"Push Cierra, push that's it..." The doctor's words were ringing in my ears but I could hardly hear them over the beating of my heart. As soon as the doc said 'this is it' my whole world shutdown. I didn't just read about childbirth when I was preparing, I read about everything that could go wrong. For that reason I kept my eyes on my wife while she tried to break my hand. I hate this shit, in New York I had people on standby in case things went wrong, even though everyone said she'd be fine and not to worry. This shit didn't look fine to me. She was screaming for fuck sake, my girl doesn't even talk above a whisper, unless she's pissed. "Stein do something, up the Stadol, something.""We can't, two milligrams is the max and she's too far gone now to risk it.""She's in pain.""She's supposed to be Hank, this is childbirth. Now come on push Cierra." "You want that grant renewed you fix this shit right now.""Hank, stop it." Cierra was laughing and trying
It was late in the evening by the time we all made it back. Everyone was still on a high from the birth and the women were hyped up, but no one more so than Mancini, I've never seen a man so happy to have a daughter, except maybe Ty. Idiot. Like he didn't see the shit I just went through in the last few days. I hope I'm around to watch her give him hell. "What's wrong with you? What's that goofy look on your face? You just had three and that damn Cady is shaping up to be a nightmare, don't give me that look, my seed has retired." What the fuck is wrong with women that they forget how horrible the kids they already have are at the sight of a newborn baby? "I didn't say anything, maybe you're the one who's thinking about it." "Hmm!" Everyone headed to our house first because no one had had dinner and my parents were still at my house. Mengele was dead on her feet but she was too excited to stay still. She's the only one who'd eaten, the rest of us had only had
Dammit, I didn't expect her dad to get involved I was just trying to teach her a lesson. She'd scared me half to death with her stunt and I'm not about to let tears sway me. I start that shit now and it'll never end. She's already got me wrapped around her finger, I give in any more and she'd take my balls and stash them in her purse. We headed outside to the swing like her dad had ordered but I was still not ready to talk. I sat and looked straight ahead. Until she realizes that she needs to apologize I'm not saying shit. Anymore of that 'I don't know why you're mad' shit and swear to fuck I'll get up and walk away. I gritted my teeth and ignored her sniffling shit, damn female. How the heck could someone change this much in just a few short days? Where is my sweet little angel who never spoke above a whisper and never once disagreed with me? Of course I never gave her shit to disagree with but still. "I'm sorry!" Shit!"What're you sorry for?""I'm sorry t
"Are you sure about this?""Hank, nobody stays in hospital for a week after giving birth these days. Even the Duchess of Cambridge only spent seven hours after having her last child." "I give a... I don't care what she did and her husband could be a halfwit for all I know. Are you well enough to leave the hospital?""Yes sir. The baby and I both have clearance.""Smart ass!" I wasn't too jazzed about us staying in a strange place either but if she needed it it's what we'll do. I'd stayed up the whole night working while she and little Tatiana slept. I held my kid most of the night against the express wishes of the nurses but who cares. They seem to think I'm setting a bad precedent, the kids' barely a few hours old. "Okay then, whenever you're ready." She was dressed and ready to go since the sun came up but I wasn't budging until the doctor said it was okay. I'd made doctor Stein stay back before leaving for New York because she's the only one I trust. I
"That's no mere businessman and that's no ordinary housewife." We looked out the window at the two people who'd just stepped out of the chauffeur driven car that just pulled into the driveway."How do you know?""Body language Kat.""You're imagining things Colton." "The fuck I am. He's cased one side of the street and she's taking the other. And he's strapped he's carrying. "How can you tell? She was trying to see over my shoulder and still keep the curtains still. "There's a gun in the small of his back.""Get real. Who would bring a gun to a meeting about their daughter?""The fuck, they're coming to meet Mengele, I'd load up to." After this Flanagan guy called I had to think fast since he said he was almost here. She still doesn't know what's going on with Mengele and the computer and she's not about to learn. Thinking fast on my feet I told her that the principal had mentioned this gifted school bullshit and that these people's kid was gonn
"So, is it always like this? They disappear up the stairs and leave you ladies down here?" They all looked around at each other."Isn't it that way at your house?" One of the women Mrs. Lyon had just introduced me to spoke up. I wasn't ready to remember their names because I wasn't sure how this thing was gonna go yet. "Nope, they can try." I'd already ascertained that the house was clear for lack of a better word. There were more live bodies here than the freaking MET but I didn't sense that mob boy and I were in any danger. Add the fact that the Mallory boys were here and that brings it down to a danger level of point zero-zero five. But that Lyon guy is...something. I know kill lights when I see them. "Oh dear I'm so sorry, I didn't notice that you were wearing an aid, are we being too loud.""Oh no you're fine." I fiddled with my 'hearing aid' and heard the men's voice come through loud and clear. Good, now I can listen to Shane in one ear and these chicks in th
"Did you have fun with your new friends?" We were in the car on the way back. I'd been there much longer than I expected and was still processing shit."How much did you hear?""Enough, so there's a human trafficking ring and some kinda offshoot in this neighborhood?" "Seems like, and our kid's the one who found them more or less.""What's with the drone?""Lyon's kid apparently took her brother's drone which he had no idea had been doctored and went hunting." "Good girl! So our Lily's starting early.""Mouth, none of your shit. I already let you teach her how to shoot that damn thing you call a toy. Leave my kid alone.""You heard what the teacher said; we should encourage her. By the way, those women, hello. Okay, so the ones that have only been married for a year or so I understand, but Kat? Almost twenty years in and she still doesn't know how to play the game." When she started tying up her hair I knew where her mind was going. Meddling fuck!
After that long day spent closed off in the office it was time to take a break. I had about an hour before I needed to go pick her up from school and I still hadn't gone by the house yet to see what all the cleaners had done. I hadn't talked much, but I'd listened plenty and taken mental notes. They were doing this for Caitlin in a roundabout way so of course I was front and center. Once everyone left and it was just the usual crew, which meant the SEALs, Law, Creed and Jared, I told Mancini that the house was ready and he could go ahead and call Jace and the others in if he wanted to. "We have to do some stuff over there first before you move in.""Huh? What stuff?""I don't let my people live in unsecured houses kid. Lyon, you guys got anything else doing the rest of the day? I might need a hand." "What you need?""We need to secure his place before he moves in there. I've got everything in the car but the more hands we have the faster it'll go. I don't