Page 153 of Illicit

It was life changing for both of us for different reasons. Giving that to Vince is as much for him as it is for Rocco.

Full circle.

Cathartic.

And today is the day we make Vince ours.

Rocco’s hand snakes up my side, over my shoulder, and into my hair. “You’re wearing your baby earrings.”

I smile. “Well, we are birthing a child today … in another form. It’s still the same.”

He presses his lips to my temple. “It is the same.”

Then he brings his other arm around, the one he was hiding behind his body.

I gasp when I see them.

An enormous bouquet of dahlias.

“You remembered.” I take the bouquet and turn in his arms.

“Did you really think I’d forget?”

I shake my head. “I didn’t know what to think. I have all the emotions without the pregnancy hormones. I don’t know how to feel about anything.”

When I moved in with Rocco all those years ago, I was determined to make his desolate backyard a beautiful space. Rocco did the grunt work, but I planted the seeds. It seems I didn’t have a natural green thumb. I killed a lot of flowers, but not the dahlias. They never died on me, so naturally, they became my favorite.

We moved to a bigger house after we had Lettie. I miss that garden, but when something works, it’s best to stick with it. I planted them in our new house the first season we were there.

When a big event hits our family, Rocco always brings me flowers.

And they’re always dahlias. After all, they symbolize a strong bond and everlasting love between two people. Nothing could be more meaningful for us.

I beam up at him. “You found purple.”

He shrugs. “It’s Vince’s favorite. I figure it fits.”

I push to my toes and press my lips to his. “Thank you.”

He gazes down at me like we have all the time in the world, which we don’t. We need to be at the courthouse in an hour. “Best mom in the world.”

I shake my head. “Best parents. We’re the shit.”

A grin takes over his beautiful face. “Yeah, we are. Are you ready to have another kid?”

“Lead the way, Roc. I’ll do anything with you.”

Rocco

Today is the day.

And everyone is here for it.

To think the whole thing started when I was an MC prospect and moved in with the cartel.

Landyn tucked me under her wing and never let go. It took me a bit to get on board, but her idea that the bigger the better when it comes to family finally wore off on me.

I’ve never told anyone this. Not even Teagan—and I tell her everything.

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