Page 91 of Storm

Wrapping a receiving blanket around him, they tuck him in tight then hand him back over to Richard who walks him back to my bed. Tatum holds out his hands after checking in with me, then pulls him against his chest. He whispers promises into his ear before bringing him to Ezra, who moves to take him with shaking hands.

“Can I, petal?” Ezra asks, checking with me first.

I close my eyes, nodding once as I lay against Kevin’s strong chest. Smiling when Ezra promises to protect him with his life, my arms come up automatically when Gabriel is laid against me once more.

They push pillows around us and I doze, knowing they’re all right here and ensuring Gabriel and I are safe to rest after our ordeal.

I had a fucking baby today.

Kevin’s arm lifts and caresses Gabriel’s face as he lets out a shaky sigh. His chuckle feels like a massage as it rumbles through him. Whatever my doctor and the nurses are doing doesn’t phase me as the five of us stare down at the life we created.

I had a baby today, but I also watched four men become fathers. That’s something I hadn’t been prepared for and it’s changed everything. These men,all of them, are my life.

CHAPTER 42

EZRA

Standing in the corner of the room, I’ve spent the last few hours watching as they all shift baby Gabriel around to each other.Mi bebéis so loved I can barely stand it.

I feelmi pétalo’seyes fall on me quite a few times, and normally I’d be fully focused there, but ever since Gabriel was born, I can’t tug my eyes away. I want to be good for him, but I’m fucking scared. Scared to drop him and scared I’ll fuck up.

There was a small worry at first that he’d be my biological son, but after standing over his bassinet where he laid while Miriam slept, I can see in his face he’s not mine. Not through DNA, but he alsoismine because I feel the ache deep in my chest. Safety and protection. That’s my only job now.

“Mi soldado.”My soldier.Miriam’s whispered call hits me deep.

My chest puffs out with pride as I inhale deeply, pleasure radiating through my soul.

Her sleepy voice drives me to her bed, all while I keep eyes on our boy, but she stops me before I get to her.

“Would you bring him to me?”

That brings me up short. I bounce my gaze between her warm smile and Gabriel’s scrunched face as he wiggleswithin his cocoon of blankets. “Uh… Should I call a nurse or something?”

She pushes up to sit, then settles her hands in her lap. “No, Ez. Just put your hand under his head and the other under his body. You won’t drop him.”

Gabriel beings to cry and all the worry I was battling disappears from my head. Following Miriam’s instructions, I gather him up and hug him to my chest. With a huge grin, I look over at her. “He’s doing that thing he does to you when he’s hungry.”

“It’s been a couple of hours since I’ve fed him. Come sit by me, Ez.”

She pats the bed and scoots to the side. Carefully, I walk with Gabriel and ease myself next to her before shifting him to her arms. Laying on my side, I brace my head on my fist and watch as she brings him to her nipple, encouraging him to latch on.

“Does it hurt when he does that?”

She sighs and lays her head against the pillow, rolling her face toward me. “Not really. It’s tender, but I think that’s because it’s so new. I imagine as he gets older and better at it, things might start getting uncomfortable. I’m not sure I care, though.”

The soft sounds of him suckling her are the only sound we hear as she snuggles into my shoulder.

As he eats, I study his features more closely. I’m not sure ifmi pétaloknows that we’ve all supplied the hospital with our DNA. Kevin suggested it quietly to the nurse because it was something we’d talked about before, but he thought bringing it up to her now would cause stress.

I fight with telling her until she asks, clearly knowing I’m wrestling with something. “What is it?”

“We did the test. It’s up to you when they test him to compare, but the guys and I did it.”

Her mouth parts open in surprise. I kiss her, mainly as a way to distract from her thoughts. For the first time, I’m not tempted to get lost in her flavor and enjoy only the connection. A part of me wants to tell her I suspect Richard is Gabriel’s father, but a tiny part of my brain is screaming to keep that to myself.

Now isn’t the time. Thankfully, there’s a knock at the door to help me from opening my mouth. Maybe I’ll mention what I think to Richard, but that’s not aright nowthing. I do want it for him, though.

“I’ll check to see who it is.” Jumping off the bed, I crack the door and find Miriam’s entire family standing huddled together outside the door with Richard behind them.

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