Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79685 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79685 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
“Are you angry with me?” he asks, his tone worried.
My gaze lifts to his. “No, but I’m not happy either.” I carefully push the fabric off his shoulders. I take off his pants and boots, and once I have him naked, I say, “Get in the shower.”
I quickly take off my own clothes while Santiago steps beneath the spray, then I join him. I wash his body, and every drop of blood that blends with the water is a blow to my heart.
I could’ve lost him today.
My chin quivers, and of course, the man notices. He wraps his arms around me, pulling me to his chest, and I mutter, “Don’t get the bandage wet.”
“Fuck the bandage.”
I tilt my head back, and our eyes connect. “I can’t lose you.” A tear escapes, rolling down my cheek. “There’s no me without you.”
He brings his hands to my cheeks, his expression dead serious as he says, “You won’t lose me.” He leans down and presses a kiss to my trembling lips. “I’ve been doing this for over twenty years, and today was the first time I got shot.”
“Just be more careful. Please.”
Santiago nods. “I promise. Okay?” When I nod, he asks, “So we’re good?”
“Yes.”
When he lowers his head again, I push up on my toes, kissing him with every ounce of love I feel for him.
Chapter 32
SANTIAGO
I sit on the foot of the bed and stare at the single word showing on the little screen. Nearing my forties, I was worried I’d never see it.
Pregnant.
“Baby?” Ciara whispers as she takes a seat beside me. “Are you okay?”
My vision blurs with tears, and I suck in a shuddering breath, then I move off the bed and kneel in front of the woman I’m marrying today.
She’s been feeling sick, and we got a pregnancy test this morning. I knew there was a good chance, but I didn’t believe it would actually happen.
I open my mouth, but no words come out, so I just wrap my arms around her and press my face into her stomach.
She brushes her fingers through my hair and waits patiently while I process the incredible news that I’m going to be a father.
After long minutes, the first thought that pops into my mind is baby names. “If it’s a boy, can we name him Adan. After my father?”
“Yes,” she whispers, her tone filled with love. “And if it’s a girl, we can name her after your mother.”
I lift my head to look up at her. “Julieta.”
I haven’t said their names in over two decades.
Thinking of Ciara, I ask, “You’re okay with those names?”
She nods, lovingly trailing her fingers over the side of my face. “I love them.” Suddenly, her face crumbles and she sobs, “I’m pregnant.”
I dart up off the floor and sit down on the bed before pulling her onto my lap. “Hey, it’s okay.”
She shakes her head. “I-I’m so h-happy.”
Thank fuck.
I hold her as gently as I can, not wanting to do anything that will hurt our baby. “I’ll change diapers. I’ll get up at night. I’ll…”
She lets out a burst of laughter. “You’re so cute.”
Only when it comes to her.
Ciara wipes the tears from her cheeks before climbing off my lap. “You need to leave so I can finish getting ready, or I’ll be late for our wedding.”
Grinning from ear to ear, I get up. I press a kiss to her forehead before saying, “I waited over a year for you. What’s ten more minutes?”
“I’m glad you think it will only be ten minutes,” she chuckles.
There’s a knock at the door, and I call out, “Come in.”
The door opens, and Grace peeks into the room. Then she sees Ciara’s blotchy face and rushes to her sister. “Aww. Are you emotional?”
“No, I’m pregnant,” Ciara replies.
“Oh my God,” Grace gasps. “Are you serious?”
Ciara points at the bed where I left the stick, and Grace looks at it. Then, a smile spreads over her face, and she grabs hold of Ciara, letting out a shriek.
“We’re pregnant at the same time,” Grace sobs, and taking that as my cue to leave, I walk out of the room and shut the door behind me.
I head downstairs, where I find Dominik and Pedro sitting in absolute silence. Neither is a big talker, so I’m not surprised.
When they notice me, they stand up, and Dominik asks, “Ready for your big day?”
I grin at them. “I have fantastic news.”
The corner of Pedro’s mouth lifts because he’s the one who got the pregnancy test from the clinic. “Yeah?”
Nodding, I say, “Hell fucking yeah. Ciara’s pregnant.”
Pedro gets to me first, hugging the fuck out of me and whispering, “I’m so fucking happy for you.” When he pulls back, there are unshed tears in his eyes, and it instantly makes me emotional.
“If you cry, I cry,” I mutter.
Dominik comes to shake my hand. “Congrats. Enjoy your last nine months of sleep.”