Page 58 of Recaptured by the Crime Lord

“Knew what?”

“That he had let you in all the way. His shields were down. He wasn't a cold-blooded robot, he was just... Gavin. You make him human. He needs you.” Carmen let out a choked sob and leaned forward, hands over her chest. “It's the way Vinny needed me. I miss him so much.”

Lyla rested her head on her cousin’s shoulder. They cried together, their sobs echoing in the bathroom.

“I'm happy for you and Gavin even though I think he's a shit head.”

Lyla chuckled. Carmen rose and helped Lyla to her feet. With tears trickling down her cheeks, Carmen clasped Lyla’s hands and squeezed.

“Life moves on, which means we have to as well. I amsohappy for you. I'm going to be here for you every step of the way. Everything is going to be fine. You know that, right?”

Lyla nodded, too overcome to speak.

“You ready?” Carmen asked.

Lyla took a deep breath and still holding hands, they walked to the vanity and peered down at the wand.

Pregnant.

Lyla’s head spun. “Oh my god.”

Carmen squealed. “I'm going to be an aunty!”

“And I'm going to be a mom,” Lyla said and felt her world tilt sideways.

Carmen pushed Lyla on a bench and clapped her hands together like a cheerleader. “Okay, so I already talked to your cook. She's going to come daily to prepare meals since you're sensitive to certain foods right now. She's preparing something extra special for tonight.”

“What? Why?”

“Because you're going to tell Gavin, right?”

Lyla took a deep breath. “Yes.”

“How do you want to tell him?”

“What do you mean?”

Carmen fetched her phone and sat beside Lyla. “So on the ride home I went on YouTube and there's all these ways women have told their husbands they're pregnant. Here, watch this one, it's so cute!”

Lyla watched a woman send her husband on a scavenger hunt, which really was cute. Carmen proceeded to show her at least eight videos of women telling their husbands that they were pregnant in creative ways. Instead of being inspired, Lyla felt more nervous.

“Can’t I justtellhim?” Lyla asked.

Carmen's face dropped. “Well, yeah, but this is your first. Don't you want it to be extra special?”

“I can't imagine telling Gavin to get a bun out of the oven or giving him a crossword that he has to figure out. That's just not us.”

“Okay.” Carmen pocketed her phone, clearly disappointed and then she lit up again. “Oh my gosh. You will not believe what I found at the store! It's going to be perfect!”

Carmen ran out of the bathroom. Lyla listened to the sound of her thundering downstairs while she stared at the positive pregnancy test. Her life would never be the same. Carmen came back with a pink onesie in her hands. She held it up and Lyla saw that it said, “Daddy's Princess.” Lyla clapped a hand over her chest because it felt as if her heart was breaking.

“They didn’t have a boy outfit so I guess this is meant to be.”

“It's perfect,” Lyla choked and hugged her cousin. “What would I do without you?”

“You'll never have to know.”

“Will you be her godmother?”

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