Page 29 of Heartless Boss
Chapter Ten
Gunner
For twelve hours, I pace the black-and-white tiles like a madman as I thrust my fingers through my hair, waiting for Darien to come get me from the lobby of the hospital. Right after Gia left me on the balcony, I got a phone call from Alana saying they were heading to the ER because her water broke.
Darien comes out wearing blue clothing while removing a cloth mask from his face, placing his hands on his hips. He looks like he’s been through hell and back—bags hang under his eyes, and a day’s stubble is growing on his chin.
“Alana had a safe delivery.” His tone is rough. “Follow me.”
I follow him to the small room. Alana wears a standard hospital gown and her dyed flaming red hair is in a high ponytail. Just like Darien she looks like she hasn’t slept in years. And she’s holding a tiny, wrinkly baby in her arms.
“Good, you made it, bro,” she says, yawning.
“Yeah,” I say, and walk up to her and kiss her cheek. Then I stare at the sleeping baby. “She’s beautiful. What’s her name?”
“We haven’t decided yet. Darien doesn’t like the name I picked.”
“What is it?” I ask Darien as he crawls into bed next to her, his legs dangling off it, looking at her like he will kill anyone who harms them.
I can see Alana bite the inside of her cheek before she answers, “Cydney Ava Casey.”
“I don’t like it,” Darien says, rolling his eyes.
“She’s named after your stepma and my ma. What isn’t to like about it?” Mrs. Cydney and his dad were in a terrible car accident five years ago. She died on impact and his dad was left a paraplegic.
“I don’t know,” he answers.
“Can I hold her?” I ask.
“Of course.” Alana hands her to me gently. Her hair is jet-black, and she’s wearing a pink onesie with the Wonder Woman logo. My sister loves the hell out of comic books, and she’s a gifted artist. She draws and paints pictures as well as some of the famous painters. She owns her own comic book company, which she started a year ago. Her latest comic hit stores in October.
Alana laces her fingers together like they’re in prayer and says, “Please, can we keep the name?”
Darien’s mouth twitches and his gray eyes light up. “Sure.” He kisses her forehead. “But next time I’m naming the baby.”
“I don’t know what she sees in your ugly ass,” I joke.
Darien and I talk shit to each other, it’s how we show our love. He’s my best friend and business partner, and I’m glad he married my sister. He’s good to her, treats her like she walks on water.
Her ex-husband Charles treated her like the scum of the fucking earth after Cole, their son, drowned in a pool. He cheated on her and then divorced her two years after Cole’s death. Alana had to deal with a lot of grief at a young age, but she’s fucking strong as an ox.
The last five years of her life make Greek tragedies look like child’s play.
Losing Cole took a toll on our family. I miss him so much, thinking about his gap smile pings my chest.
Darien twists his head sideways. “Your right arm’s starting to look bigger than the left one.”
“I get pussy like ordering fast-food. Whenever I want, and however I want.”
Alana covers her ears. “Eww. No. Just no, Gunner. That’s gross. And watch your mouth around Cydney.”
Cydney lets out the cutest yawn I’ve ever seen. Her pink lips curl into a smile.
“I need to talk to you about something in private, Gunner,” Darien says, tilting his chin to the door.
“Okay,” I say, handing Cydney back to her momma.
I follow Darien into the hallway. The nurses in purple scrubs are busy working at the station, and I can hear faint beeping machines from other rooms.
