Page 115 of Say You're Mine

"It's okay," I murmur, pressing a kiss to her temple. "I've got you. Both of you."

Cara's fingers dig into my arm, and I feel her tense. "June," she whispers, voice tight with pain. "The baby. I think... I think it's coming."

Ice floods my veins. No. Not now. Not like this.

I look up, meeting Elaine's gaze over Cara's head. For the first time, I see uncertainty in her eyes. Good. She should be afraid.

Because I'm about to show her exactly what a cornered animal is capable of.

"Last chance, Mother," I growl, shifting to support Cara's weight. "Let us go, and maybe I won't paint these lawns with your blood."

Elaine's lips curve into a cold smile. "Oh, Juniper. When will you learn? I always win."

She raises her gun once more. I brace for the end. But before she can pull the trigger, the night explodes into chaos.

Gunfire erupts from all sides, muzzle flashes lighting up the darkness. Elaine's men drop like flies. And through the smoke and confusion, I see a familiar figure striding towards us.

Dante fucking Corleone, looking like the avenging angel of death himself.

"Sorry I'm late to the party," he drawls, eyes never leaving Elaine's face. "Traffic was a bitch."

Relief crashes over me. We're not alone. We're not done. Not yet.

I tighten my grip on Cara, feeling her sag as another contraction hits. "Hold on, baby," I murmur. "Just a little longer. We're almost home."

Elaine's face contorts with rage as her plans crumble. "You," she hisses at Dante. "You dare interfere in family business?"

Dante's smile is all teeth. "Sweetheart, you made it my business the moment you fucked with my friends."

It happens in the blink of an eye. Elaine swings her gun towards Dante, a snarl on her lips. But he's faster. His shot rings out, true and deadly.

Elaine's head snaps back, a spray of red mist erupting from the exit wound. She crumples to the ground, a puppet with cut strings. The sight of her lying there, skull shattered and brain matter painting the grass, should sicken me. Instead, all I feel is a grim satisfaction.

Silence reigns for a moment. Then Cara lets out a low moan of pain, snapping me back to reality.

"We need to get her to a hospital," I bark, already scooping her into my arms. The bullet wound screams in protest, but I ignore it. Nothing matters except getting Cara and our baby to safety.

Dante nods, barking orders into a radio. Within moments, we're surrounded by his men, a protective circle forming as we make our way to the waiting cars.

I climb into the backseat of an SUV, cradling Cara against my chest. She pants through another contraction, face buried in my neck.

"I've got you," I murmur, pressing kisses to her sweat-dampened hair. "You're doing so good, baby. So fucking brave."

She lets out a watery laugh. "Some rescue," she gasps. "Cutting it a little close, weren't you?"

I smile despite everything, heart swelling with love for this incredible woman. "You know me," I say, nuzzling her temple. "Always did have a flair for the dramatic."

As we speed towards the hospital, I feel something shift inside me. The rage, the darkness that's been my constant companion - it's still there, but tempered now. By something stronger. Something unbreakable.

Love. For Cara. For our child. For the family we're building, brick by blood-soaked brick.

I press my hand to Cara's belly, feeling powerful contractions ripple beneath my palm. Our baby is coming, ready or not. And I'll be damned if I miss a single moment of it.

"I love you," I whisper, lips brushing the shell of her ear. "Both of you. More than anything in this fucked up world."

Cara turns her head, capturing my lips in a fierce, desperate kiss. "I love you too," she breathes against my mouth. "Now let's go have this baby."

As we race through the night, leaving death and destruction in our wake, I feel a sense of peace settle over me. We made it. We're together. And nothing - not Elaine, not the ghosts of our past, not even death itself - can tear us apart now.

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