Page 119 of Broken

After we finishthe waffles Drake brought, he gets ready to leave. “I assume I’ll see you both at Dad’s for dinner later?”

I glance at Mel to gauge her reaction. I intended to spend the entire day alone with her, during which I would explore every single inch of her body. But her eyes are shining and she’s grinning from ear to ear. It’s easy for me to forget that from the age of thirteen on, she never had much of a family. It’s also easy to take mine for granted.

“Sure, we’ll be there later,” I tell him.

Mel claps her hands and squeaks her delight.

Drake nods his approval and wraps his arms around my beautiful wife, giving her one of his infamous bear hugs. Hewhispers something in her ear that makes tears prick at her eyes, but the smile she’s had on her face all morning grows wider.

After he leaves, I pull her in for a hug, desperate to touch her. She leans into me, her head against my chest. “What did he say to you?”

She laughs. “That’s between me and him, Ice.”

The waymy brothers and father fuss over Mel, practically ignoring me, makes me feel like I’ve brought a celebrity to Sunday dinner. But their joy, especially hers, keeps me from begrudging any of them for it. After chasing my brothers into the kitchen to fix drinks and check on dinner, Dad pulls Mel into his arms, squeezing her like he’ll never let go. I watch the way she melts into him. My entire family fell in love with her the first time they met her, and I can’t blame them.

When he pulls back, they both have tears in their eyes. “There are plenty of babies in your future. I can feel it.” He gently wipes a tear from her face. “My Verona lost four babies before she had Elijah, and then she blessed me with five sons.”

A lump forms in my throat. I had no idea they went through that.

She chokes back a sob. “Thank you, Dalton.”

“No, thank you, sweet girl. You’ve melted this old man’s ice-cold heart.”

Drake sidles up beside me. “Well, fuck. She’s got Pop wrapped around her finger. I haven’t seen him smile like that since before…” He doesn’t need to finish the sentence.

I sigh with contentment. “Yeah, he’s not the only one she’s put a spell on.”

“I see that, brother.” He wraps his arm around my shoulder. “I’m happy for you.”

A throat clears behind us. Drake and I spin around, and I blink at the sight that greets us, sure it must be a hallucination. I manage to find my voice. “Maddox!”

He drops his huge duffel bag onto the floor with a thud and rubs a hand through his shaggy beard. “Hey!”

Drake gasps. “Jesus Christ, Mad.”

Our youngest brother shrugs. “I heard what happened. Figured you might need a hug.”

“Fuck yeah, I need a hug.” We both move at the same time, crossing the room and clashing in the middle, a mess of arms and shoulders as we grab onto each other. He smells of fresh air, peppermint, coffee.

“I’m sorry, bro.” He bands his powerful arms around my back. “Elijah told me what happened, and it sucks.”

I pull his face into my shoulder. “I’m so fucking happy to see you.” It’s been four years since Maddox walked out of this house with a promise that he’d never come back.

“Hey. He’s not the only one who’s missed you,” Drake says, and I let Maddox go so the others can greet him.

I’m gawking at him when Mel curls her slender fingers through mine. “Is this your baby brother?”

“Yeah.” I smile down at her.

“Is this the lady I’ve heard so much about?” Maddox asks, coming to stand in front of us.

“This is my wife, Mel.”

“Mel.” He pulls something out of his pocket. “I got this for you. It was blessed by a shaman. It’s for fertility.” He hands her a small wooden carving of the female form.

She takes it from him and holds it to her chest. “That’s so sweet of you. Thank you, Maddox.”

“Son?” our father croaks.

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