Page 59 of Battle King (Princes of Devil's Creek 4)

“You’re different with Cato,” she said softly as her eyes wandered over to the playground where Cato stood on the swing instead of sitting on it. “It seems like you’re disappointed that he’s not like you.”

“I’m not. I love that kid to death. I would do anything for him.” I threw out my hand at our son. “But look at him. It’s like he’s missing a few screws. None of our other kids stand on swings or grand pianos. They don’t intentionally put holes in the lawn and spill paint on marble floors to put their footprints in them.”

“He’s special.” She grinned. “Cato needs more love than the other kids. So spend more time with him. Try to teach him something he likes.”

“I’ve tried.”

“He doesn’t like the piano, Bash.” She threaded her fingers between mine. “You can’t force your passions on him. I taught him to paint and look what he did. Paint all over every surface of the house.”

“I thought Luca was going to kill him.”

She giggled. “That’s what he does when he’s bored.”

“Because he has screws loose,” I quipped. “Are you sure he’s not Damian’s?”

She laughed so hard it shook through me. “He’s yours. You heard what the doctor said. She thinks he might be a genius. Cato gets bored and acts out.”

“That kid is smart, but I don’t know about a genius.”

“His dad is a prodigy pianist. I’d say it runs in his genes.” As she moved our hands over her belly, our son kicked. “Did you feel that?”

I smiled. “I love feeling him move around.”

“You try getting kicked in the stomach. It’s not fun.”

“Cato punched me in the dick last week. So yeah, I kinda feel your pain.”

“Who taught him that?” She tilted her head to the side and looked up at me. “He’s been doing that to you a lot lately.”

“One of my asshole brothers. And if I find out which one, I will kill him.”

“I can’t let you kill my husbands.”

I tightened my grip on her, tapping my fingers on her hip. “I bet it was Marcello. He showed that move to Sofia after that little shit at her school tried to kiss her.”

“I can’t believe she’s thirteen already.” Alex breathed through her nose, eyes across the yard on Cato, who jumped from the top of the jungle gym. “Our babies are growing too fast.”

“You’ll have a new one to baby all over again.” I rubbed her stomach. “I think you just like being pregnant.”

She chuckled. “Sofia is almost in high school. Angelo and Leo are like grown men. Pretty soon, Eve will have her first art show. And Cato…”

“My sweet cherry,” I said against the shell of her ear. “They’re still kids. Eve has another eight years before she can even apply to art school.”

“What do you want to name him?” Our son kicked again, and she winced. “We need to decide soon. He’ll be here any day.”

“How about another Roman name?”

“Hmmm…” Deep in thought, she put her index finger in front of her lips. “How about Marcus for your biological father?”

Alex found ways to honor each of our parents. Eve for Evangeline and Sofia for Damian’s mom. She didn’t want us to lose the people who shaped our lives, and I loved her even more for it.

We all did.

I kissed the top of her head. “Marcus is perfect.”

Alex let me choose Cato’s name, which came from Marcus Porcius Cato, the Roman senator. So Marcus fit for our second child together.

“You’re a good dad,” she told me. “Cato will come around. I think he sees you differently than your brothers. He knows they’re not his dad biologically and doesn’t treat them the same. In his mind, you’re the parent. They’re more like his cool uncles.”

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