Page 92 of Boss Daddy

I chuckle, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

It’s been a long, but good year since the boys arrived. The club’s still making money hand over fist. Erin’s back in school working toward her master’s in social work. But she still does me the kindness of running a shift here and there at the club.

As the last of the party winds down, the remaining guests move into the house. Before too long, everyone starts trickling out, calling their goodbyes. Tiffany is one of the last to leave, bending down to kiss each twin on the cheek.

“Bye, Sammy. Bye, Jimmy,” she says. “And happy birthday.”

Erin laughs, stepping forward to hug her. “Lunch next week?”

“You bet your butt,” she says. “Shoot me a text tomorrow and we’ll figure out where.”

Once everybody is gone, Erin and I sit down on the stools surrounding the kitchen island.

“It doesn’t really seem fair, does it?” she says, her voice sharp. “After all the horrible things Misha’s done, Kailee’s the one who gets arrested while he roamed free for years. And even now, he still technically gets his freedom.

I nod. “No, it’s not fair. But at least he’s paying some consequences. That’s something. He became a rat and helped put some bad men behind bars. And for a guy like Misha, living under the radar in suburban Indianapolis, or wherever he ended up, is its own kind of prison sentence.”

The truth of the matter is I know exactly where he is. Some of my Denver PD buddies were able to loop me in. Misha is an assistant manager at a QuikTrip in Kansas City. I made sure to drop him a line in secret, letting him know I’ve got my eye on him if he ever tries anything with my family.

And I told him to keep working hard—maybe one day they’ll bump him up to manager.

Erin’s gaze softens as she looks at the boys, now slumped over their toy cars, barely staying awake. She smiles, the tension melting from her face. “I guess being safe is what matters.”

The house is nice and quiet. The golden sunset comes in through the slats of the blinds. I glance at the boys, both of them slouched in their cars, their eyelids heavy. I notice how Sammy’s hair curlsat the nape of his neck, while Jimmy’s cheeks are still round, giving him a cherub look. Their resemblance to both Erin and me is uncanny.

“They’re wiped,” Erin says. “Let’s get their little butts to bed.” She scoops up Jimmy, who stirs just enough to rest his head on her shoulder, his little hand curling into her shirt.

I lift Sammy into my arms, and he immediately melts against me, his small fingers gripping my collar.

“Big day for them,” I say. “They’ve earned their rest.”

“And a big day for us, too,” she says with a smile. “One year down as parents.”

“And a lifetime more to come. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

She gives me a quick peck on the cheek.

We carry them through the house, their weight warm and familiar in our arms. The soft glow of the nightlight makes their room feel cozy. Erin gently places Jimmy in his crib, tucking his favorite blanket around him as his thumb finds its way to his mouth. I lay Sammy down in his, and he snuggles his stuffed tiger, a tiny murmur escaping his lips before he drifts off.

Standing there, watching them sleep, I can’t help the wave of gratitude that washes over me.

“Can you believe they’re ours?” Erin whispers, leaning against me.

I slide an arm around her waist, pulling her close. “Best thing we’ve ever done,” I whisper. “Nothing else comes close.”

She tilts her head up, meeting my eyes. “I love this life. I love you.”

I kiss her forehead. “I love you too,” I say simply. No need to say anything more.

As we leave their room, Erin nudges me playfully with her elbow, her smile turning mischievous. “Speaking of going to bed…” she says, her tone teasing.

I chuckle, taking the baby monitor from the dresser as we step out into the hallway and quietly close the door.

“Yeah, I’m pretty wiped too. Time for sleep.”

She winks. “In case you haven’t figured it out yet, sleepingisn’t exactly what I had in mind.”

She grabs my hand and pulls me toward our bedroom.

---