Page 111 of Death

She brushes her fingers through my hair and waits patiently while I process the incredible news that I’m going to be a father.

After long minutes, the first thought that pops into my mind is baby names. “If it’s a boy, can we name him Adan. After my father?”

“Yes,” she whispers, her tone filled with love. “And if it’s a girl, we can name her after your mother.”

I lift my head to look up at her. “Julieta.”

I haven’t said their names in over two decades.

Thinking of Ciara, I ask, “You’re okay with those names?”

She nods, lovingly trailing her fingers over the side of my face. “I love them.” Suddenly, her face crumbles and she sobs, “I’m pregnant.”

I dart up off the floor and sit down on the bed before pulling her onto my lap. “Hey, it’s okay.”

She shakes her head. “I-I’m so h-happy.”

Thank fuck.

I hold her as gently as I can, not wanting to do anything that will hurt our baby. “I’ll change diapers. I’ll get up at night. I’ll…”

She lets out a burst of laughter. “You’re so cute.”

Only when it comes to her.

Ciara wipes the tears from her cheeks before climbing off my lap. “You need to leave so I can finish getting ready, or I’ll be late for our wedding.”

Grinning from ear to ear, I get up. I press a kiss to her forehead before saying, “I waited over a year for you. What’s ten more minutes?”

“I’m glad you think it will only be ten minutes,” she chuckles.

There’s a knock at the door, and I call out, “Come in.”

The door opens, and Grace peeks into the room. Then she sees Ciara’s blotchy face and rushes to her sister. “Aww. Are you emotional?”

“No, I’m pregnant,” Ciara replies.

“Oh my God,” Grace gasps. “Are you serious?”

Ciara points at the bed where I left the stick, and Grace looks at it. Then, a smile spreads over her face, and she grabs hold of Ciara, letting out a shriek.

“We’re pregnant at the same time,” Grace sobs, and taking that as my cue to leave, I walk out of the room and shut the door behind me.

I head downstairs, where I find Dominik and Pedro sitting in absolute silence. Neither is a big talker, so I’m not surprised.

When they notice me, they stand up, and Dominik asks, “Ready for your big day?”

I grin at them. “I have fantastic news.”

The corner of Pedro’s mouth lifts because he’s the one who got the pregnancy test from the clinic. “Yeah?”

Nodding, I say, “Hell fucking yeah. Ciara’s pregnant.”

Pedro gets to me first, hugging the fuck out of me and whispering, “I’m so fucking happy for you.” When he pulls back, there are unshed tears in his eyes, and it instantly makes me emotional.

“If you cry, I cry,” I mutter.

Dominik comes to shake my hand. “Congrats. Enjoy your last nine months of sleep.”

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