Page 92 of Lust
“Then she’s all yours.” The nurse handed her over.
“Misha?” he asked. “Is she out?”
“Doc said she’s fine. They had to put her under, so she’s in recovery. She’ll want to see you both when she’s out.”
He nodded, then turned to everyone. “I better get back.”
But no one was looking at him. They all had eyes for the wondrous new life in his arms.
“What’s her name?” Liza asked.
“Amari,” he replied. “It means a miracle.”
As they all watched Wyatt disappear into the maternity ward, silence descended. Liza pondered the little miracle of life and was grateful that even in the darkest times, something wonderful could exist. That little girl would grow to be loved. She would have a full life, protected by so many loyal uncles and aunties. She was a miracle, Wyatt was right. She was hard evidence that miracles were possible, and the battle they fought had something worth it at the end. She was proof that sometimes the long road was worth it. They would need the reminder in times to come because Liza had a feeling life was about to get darker.
“Who needs a fucking drink?” she asked.
Around the room, voices raised in agreement. But it was another voice that grabbed her attention.
“I’m down for that,” Evan said as he strolled in, Grace on his arm.
Surgery must be over. They both looked shattered but in good spirits.
“How is he?” Liza asked.
Grace smiled gently. “He’s recovering as expected for an amputee.”
“He doesn’t want to speak to anyone,” Evan said, heading off any further questions. “The baby?”
Liza grinned. “It’s a girl.”
“Shit.” Evan groaned and then dipped his hand into his pocket to pull out two twenty-dollar bills. He handed one to each, Liza and Sloan. “You win. It was a girl.”
“Thank you, very much.” Sloan pocketed both bills.
“Hey!” Liza said.
“What?” Sloan shrugged innocently. “I’ll buy the first round.”
They laughed, and one by one, each couple filtered out of the room. Liza and Joe were the last to leave. She hesitated at the threshold, looking back in the direction of the maternity ward.
“You think they’ll be okay?” she asked.
“Nope,” Joe laughed. “Wyatt’s not going to know what hit him. A girl.” He whistled through his teeth. “She’s going to have him wrapped around her little fingers.”
Liza smiled but thwacked Joe on the chest. “I meant... you know, will they be safe here?”
Joe schooled his expression to serious. “Yeah. We did everything right this time. We called it in. The Feds and local law enforcement were all over it, and you’re not even a suspect. You’re a law-abiding officer who got the wrong end of the stick. Smith is in jail, waiting on sentencing. We’re all good.”
“Well, not all of us.”
Daisy’s last words had tattooed on Liza’s heart.
“This is me catching you.”
Her sister hadn’t known what Liza was capable of. Hell, Liza hadn’t been sure herself. But ripping through fifty-odd replicates was a surprise to her too. Maybe if Daisy had trusted her more, she wouldn’t have sacrificed herself. Maybe if she’d waited just a little longer, Liza could have caughtheras she’d promised.
“Come on,” Joe said, giving Liza a gentle tug. “Let’s go get that drink. Take that straw for a test drive.”
