Page 2 of A New Era

We don’t have to go far to find everyone. Mom and Dad, Kyla, Holly, and Harper are in the waiting room, with Gunner asleep on Harper’s lap and my girl asleep, curled up on a chair next to Dad. Emma and Aspen show up from somewhere in the hospital and the twins head straight to their old ladies.

Tipping my chin in Dad’s direction, I take the chair next to my woman and plant my lips on hers.

“God, I’ve missed you,” I tell her quietly, for only her to hear.

“Good.” She smiles, but it falls. “You look tired.”

“I can’t lie and say I wasn’t looking forward to my own bed and not just because you’d be there.”

Rolling her eyes, I don’t miss how her chest heaves and her eyes fill with lust.

Sliding my arm on the back of her chair, I squeeze the top of her arm as she rests her head against my shoulder.

Dad sits forward in his chair and asks, “How did the run go?”

When he stepped down, I knew he was stepping back but I didn’t imagine he’d step back altogether. He’s adjusting and I’ll give him the time he’s been looking for.

“It was long but uneventful.”

“That’s what I like to hear. The brothers headed back to the club or are they stopping over at Luca’s place?”

“No, they rode home.”

Mom’s impatience grows by the second and she jumps up from her seat and paces, meeting Kyla’s pace, step for step.

“How come you two aren’t in with them?” I ask.

“Your damn brother,” Kyla mutters and then throws me an apologetic look.

Six long fucking hours later, Luca bursts through the doors and Mom and Kyla are straight on him.

“What’s going on?” Mom asks.

“I have a son!” he boasts, and Mom throws her arms around him. Stepping back, she demands, “Details.”

“He’s healthy. Tor’s fuckin’ perfect. Come meet him.”

Our parents and Kyla and Ricky follow him through the door, and they all disappear.

“First Sebastian, then Gunner, then Thomas, and now Luca’s had a son. You’re the only one with a daughter, little brother,” Harper teases.

“No, I’m not, you forgetting about Penelope?”

Her smile slips. “Oh my God, I totally forgot about her.”

Laughing, I sit back and close my eyes as she and Holly strike up a conversation about the wedding.

I must drift off because in no time Holly’s shaking my arm, standing over me.

“Come on, we get to see the baby before we leave.”

Holding out her hand, I take it and stand. Dad sits with Rayna and Gunner and since I trust him with my life, I nod and follow everyone to meet the baby.

“You don’t have long as it’s late,” a nurse warns as she points out Victoria’s room.

Harper and Holly’s excitement is tangible. I wonder if Holly’s thinking about us having a child together in the future.

Sitting up and glowing, Victoria holds my new nephew with a huge grin on her face. Luca takes the baby from her and walks around the bed. “Here, meet River Mark Jackson.”

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