Page 176 of Monster

He frowned, swiping his thumb under my eyes. “How could you possibly think you would be a terrible mother? That’s not fucking possible.”

“You don’t know that.”

“Really? You think I don’t know? You’re over here, worrying yourself to tears that you might be a terrible mother. Would a terrible mother really be doing that?”

I looked down at his chest, to the kneeling angel tattoo.

I shrugged.

“And let’s not forget you risked your life to save Braxton. Who in their right mind would do that?”

“Everyone,” I said, looking at him. “Why wouldn’t they? Braxton’s a child.”

He shot me a soft look.

“Only you would think everyone in this world is good. You have a big heart.”

My lips trembled, and I placed my hand on his chest, trying to get closer to him, to his warmth.

“A heart big enough to love a monster. Don’t you think you can love our baby?”

Well, when he said it like that…

“You really think I will make a good mom?”

“I know so,” he said confidently.

I relaxed against him. Dominic was so strong, so confident in everything he did, so if he thought I wouldn’t be a terrible mom…

I blinked. “I am happy about our kid. Do I wish you would have at least worn a condom?Yeah.” He smiled at the sass in my voice. I rolled my eyes. “But I am happy.”

“Good,” he said, leaning down and kissing my temple. “I’m happy, too. And I will do everything I can to protect my family. I can’t protect my family if I’m dead. So stop looking at me like you’re afraid I would disappear on you, wildcat.”

Of course, he caught on to that.

Dominic was one of the most astute men I had ever met.

“I just don’t want anything to happen to you,” I whispered.

His job—who he was—was just so dangerous.

And I didn’t know what to do to ensure he would always come back home to me.

“Hey, listen to me,” he said. “Nothing is going to happen to me, okay?”

My lips trembled. “You don’t know that. Everyone wants to take you away from me. I c-can’t—”

“It’s okay. No one is going to take me away from you.”

“You don’t know that,” I said.

If there was one thing I knew, it was how unpredictable life was.

He pulled me in closer to his arms. “You’re right. I don’t know that. But I do know that no matter what happens, I will always try to get home to you.”

He cupped my stomach with his huge, scarred hand.

I looked down at it.

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