Page 36 of Devil's Last Dance

This also allowed a pushback against several crime lords who were causing him trouble.

Work had been busy.

He knew Candice wasn’t happy at home. They had yet to have a full conversation. He tried to make it home for dinner every night, to spend as much time with her as possible, but she kept him at arm’s length. He had no choice but to accept that.

Draven had told him he clearly hurt her. He even tried to bring Maria around to help his cause, but nothing seemed to sway her. The jewels didn’t wow, nor did the chocolates. She seemed so lost, and all he wanted to do was reach out and embrace that woman he met in the bar.

The woman who asked,“Are you all right, honey?”

Where was she? He missed her so much.

Candice looked up at him and smiled. It was the first time she had smiled at him since he’d gone to her apartment and made love to her.

“We made a son,” she said.

He stepped toward her. The moment his boy had gone into his mother’s arms, he’d stopped crying.

The nurse had swaddled him in the blanket Candice had given the hospital. The ride to the hospital had been the hardest one of his life. Candice had screamed in pain and he’d known the contractions had been close together.

Her labor had gone an additional five hours. All the doctors and nurses had told him that a first baby could take this long. He didn’t accept it. Candice in any kind of pain was unacceptable to him.

“You’re so beautiful,” she said. “My precious, beautiful boy.”

“You’re amazing,” he said.

She smiled. “What should we call him?”

Antwone didn’t have a clue. “What would you like to call him?”

“Do you want to name him after your father?”

“Fuck, no,” he said.

“Oh…” Candice stroked their son’s cheek.

He went to her, taking her hand in his, and kissing her cheek. Antwone would take anything he could get. He didn’t know if it was exhaustion or the fact they had an audience, or the emotions—whatever it was, Candice hadn’t pushed him away. “Trust me, I don’t want my father’s memory anywhere near yours. What about your father?” He knew she had loved her parents.

Candice had the perfect parents and they had been full of love.

“Luke,” she said.

“That was your father’s name?”

“Yeah, Luke Bianchi,” she said, and lifted her head toward him. “I don’t think they’re going to be happy with his name.”

He kissed her temple. “I don’t give a fuck what they think.”

Antwone couldn’t recall a time he’d been so happy.

“Do you want to hold him?” she asked.

He looked down at his son and his whole body tensed. “I don’t know how.”

“It’s easy. He’s not too heavy, and you need to support his head and body.”

Candice held him out and Antwone reached for his baby. He never thought he would have a child, or that he would care.

Holding his son in his hands, he felt him wriggling. Love exploded in his chest. He was going to love and care and protect this little baby.

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