Page 123 of Blackout-

“Well, I’ll be goddamned.”

Relief floods me and I silently curse myself as tears spring to my eyes. I was so fucking worried he’d write me off for hurting his daughter and yet, here he is, smiling at me…looking proud. I swallow hard against the lump in my throat and look over his shoulder as Reina steps into the room. Unlike me, she doesn’t try to keep her tears at bay.

The last time I saw her she was lying in a hospital bed, fighting for her life. Schwartz had told me she woke up after the arraignment but had no recollection of the last ten years. He also mentioned she had made a full recovery, but I was so doped up on pain meds I don’t think it registered. But seeing her in front of me, crying and smiling, it sure as fuck does.

“God, it’s good to see you,” I rasp.

She brushes past her husband and hurries towards me. Quick to react, I open my arms and when she throws her arms around my neck, I hug her tightly.

Support.

I don’t deserve a lick of it, but I’ve got it in spades.

Reluctantly, she pulls back and stares at me.

“You look healthy,” she cries. “Peaceful.”

I smile at her.

“I’m working on it,” I admit and oddly enough it feels good to say that out loud.

“Reina, a hug is nice and all but you're staring at the man a little too long, if you get my drift,” Jack grunts, causing us both to let go of one another. She swats his shoulder and rolls her eyes as I look past the two of them, towards the open door.

“Where’s Lacey?”

My eyes dart back to them and I watch as Reina apprehensively looks to Jack for guidance. Meeting my gaze, he reaches out and lays a hand on my shoulder.

“Why don’t we sit down, brother?”

I lean away from him and glance at the door once more, hoping she’ll miraculously walk through it. That I’ve misread the pity in Jack and Reina’s eyes. My brown-eyed beauty doesn’t walk through the door and regretfully I drag my eyes back to Jack’s.

“She didn’t come,” I whisper disbelievingly.

“No,” Jack confirms with a sigh. “Have a seat, Blackie.”

“Don’t tell me to sit,” I hiss, forcefully driving my fingers through my hair. Gripping the ends, I try to process that she’s not there, but it feels like I’m suffocating. Like someone has ripped the air straight from my lungs.

“Dominic,” Sunny calls.

“I need a minute,” I say to no one in particular. Dropping my hands to my knees, I bend my head and draw in a deep breath.

In and out.

Breathe, Blackie.

Just fucking breathe.

Reina comes to my side and drapes an arm around my shoulders before shoving something in front of me with her free hand. Blinking through the wetness clouding my eyes, I focus on the object.

“She sent this,” she murmurs softly as I stare at the sonogram photo in shock. There’s no dot to be found on the grainy photo. It’s been replaced by the most perfect profile I’ve ever seen. There is a nose and there are lips and fuck, they’re so beautiful. I choke on a sob as I take the photograph from her. There are arms and legs too.

More beautiful.

“She’s gotten so big,” I rasp, lifting my eyes to Reina. “The last time I saw a photo I couldn’t make anything out.”

“We still don’t know if it’s a girl for sure,” she says.

“It’s a girl,” I assure her, looking back at the photo. Without thinking, I lift the paper to my lips and press a kiss to it. Lacey may not have come here today, but she gave me exactly what I needed. She gave me our daughter.

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