“It’s better than good,” Maks assured him as they made their way down the corridor.
Alek paused again in front of Lekzi’s door. He felt he should say something but didn’t know what, so he opened and went in first. He looked over his shoulder and took in two startled expressions when a sweet gurgle and quiet thud-thud came from his daughter. Maks looked as if the anticipation was killing him.
By the time Alek reached the crib, he was grinning like an ass. His heart oozed through his ribs when he saw sleepy pale-blue eyes peer up at him. It melted completely when two teeth and pink gums flashed when she smiled. Her strong little legs kicked to identify the thud-thud. She rolled halfway to her side but then settled back as if not wanting to bother with the effort.
“I want to introduce you boys to my daughter.”
A couple of murmured what-the-fucks sounded and, yes, they were clearly men who weren’t used to babies because they looked at Lekzi as if she might break into hysterics and projectile vomit in their faces at any moment.
Vincente was the first to react. But it was only to take a few steps away. He planted it ten feet from the crib and then just stared at the baby, his shoulders stiff, his jaw stiffer.
Gabriel scrubbed a hand over his face and shook his head. “Do not kill my image of your woman by telling me she kept this from you. Just…don’t. And, holy hell, could she be any smaller?” he muttered, sounding distinctly nervous as he bent at the waist so he could see Lekzi better. No doubt he was imagining his own child arriving in a few months. “How old is she? Look at her goddamn fingers. They’re like matchsticks, for fuck’s sake.” Straightening, he gripped the back of Alek’s neck and pressed a kiss to his temple. “Holy fuck. I don’t know what to say. Huge congratulations, brother. She’s beautiful.” He looked down at her and then back at Alek. “Holy fuck. You have a baby. How the hell did this happen?” He cast a dark look behind him. “You knew, you asshole?”
“Of course, I knew,” Maks drawled arrogantly as he came right in and placed his enormous hand on Lekzi’s tummy. “Met her last night. Hey, malishka. Told the kids about you this morning and they agreed to babysit while mom and dad get their shit together. Doubt they’ll get the chance, though, once the ladies get a look at you.” He drew back and shook his head. “Fuckin’ minis are crawling out of the woodwork all over the damn place. V, you’re falling behind.”
Vincente didn’t even look at him. “Yeah, because you contributed so much to the two under your roof.” He drifted over, going in a wide circle even though there was nothing in his way. He glanced at Alek, and then at the baby. “You have a fuckin’ girl. A boy is one thing. He’s having a boy,” he motioned to Gabriel, “I want a boy. But a girl…that scares the fuck out of me.” He seemed to catch himself, and his goatee went crooked. “Not that this isn’t incredible.” He came over and yanked Alek into a hard embrace that ended with a couple of back slaps that lingered. “Congratulations, man. She’s fucking perfect. Oh, shit,” he muttered, looking at the baby. “Sorry—” His face screwed up even more. “Jesus Christ, I’m apologizing to a fucking baby now?”
No one said anything, all of them understanding the guy was struggling. They watched him bend, his ponytail sliding off his shoulder to sway in the air. Lekzi’s eyes followed the movement. And then the room stilled because V reached out and picked her up. She looked ridiculously small in his arms, and so sweet when she tangled her fist in all that hair and jerked. Alek felt emotion swim to the surface as his daughter and his damaged friend stared at each other.
“I remember holding Sophia like this. My mother used to hover around,” he mused. “But I never would have dropped her. Hey, kid.” His voice went quiet and personal as he walked over to the window. “Where the fuck did you come from? That meathead back there, for real. Look just like him.” He passed his hand over her hair and brought his eyes to Alek. “You get that you can’t wonder around on your own anymore, right? Not ever. Especially now. If I hear you fucked off and left Anton behind, I’ll hand you your ass, and it won’t be pretty. Who have you assigned to them? To her and her mother?”
“Lucas and Grigori. But they won’t be leaving the house for the foreseeable future.”
V shook his head and came over, his face hardening. “Look at her. Feel her. Listen to the sound of her breathing.” He put her in Alek’s arms. He didn’t appear to be hearing Alek agreeing with him. “Feel that? Hear it? That needs protecting. Anton is on your ass for good because she needs you to stay safe. Yeah, she’d have us if tragedy came to visit, but we’re gonna avoid that if we possibly can. You got it?”