Miah-1(Lane Brothers, Book 2)(40)
It takes hours and we all take turns checking on Wyatt and the now screaming Ellie. The shouts I hear coming from that room when the woman has a contraction make my balls shrink, and it’s not even my dick she’s threatening.
This time when he comes out, he’s grinning from ear to ear and looks so happy that I can’t believe this man is the same maniac from just an hour ago.
“I’m proud to announce the arrival of Alexander George Lane. Six pounds, four ounces, and he’s already letting the world know how he feels about being woken so early.”
We all share a few back slaps and tearful hugs before he leaves to rush back to Ellie.
“You know, Jeremiah—”
“Not happening, Ma. Not ever,” I interject, knowing what the greedy old fox is about to say. “The day I do that to the woman I love, you may as well shoot me. We’re happy with Josh and being an uncle and aunt.”
Clari smiles and winks at me before excusing herself to go to the bathroom.
“Wait, babe, just let me call Jared and Jace and I’ll come with you.”
She nods and stands, talking to Ma while I fill my brothers in on the happy news and promise to text pictures of the newest arrival.
“Ma, you need anything?”
“No, son. You take Clari home and your father and I will stay with Wyatt. They’re keeping little Alex on lockdown for now since there’s been a flu bug going around. We’ll send photos soon and call if we need anything.”
“Thanks, Ma. Give Ellie and the kid a kiss and tell Wyatt he’s a damned maniac.”
It’s only when we’re back in the car and halfway home that my girl turns to me with a somber look.
“You’re sure you don’t want babies of your own, Miah? Your mom seemed so upset that we’re not planning to have a family, and if you’re just saying these things because of what I said—”
“Clari, I absolutely do not want children, babe, and that’s the plain truth. If you change your mind, I’ll try to be okay with a few rug rats under foot, but for now I’m not thinking I’ll ever want to go through what Ellie and Wyatt just endured. Besides, who needs kids when I have you? You’re everything I need.”
That makes her smile tearfully and I grin.
“I am so glad I don’t ever have to go through that. I almost died when Ellie started threatening Wyatt with castration if he so much as dared look at her funny ever again.”
“Babe, she threatened him with castration when he told her last week she couldn’t bathe in a warm bath without supervision.”
She laughs again and yawns through her mirth, sending me a look from beneath her lashes.
“You want to do the practice without the actual results when we get home, handsome?” she purrs, licking her lips.
“Yes, please, babe.”
It’s only when I pull into the garage and shut the car off that I notice Clari fast asleep against the door, looking for all the world as if she didn’t just spent three hours asleep on my lap at the hospital.
“Sorry, boy, I guess practice is cancelled,” I say to my dick, who whines in pain.
By the time I’ve gotten Ellie tucked in and shown the guys all the pics Ma sent me, Josh is up and awake and ready to start his day. I guess I’m operating on minimal sleep from here on out.
“Hey, Miah, go get some sleep, bro. Me’n Jace have Josh covered since we caught some shut-eye after you all left. Oh, and remember to call Roman later, would you? The guy’s been bugging the shit out of me.”
I wave him off and take the stairs two at a time, deciding to call Roman before settling in for a nap. I can actually go a couple of days without sleep, if need be, so losing a night isn’t that bad. But I have to admit to being tuckered out from all of Wyatt’s yelling and emotional drama.
“Yo, Miah, man, I need to meet you sometime today and it can’t be at the house. I have Dobson’s guys following me around since last night, and Melissa’s still riding my ass about it all. I don’t want to bring the heat home with me.”
The news makes me feel old all of a sudden, and I regret this whole assignment more than anything I’ve ever done. By agreeing to this, I endangered my family, and my own brother can’t even risk coming home because he’d rather be shot down in the street by dirty cops than risk the lives under our roof.
“Where, bro?”
“Eazy’s at noon. Come in through the back. Melissa’s cousin Sharon will let you in and show you to the back where I’ll be waiting. And, bro? Thanks for not going nuts on me about the route I took. I know it was reckless.”
“It worked though, right? So no worries. Just promise me you’ll stay safe, Roman. I’d never forgive myself if something happened to you. You’re my brother, not just my partner, and I love you more than the success of this mission.”