loved each other, too. This was the perfect version of our family. I wouldn’t ask for anything to be different.
“Not exactly like this,” I said with a laugh.
Max grinned. “I guess not.”
“But I know what you meant,” I added with a sigh. “Safety. Family. Fun. Your dad would have loved this.”
Max nodded. “He’d be the first one down the slip and slide.”
Little Massimo tumbled inside my stomach again, and I held back a grimace. “Your son feels like he’ll be the same.”
He went quiet, grabbing another Oreo off my plate. A few minutes of gentle peace passed.
“Thank you, Leona,” he said, breaking the silence.
I gave him a funny look. “For what?”
He smiled, his grey eyes crinkling. “Everything.”
I matched his smile with a crooked one of my own.
“Thank me again once I push this baby out—” I sucked in a breath when a contraction laced through my stomach.
This one was fucking strong. My eyes squeezed shut while the pain rippled and everything went tight.
When I opened them up again, Max was standing.
“That was a bad one.”
“I’m fine,” I said, taking a deep breath.
Obi was by my side in an instant. “Dear one…”
“I said I’m fine,” I replied. Obi became so overbearing whenever I was near labor. “Seriously—”
Another contraction stole my breath. Fuck, fuck, fuck. My heart pounded in my chest, and it took all my effort to focus on my breathing until it passed.
“Yeah, that was a big one,” I said, smiling up at Max and Obi. I’d been through this enough times now to know when it was time. “Who’s ready to go to the hospital?”
Wynn carried over our duffel bags, holding them up. “Let’s go, darling.”
When I’d first gotten pregnant with Nico, Obi had purchased multiple hospitals and dumped millions of dollars into making sure they had top of the line equipment and doctors.
He’d wanted to keep them private, for my use, but I told him that was absolutely ridiculous.
People needed healthcare, obviously, so he’d instead opened the hospitals as donor-funded and completely free.
We were the donors, but nobody needed to know that.
After that, Obi had purchased a private clinic which he kept staffed 24/7 for our family emergencies—which were still more frequent than many of us would have liked. Life in the mafia had definitely calmed down since our younger years, but it was still dangerous.
Willow had trained the doctors at our private clinic, and they were all family friends. We certainly saw them often enough. Obi had my OB/GYN meet us at the entrance to the clinic. He, Max, and Wynn had come with me while Cas, Ryu, and Ciel stayed home with the kids. They’d join us later.
“I’ve got the water running, darling,” Wynn said as Obi and Max helped me hobble into the hospital room while the nurses started taking my vitals. Birth was never easy, but hot water was my favorite way to labor. The shower water running in the background was already relaxing.
Obi and Max talked to our nurses while Wynn got me ready to strip. This part was all about tuning everything else out. My body and my brain sank into now-familiar patterns, but there was always a moment of fear and uncertainty.
What if something went wrong?
What if my body suddenly didn’t know what to do?
What if the pain was too much?
What if—
Wynn’s hand closed around mine. “I’ve got you. You’re safe. The baby is going to be fine. We’re right here.”
Tears pricked my eyes as I leaned against his body, and he supported me into the bathroom. “Thank you, Wynn.”
He pressed a kiss to my temple. “I love you. You can do this. When you’re done, our little will be Earthside and all will be well.”
I nodded, throat tight with emotion. He pulled off his shirt and followed me into the shower. He supported my belly while I rocked underneath the hot spray and breathed through each contraction. His chest was the perfect pillow to lean against.
Hours later, I held my beautiful newborn against my bare skin for the most wonderful golden hour.
The delivery had been smooth, though my son had been stubborn. It took him a while longer to decide to come, but Obi, Max, and Wynn were right there the entire time. We video-called the rest of our family once he came out, and all seven of us were in tears.
The doctor gave both Massimo and me a clean bill of health. If we got enough rest and Massimo ate well and finished his newborn tests, we planned to go home tomorrow. But I felt well enough for visits, so Cas, Ryu, and Ciel were bringing our kids to the clinic.
Right now, though, it was just quiet.
Just us.
“Massimo,” I whispered, gently brushing my finger over his nose. It was just like Max’s. “My beautiful son.”
Max leaned next to me on the hospital bed, cuddled up with one arm around my shoulders and the other cradling our child. Wynn and Obi were in the cafeteria, grabbing all of us some food, but they’d be back soon.
“You’re amazing,” Max said, voice choked. I looked up to see tears tracking down his cheeks. He sucked in a breath, staring at our son. “Thank you, Leona. Thank you for this. I don’t deserve either of you.”
“Well,” I said softly, cupping his cheek. “You have the rest of your life to earn it.”
His nose nudged mine before his hand smoothed over the thin hair on Massimo’s head. “I promise I will.”
“Max…you already have.”
He closed his eyes and leaned in tighter, pressing a kiss to the top of my head.
Sound burst through the hospital door as our family rushed inside, bringing the chaos of our lives with them.
“Hand sanitizer!” I whisper-shouted, trying not to wake Massimo. No one was surprised, and everyone complied quickly—whispering about how they couldn’t wait to see the baby.
Ryu and Rin were first, squealing with delight.
Ryu gave me a huge kiss, slipping some tongue before kissing my forehead and telling me how much of a badass I was.
Rin hopped around the room, chatting about how she couldn’t wait to play with her little brother once everyone was home.
She was a delightful ball of energy that kept all of us on our toes, but she was also kind and thoughtful and an excellent big sister.
Cas and Nico were next, along with Akachi and Adaeze.
Cas met Max’s huge hug with shaking laughter, and when they started crying, I started crying.
Then Massimo startled and gave us a little newborn cry, which made Nico tear up, and then I couldn’t stop.
Nico sat on the couch next to Adaeze, holding his littlest brother with terrified eyes, but he swore to protect him for the rest of his life.
Then, of course, I cried all over again, especially when Akachi made the same declaration.
Nico transferred Massimo to Adaeze with careful movements, and she sang him a little song.
My eldest daughter was beautiful and strong, and had the biggest heart I’d ever seen.
Ciel and Wynn set two huge trays of food down on both my hospital bed table and the little coffee table in the corner.
Wynn balanced Mariposa on his hip, and her little hands clutched his shirt like she’d never, ever let him go.
I smiled, feeling another wave of tears incoming, because I never wanted to let him go either.
Ciel gingerly took Massimo from Adaeze and held him up so Mari could see.
She greeted her new brother with her characteristic silence and wide blue eyes.
Then she reached out to touch his head. We all watched the moment when she became totally obsessed with him.
She wouldn’t be the youngest anymore, but she didn’t seem to mind.
Obi came last. He cupped my cheeks and pressed a kiss to both sides of my face, and then my forehead.
“I’m sorry I was gone,” he murmured. “I was talking to the doctors. How are you?”
“I’m perfect,” I answered, smiling. I was exhausted and worn out, but there was no joy and contentment like knowing your children were happy and loved. “Look at our family, Obi. We did it.”
He rested his forehead against mine. “You are the mother of our children. You have done it. You have given me everything I’ve ever dreamed, and I will spend the rest of my life doing the same for you.”
I gazed up at him, tears in my eyes. “This is my dream.”
He kissed me, gentle and sweet, and when he pulled away, his joy was clear. It was the largest smile I’d ever seen on his handsome face. “And now it’s time to live it.”
Our family piled around us, safe and happy. Their laughter echoed in my ears.
This was the future we’d fought for.
This was the future we deserved.
The End