Page 91 of Vicious Redemption

Lifting my head, I meet his eyes and smile. “Just wait. One of these days, you’ll have all my tricks figured out.”

Leo chuckles, soft and dark. The sound dies on his lips as I pinch my eyes closed and grip his fingers through another wave of pain. But this one’s less overpowering. Instead, it feels like a deep ache announcing what’s coming.

We sit together in companionable silence for a long time—long enough that I’m confident my mother intercepted Maria to tell her to hold off on the ice. Which I’m grateful for. As much as I want and need my mother and sister here with me, spending time with Leo calms me down. And as the contractions grow stronger and more frequent, Leo caresses me gently, his touch easing my pain.

“Hoooo,” I gasp, sitting up suddenly as I’m struck with a powerful urge to push.

“What?” Leo asks, immediately on high alert. “Do you need Dr. Trista?”

I nod. “I think it might be time.”

Leo’s out of his chair and at my hospital door in a flash. Moments later, my mother and sister pile back into the room, cup of ice chips in hand.

The calm before the storm is over as their entrance begins a flurry of activity in my room. Leo arrives with Dr. Trista shortly after. And with a quick assessment, she agrees it’s time. Standing by my shoulder, Leo lends me his hand, absorbing my pain as he remains by my side. And after several exhausting hours of breathing and pushing, breathing and pushing, I finally give birth to our little girl.

Her first angry wails as she enters the world bring tears to my eyes, and Leo’s shine in wonder as he watches the doctor take her to clean and examine her, then swaddle our little girl in a blanket.

“Congratulations, mom and dad. You’ve successfully given birth to a very healthy seven-pound-eight-ounce little girl. Would you like to hold her?” Dr. Trista offers to Leo when she’s finished counting all the necessary fingers and toes.

He gives my shoulder a squeeze and leaves my side to go collect our baby in his arms.

My heart swells as he gathers her from the doctor. Pride eclipses Leo’s masculine face as he takes our baby girl in his arms for the first time. With slow rocking steps, he carries her back to me and my mom and sister like our baby is the most delicate, breakable piece of china he’s ever seen.

“Look who it is?” he murmurs, settling beside me on the hospital bed to show off our daughter.

“Miss Angelica Rose Moretti,” I breathe, my heart bursting, I’m so happy.

“It’s wonderful to meet you, Angelica,” Maria says quietly, pulling down a corner of the blanket to admire her tiny fingers and plump cheeks. “I’m your Auntie Maria.”

“Congratulations, Tia,” my mother says, her typically reserved demeanor replaced with a rare warmth. It would seem my daughter has carried on the tradition of melting people’s hearts without any effort. My mom presses a kiss to my sweaty forehead and combs the hair from my brow. Then she smiles at my husband. “You too, Leo. I’m so happy for you. She’s a beautiful little angel.”

“Thanks, Mama,” I murmur as fresh tears sting my eyes.

Finished washing her hands, Dr. Trista congratulates us once again before excusing herself and quietly slipping from the room.

Then it’s my mother’s turn to collect Maria and steer her toward the door. “We’ll go grab a cup of coffee and give you two a moment,” she says.

I smile gratefully and turn my attention to Leo and our baby once more.

“You ready to hold her?” he offers.

“I thought you would never ask.” I laugh.

He carefully transfers her into my arms, then he wraps one arm around my shoulders, the other beneath my arm to hold me and her at the same time.

“She’s perfect, isn’t she?” he asks in wonder, peering down at our little girl like he’s never seen anything so precious.

“Yeah,” I murmur, resting my head against his shoulder as I admire her button nose and O-shaped lips. “Thank you, precious girl,” I murmur, running the back of my knuckle over her soft cheek. “Thank you for making me the happiest woman in the world.”

My heart is so full of love, I can’t seem to find the words to express it. I have everything I could ever want, right here in this bed with me. And I credit the tiny sleeping baby in my arms for almost all of it.

She brought me and Leo together. She uncovered a softer side to him I might never have known otherwise. She kept me sane with her company over the most challenging months of my life. And now she’s here, blessing me with her presence. My tiny guardian angel that feels like a gift made for me.

I’ve never been happier. And knowing that I get to share this happiness—this life—with Leo is better than I ever could have dreamed.

Leo’s cheek rests lightly on my head, his hand leaving my arm so he can gently stroke Angelica’s soft head.

“Thank you, Tia,” he murmurs, and he presses a kiss to the crown of my head.

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