Page 67 of Christmas with Four Tattoo Artists

Kai and the rest of the guys agreed.

"We take out Klaus," I said sharply. "He's the beating heart of that damned gang. We want our lives back? We want safety for Julia and the baby? Then we rip that heart out, once and for all."

Chapter 30

James

The studio was silent, and the scent of ink and antiseptic mingling with char still hung heavy in the air. We’d long sent everyone home, leaving just the four of us to grapple with what we had to do, shadows cast by the dimming daylight.

For a time, no one spoke. The news of the pregnancy was still in the air like a heavy cloud, casting a strange mix of joy and dread. Kai looked at the ground, his knuckles white against the edge of the counter. Andrew's eyes were ablaze, a burning intensity that spoke of fury and fear. Finn’s face mirrored mine, a cocktail of emotions we couldn't quite articulate.

"A kid..." Andrew murmured, breaking the heavy silence. His voice was filled with wonder, a stark contrast to his rugged demeanor. "We're going to have a kid."

I nodded slowly, the reality settling in. "Not just any kid," I replied, voice rough. "Ourkid."

I ran my fingers through my hair. Finn spoke, his voice edged with worry, "One of us is going to be a father."

Andrew, leaning back on the couch, raised an eyebrow. "Does it even matter? We've always had each other’s backs. Every fight, every victory, every loss. This is no different."

I nodded in agreement, looking each of them in the eye. "It's not about who the biological father is. We're a family. That baby will have four fathers. Four protectors."

Finn chuckled, his nerves evident. "And a hell of a lot of love, too."

Kai smirked, "An overload, I'd say."

I couldn't help but smile, even amidst the tension. "Can you imagine raising a kid? Teaching them to ride a bike and all that?”

Andrew chuckled. “Or hell showing ‘em how to throw a proper punch?"

Kai smiled. "Hey, gotta ensure the kid can stand their ground."

I smirked. "Let’s get this kid walking first before we teach him how to kick ass.”

“Orher,” Kai corrected.

Finn spoke, his voice serious. "First, guys, we've got a job to do. We have to get Julia back, safe and sound."

A newfound determination settled within us, solidifying our resolve. Kai added, "She's our priority right now. Her and the baby."

I clenched my fist, feeling the heavy weight of responsibility.

Finn smiled weakly, rubbing the back of his neck. "She’s not just carrying our future, she's also the woman we all love.”

Kai lifted his head. "We always knew there were stakes involved. But this... this adds a weight I never imagined."

My mind raced. Julia, fierce and vibrant, carrying our child. The thought brought both exhilaration and gut-wrenching fear. Our joy was tainted by the knowledge that Klaus had her. That monster had her and was using her, and our unborn child, as leverage.

"We’re going to get her back. No matter what it takes," Andrew stated, voice deadly.

Finn sighed, running a hand through his hair. "That bastard has no idea what he's awakened."

I could feel the rage simmering, a potent force ready to explode. "We're most definitely going to get her back," I vowed, my voice dripping with promise. "And when we do, Klaus will pay. Every single thing he's done to us, to her... he's going to regret it."

We stood in a circle, the weight of our promise clear. Each of us was committed, driven by a fierce protectiveness we hadn't known before. The time for talk was over.

My phone buzzed, and I pulled it from my pocket, glancing at the screen. It was a text from one of my Bureau contacts.

"Heads up,” I said, reading the text aloud. “We're on to something. Update soon."

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