Rowan
The skin was still faintly raised, flushed pink beneath the ink. Our initials sat in cursive just below her hairline, nestled at the nape of her neck—intimate, deliberate. Permanent.
I nearly shoved Alec aside when he crowded in too close.
“Why don’t you get a magnifying glass?” I said dryly as he pulled out his phone and started taking photos.
The R curved outward in clean, confident semicircles.
The A looped seamlessly into it—no hard breaks, no sharp angles.
Then the N swept back around, enclosing us both, completing the shape.
The final flourish drew everything inward, forming a subtle oval that framed the initials without distracting from them.
It was balanced yet intentional, unmistakably ours.
I’d found her.
Alec had accepted her.
Nick had followed—eventually.
That was why the order mattered.
Well—technically Nick had found her first. But I’d acted before either of them had time to hesitate.
Alec stepped back at last, still staring at his phone, reverent in his own way.
I rested my hand on Ella’s shoulder, then glanced at Nick. He’d kept the design subtle and respectful, which spoke volumes. I gave him a brief nod before I spoke.
“I think we should go out and celebrate,” I said, squeezing Ella’s shoulder once before letting go. “Take a little road trip. A few days on the coast.”
Nick scowled—right up until his eyes landed on Ella.
I grinned. There was no chance he’d take the bike when he could be in the car with her.
?
?
?
I stretched my arms above my head, watching Alec and Nick usher Ella toward the service station.
She wore a short-sleeved summer dress that trailed behind her, bright enough to rival the sun itself.
There was a brief tug-of-war as they each tried to pull her to their side, but it ended the way it always did—both their arms wrapped around her as they reached the doors.
It felt good to be away from work, to exist somewhere warm and ordinary. Nick carried a gun tucked beneath his waistband, another rested in the car. We rarely took trips like this, but now that we had Ella, I could see them becoming routine. Necessary, even.
I locked the SUV and followed at an unhurried pace, watching people clock the trio as they passed—curious glances, quick double-takes. The ebb and flow of bodies slowed me, leaving me momentarily behind as Alec and Nick escorted Ella toward the ladies’ bathroom. I’d expected Nick to wait outside.
Not Alec.
Our little expansion was solid. That pleased me.
I joined them. Because why not?
We didn’t wait long. Ella emerged a minute later, fingers pushing her hair back as she spotted us standing there. Surprise flickered across her face before easing into a slow, genuine smile. I held my arm out. Nick rushed to claim the other. This time, Alec stayed back, watching us instead.
After a light meal and a stop at the facilities, we took our coffee outside. That was when Alec produced her pill.
He enjoyed this part. I suppose we all did—but Alec relished it. The quiet deception. The routine she trusted.
Ella swallowed it with her coffee, unaware. The daily ritual she believed was protecting her was nothing more than a lie we maintained.
I only needed confirmation now.
Once she’d conceived.
After all—how far could she really run with a baby in tow?
?
?
?
I tossed the keys to Nick, who caught them mid-air. He didn’t complain—we rotated driving duties, and we’d reach the beachfront villa well before lunchtime. I wasn’t sure whether Ella would want nightlife or nature, but our destination offered both. Options mattered.
Alec gathered her dress as she climbed into the dark blue SUV.
The height made it more awkward than our usual cars, but we’d need to get used to it.
Travelling with a baby changed the logistics.
The sports cars were off the table for now—this was as close to a family vehicle as we were willing to get.
I watched her settle into the seat and found myself assessing the space.
The build.
The safety.
Was it enough?
A newer model might be wiser.
The thought barely finished forming before another followed—uninvited.
What if there were twins?
Triplets?
Fuck.
Five seats wouldn’t cut it.
I must’ve stalled too long, because Alec looked up from Ella, his gaze catching mine. He always noticed.
“We might need a bigger vehicle,” I said lightly, as if it were nothing more than idle planning.
“I’ve already chosen one,” he replied, his hand resting casually on Ella’s thigh.
“Of course you have,” Nick drawled from the driver’s seat. “What did you go for—a ten-seater?”
I smirked and laced my fingers through Ella’s, ignoring her confusion.
Six kids.
Two each.
Not a bad idea at all.
?
?
?
I tossed the towel over my shoulder and headed downstairs.
Alec was in the kitchen, sleeves rolled up, while Nick and Ella were outside in the hot tub.
The patio doors stood open, letting in the warmth and the steady hush of the sea.
Their voices drifted in on the breeze—soft laughter, relaxed, unguarded.
“I checked in on Dominion,” I said, leaning against the counter. “If everything holds, we can stay out here a few extra days.”
The villa sat high above the beach—modern lines, glass and stone—but far enough back to ensure privacy and security. Sunlight spilled across the tiled floor, the air carrying salt and heat. Eric’s games would pause for now. Permanently, once he caught a bullet.
Alec dropped a few bay leaves into the pot and set the lid in place before glancing back at me over his shoulder.
“Good,” he said, scratching at his beard. “I like seeing her like this. Out in the sun. Away from it all.”
He hesitated—just long enough to mean something.
“Vitamin D’s good for the baby.”
“If there is one,” I mused.
His mouth curved. “About that—she hasn’t had her period yet.”
The words cut through me sharply.
“Fuck,” I said. “Check if it’s safe. She’s practically boiling herself in that hot tub.”
Alec didn’t bother with his phone. He headed straight outside, purposeful. I went back upstairs, retrieved mine, and spent the better part of the afternoon deep in medical forums and articles—what not to eat, what not to drink, what not to soak in.
Every so often I looked up from the screen.
Ella drifting in the pool.
Nick stretched out on a lounger beside her.
Sunlight glinting off water and skin.
Alec made sure she drank constantly. Nick never left her side.
She wore a simple electric-blue bikini—bright against her skin, almost glowing. I couldn’t remember who’d bought it. At this point, her wardrobe was expanding faster than any of us could track.
I sent a few links into the group chat and finally went to join them for lunch. The mood was light. Easy. Ella laughed freely, shoulders loose, eyes bright.
For now, this was peace.
This—this—was the family I wanted around me to raise and protect our children.