Page 80 of Cup of Lies

“You’ll give them a home when this is over,” Koyn says with conviction. “Until then, you owe it to your daughters to rid the streets of these sick fucks. You’ll see it to the end.”

He’s right.

I also like that he refers to Kaitlyn as my daughter too.

I’ll be strong for Romy and the girls. I have to. If we want a safer world for them to live in, it’s necessary to clean up the filth first.

“What if she already had the baby?” I ask, voice tight with emotion. “They’ve stopped responding to my texts.”

“The baby’s not going anywhere, man. You’ll see her when you get there.”

I knew I should’ve stayed with her. There was a voice in the back of my head telling me to. Not like I could’ve indulged it. I promised Koyn and his men I’d do my part. They’ve given us a safe place to land and haven’t asked for anything but this in return. It’s the least I can do. I just hate I’m missing out on the birth of my daughter.

The Pepto-Bismol-colored hospital comes into view even before we exit the highway. I’m on the edge of my seat, desperate to get to her. Koyn, thankfully, drives me right up to the front of the building so I can get out. I bolt from the vehicle like my ass is on fire.

After a few confusing moments, I manage to find the floor for labor and delivery. The elevator creeps its way up. I’m jittery with nerves.

“I’m looking for my fiancée,” I blurt out to the receptionist on the L&D floor. “Romy Langston.”

She points me in the direction of the room she’s in and I sprint over to it. The door is ajar, and I can hear Romy’s moansof pain. Every hair on my body stands on end with a mixture of terror and anger at whoever is hurting her.

I burst into the room and take in the frantic scene. Romy is in stirrups, red-faced and sweaty, as she seems to be pushing. Theo has hold of her hand, gently coaching her through the process. The urge to knock my brother out has never been so overwhelming that it is now.

“Caius,” Romy cries out. “Oh God, you’re here.”

She releases Theo’s hand to stretch it out to me. I move over to her and take it. Theo disappears from view and my focus is on my beautiful woman.

“Her head’s almost out, Romy,” the doctor says. “You’re doing great. We’re going to have you push again on your next contraction.”

She whimpers as another wave of pain consumes her. Her grip on my hand is crushing as she bears down again. I’m panicked and unsure what to do. I kiss her hand and pray like hell this baby comes out soon so she can be free from the pain.

It takes her another fifteen minutes of pushing, but then my daughter enters the world with an earth-shattering scream. I take my eyes off Romy to watch as the nurse handles the messy-looking, squirming little thing. I’m in awe.

A baby.

We have a baby.

Romy starts to cry. I tear my eyes from the little girl to look into Romy’s teary blue eyes.

“You did it, love,” I murmur, smiling at her. “Perfect timing too.”

She manages a watery smile. “I want to hold her.”

Seconds later, the nurse sets the baby on Romy’s chest. Romy’s arm curls around our daughter and she kisses her head.

“She has your hair color,” Romy points out. “I wonder if she’ll have your eyes too.”

And yet, all I see is Romy’s same nose and pouty lips. Our baby is beautiful.

“I want to name her Nova,” Romy says. “She has strong parents who have been through so much. This little girl is an explosion in our world and will only burn brighter.”

I think that it’s a fitting name considering “supernova” was the phrase we used to pull someone out of their mind trance. Our little Nova is like that.

“Nova is perfect,” I assure her. “I love it.”

I’m not sure I’ve ever been happier in my whole damn life.

To say Kaitlyn is excited about her sister would be an understatement. We’ve been back at the clubhouse for only a few hours, and Kaitlyn has given up on her pool obsession to stick by her baby sister’s side.

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