King(71)

Evie’s eyes watered. Beth’s simple friendship with Sex Piston had created a bridge between the groups who should have been enemies. Sex Piston had been a true friend to Beth when Evie herself had failed.

The woman so filled with attitude, that drove everyone crazy and loved very few, knelt in front of Razer, placing her hand on his thigh. “When I met Beth, I thought there was no way she could be for real. No one could be that sweet or clueless. As I got to know her, I realized she was the most real person I have ever met.”

“The last month of my pregnancy, I was scared, afraid of the delivery, the pain, of being a mom.” Tears coursed down Sex Piston’s cheeks. “She told me not to be afraid, that I had to have faith that everything would be all right. Razer, we’re both going to listen to Beth and have faith that she and those precious babies are all going to be fine.”

Razer’s composure broke as he took Sex Piston into his arms, and Evie turned into King’s chest as her own tears fell.

“Evie, listen to her. Beth is going to be okay,” King murmured, trying to soothe her.

“I was a terrible friend to her,” Evie cried. The guilt of years ago had never left her.

“You saved her life—our lives,” Lily contradicted her. “Tonight, when those men came, you didn’t leave her side. You delivered her son, and the doctor told us it was your skills as a Corpsman that kept her alive until the ambulance came. Beth considers you more than a friend—she loves you like a sister—and I do, too.”

“Excuse me.” The exhausted doctor standing in the doorway eyed the rough-looking crowd waiting for news.

Razer rose shakily to his feet.

“Your wife is in recovery. It will be at least an hour before you can see her.” He motioned to the nurse. “Shelley will take you to the nursery. There are two boys waiting to meet their dad.”

* * *

Beth’s head turned on her pillow, her fingers closing on the hand holding hers.

“Razer,” she said softly.

Razer lifted his head, rising up on his elbow next to her.

“I don’t think you’re supposed to be in the bed with me,” she warned him weakly.

“Shade will knock on the door when someone is about to come into the room.”

She turned her head into his shoulder, and his hand came down to rest on the top of her head.

“If our babies aren’t okay, please don’t tell me, Razer. I couldn’t take it.”

“Our sons are in the nursery, and they’re fine. They want to wait before they bring them in, though. Your vitals are still weak, so as soon as they get higher, they’ll bring them in.”

“Boys?”

“Two sons. You did good, kitten.” His voice choked on her nickname.

“We both did. Lily and Evie?”

“They’re waiting to see you.”

“I thought we were going to die. Lily didn’t even ask for her own life; she just asked them not to hurt the baby.” Tears broke free. “And Evie kept trying to deliver the baby. She saved us, Razer.”

“You had two angels with you. When we pulled in the driveway and saw the front door open and the lights out, we knew something was wrong. If Shade wasn’t such a good shot… he killed those bastards before I could get in the front door.”

Beth shuddered against him.

“Kitten, I’ve never been so scared in my life. When I saw you, I thought I was going to lose you.”

“Razer, you’re never going to lose me. Even if I died, I would always be with you.”

“Don’t talk like that again! You’re not allowed to use the words ‘I’ and ‘die’ in the same sentence. You’re not allowed to die before me, ever! You think you couldn’t bear to lose our sons? Well, I couldn’t lose you and stay sane. Kitten, I know what life is without you.

“If I died…” Shocked, Beth tried to stop his words, but his finger pressed against her lips, halting her words. “If I died,” he continued, “you would be strong enough to carry on and raise our children. Eventually, you would make it through life until we could be together again. Me, on the other hand, I am an asshole. If I couldn’t have you, then there wouldn’t be anything of me left to give anyone.”

“Baby,” she kissed the finger pressed against her lips, “I’m not going anywhere. We’re going to raise those two boys, and you’re going to be stuck with me for a long time. I promise.”

“I’m going to go see if the nurse will bring the babies in.” Razer gently raised the bed to where she was almost sitting up.

“Yes, please.”