Page 87 of Breathtaking

“Brennan Beneventi... I like it. What about a middle name?” I ask her quietly as she yawns.

“I think it should be Samuel. Like you and your dad.”

Well, damn.

There goes another tear.

“Brennan Samuel Beneventi,” she tests it and smiles. “I like it.”

“Me too,tesoro. Me too.”

* * *

I’m fairly sure if my family were any other family, they wouldn’t be allowed in the hospital after visiting hours, but our last name holds a level of clout and control few people argue with. So even though it’s after eleven at night, once my parents and brothers have left, Callen and Caitlin are still allowed back in.

Lennon is asleep in the bed while Brennan lies in my arms, staring up at me, when my sister falls in love. Her eyes sparkle as she melts into a pile of goo, just looking at him. “Can I hold him?”

I carefully transfer him to her arms and listen to her have an entire whispered conversation, making him so many promises, I can’t help but smile. I turn to Callen and wrap an arm around him in a tight embrace. “Thank you for everything, brother. For tonight. For everything... I know I’ve said it before, but I’m sorry for the hell I put you through last year. I get it now. I didn’t then.”

“Yeah... it’s one of those things you can’t understand until you find the woman who turns your world upside down,” he offers as he watches his wife with my baby. “She changes everything.”

I nod, silently agreeing. “Definitely brings you to your knees.”

“Speaking of which...” Callen smiles, and Caitlin rolls her eyes. “While you’re in a forgiving mood, I think it’s a good time to tell you your wife and mine forced me to help your wife get her dress on tonight. I did it with my eyes closed, I swear.”

“One eye was sort of open,” Caitlin adds nonchalantly, and I stare at them, confused.

“It was more closed than open,” Lennon whispers from the bed, and we all turn around. “And seriously, Kenzie had her entire hand in my vagina with a mirror behind her while Callen and Caitlin held my hands. He’s probably seen things that are going to give him nightmares. Get over it, Madman.”

“What?” Caitlin laughs so loudly, she startles Brennan.

“Hey now.” I move to Lennon’s side. “You don’t call me Madman.”

“If you can call me princess, I can call you Madman.” She keeps her eyes closed and the blanket pulled up, like the exhaustion is still there, but she’s fighting it.

“I told you I liked her,” Caitlin announces as she slides Brennan into Callen’s arms. “There. He can’t hit you if you’re holding the baby.”

“I wasn’t going to hit him,” I grumble, too happy and too tired to worry about it tonight.

“Fine. Then consider Brennan an insurance policy.” Cait moves to Lennon’s side.

Callen smiles a shit-eating grin. “You think Anastasia and Brennan are going to get into half the trouble we did?”

“I think it’s going to be his job to kick anyone’s ass who even thinks about getting her into some of the trouble we got into.”

“Yeah.” Brennan fusses, and Callen calms him down like a pro. “I like that.”

I look at my best friend holding my baby, and man, it’s such a humbling thing.

“I like that too.”

* * *

Lennon

In the dark of the night, I finally feel my husband lie down next to me and gather me in his arms. “I thought I told you to go home and get some sleep,” I whisper as I curl into him, completely ignoring my own words.

“You did. I chose to not listen.” He pulls the blanket up, and I feel his body relax against mine. “Did you really think I’d leave you alone?”

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