Page 114 of The Tangle of Awful

My mind reels at her words. So vicious and nasty. I suppose if I were held captive for as long as she was, I’d be pissed too.

We’ll deal with her anger later. Right now, getting our baby out of her is the most important thing. The rest will get dealt with in due time.

“It’s a boy,” the doctor says cheerfully, jerking me from my inner thoughts. “A healthy big boy.”

I tear my stare from Neena’s closed eyes to the bloody, squawking baby in one of the nurse’s hands. Holy shit. Holy fucking shit. I’m reminded back to when Spencer was born. When my entire world shifted on its axis. Another son.

They wrap the baby in a blanket and hand him over to me. I gape at the squirming infant, shocked at how this day took a turn in a way I never expected.

I have another son.

“Hey there, little man,” I murmur, blinking back a wave of emotion. “Were you playing hide-n-seek from Daddy?”

The baby wails.

What do we name him?

Does Neena have something picked out?

I don’t know what’s happening with my life right now, but I do know one thing for sure. No matter what, this baby will be loved and taken care of. This baby is a Park.

I’m holding a bottle, feeding the little man, when Callum and Aubrey walk through the door of a family room I’ve been assigned to. The relief at seeing them is crushing. I nearly collapse beneath it.

“You’re here,” I rasp out.

Callum’s brows are arched high on his forehead. Aubrey’s eyes are swollen red from crying. I want to hold her in my arms, but the baby is our priority right now. This baby needs us.

“Where’s Mom?” Aubrey asks, voice raspy.

“On psychiatric watch,” I say with a sigh. “She was spewing nonsense about…” I swallow hard. “Hurting this little guy.”

“Guy?” Aubrey whispers. “I have a brother?”

Yes, Love, this is your half-brother.

And I’m still your stepdad.

“I can’t believe this,” Callum says, pacing the room. “This is so fucked-up, man.”

I snort in agreement. “You’re telling me.” And he doesn’t even know half of it. “Have you talked to Dad? How’s my other son?”

“Dad was meeting with his buddy, Joseph, the hospital administrator.” He drops down into a chair across from me. “Doing what Dad does best. Damage control.”

“And Spencer?”

Aubrey slowly approaches, eyes locked on the bundle in my arms. “Dempsey talked to Sloane. He’s in a holding cell and in decent spirits all things considered.”

“Want to hold your brother?” I ask, pulling the bottle away from the little guy’s mouth. “You can finish feeding him.”

She frowns but nods and sits down on the sofa. I stand and walk over to her. Gently, I move the baby from my arms into hers. Her eyes widen as she looks at him.

“Looks just like Spencer did when he was a baby,” I say with a nostalgic laugh. “Park genes run strong.”

“Let’s hope this one doesn’t turn into a little shit like his brother,” Callum grunts, smirking at me.

I sit back down beside Aubrey, curling an arm around her. I need her to know that despite this baby shocking the shit out of us and Spencer going to jail and her mom reappearing, that everything’s going to be okay. She’s tense but relaxes, leaning into me. If my brother wasn’t watching us like a hawk, I’d kiss her pretty mouth and assure her I’ll handle everything.

“Dad is going to have to call in all the favors for this one,” Callum says. “There’s no keeping this under wraps.”

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