Page 147 of Daddy Sees Snakes

The unspoken words hang heavy in the air between us.

The attack.

The pain she's been through.

The thought of that bastard Lyon hurting her, hurting our baby, makes my blood boil.

But I push the rage down, focusing on Iris for now.

I’ll deal with Lyon later.

"Hey," I say, cupping her face in my hands. "Listen to me. I love you. And I already love this baby. We're going to figure this out, okay? You and me."

A small smile tugs at the corners of her mouth, and I feel some of the tension leave her body. "Okay," she whispers.

I lead her to the hospital bed, helping her sit down.

My mind is still reeling, but I force myself to focus on the practical. "Have you seen a doctor yet today? We need to make sure you're both healthy."

Iris nods. "Not today. They said everything looked great yesterday, but they’re going to do ultrasounds once a day for every day I’m here."

Relief washes over me, but it's quickly followed by a fresh wave of anxiety. "Good. That's good. We'll need to set up regular check-ups, find a good OB/GYN..."

I'm rambling, I know, but I can't seem to stop.

It's like if I keep talking about the logistics, I won't have to confront the magnitude of what's happening.

A baby.

Jesus Christ, a baby.

"Viper," Iris says, her voice cutting through my spiral. "Are you sure you're okay with this? You look... overwhelmed."

I take a deep breath, forcing myself to meet her gaze. "I'm not gonna lie, baby. This is a lot to take in. But I meant what I said. I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere."

She nods, but I can see the doubt in her eyes. "It's just... I know you already have Allegra. And with your past, and my job... I don't know if I'm cut out to be a mother."

The vulnerability in her voice breaks my heart. I sit down beside her, taking her hand in mine. "Listen to me, Iris. You are the strongest, most incredible woman I've ever met. You're going to be an amazing mother."

"How can you be so sure?" she asks, her voice barely above a whisper.

I think about my own journey, about the years I spent behind bars, separated from Allegra.

The guilt and regret that still haunt me. "Because I've seen what a bad parent looks like," I say softly. "And you, Iris? You're nothing like that. You've got so much love to give."

Iris leans her head on my shoulder, and I wrap my arm around her.

We sit in silence for a moment, the reality of our situation settling over us like a heavy blanket.

"What about your business?" Iris asks suddenly. "Is it... is it safe for a baby?"

The question hits me like a bucket of ice water.

My world, the underworld of Tinsel Creek that I've clawed my way to the top of, suddenly seems a million miles away from this sterile hospital room.

From the tiny life growing inside Iris.

"I'll make it safe," I say, my voice low and fierce. "I'll do whatever it takes to protect you both."

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