Page 34 of Painless
"I'll have to think about it," she laughed softly. "I was so convinced she was going to be another boy."
Her brow knitted when the implant stuck under her skin, but she otherwise didn't react. "You're good for three years," I told her.
"It's not safe out there for girls," she mumbled as if she hadn't heard me.
"Hey," I squeezed her shoulder. "But sheissafe, because she's in here. And if she ever goes out there, she's got two big brothers and an army of men to protect her. No one will even get away with looking at her funny."
Tessa nodded, her eyes droopy and tired. Freyja purred loudly and kneaded at the blanket covering the exhausted mother's legs. I reached over to give those fluffy ears a scratch and got my hand headbutted in return.
"I think our work here is done, Freyja." I kissed Tessa's forehead and adjusted her pillows and blankets. "Congratulations, honey. I'll come check on you tomorrow."
With the little black cat at my feet, I walked back to Reaper's house in a daze. I barely remembered the walk at all.
"That you, sugar?" Reaper called from his study when I entered the house. "We're in here."
I paused at the open doorway, my pulse thrumming at seeing Gunner still here. He grinned at me, sitting in one of Reaper's leather armchairs with a cigar and a glass of whiskey. The room was hazy with smoke.
"How'd it go?" Jandro approached me, examining my soiled scrubs. "Everything okay with Tessa? The baby?"
My resolve shattered and I burst into tears. Three men rushed me at once, but it was Reaper who pulled me into his chest, arms creating a fortress of security around me as he soothed and shushed me.
"What is it, babe?" he murmured over my chest-wracking sobs. "What happened?"
"Nothing," I blubbered.
His palms pressed to the sides of my face, making me look at him while someone else rubbed my back.
"What do you mean, sugar? Why are you upset?"
"I'm n-n-not." I hiccuped, and a hysterical laugh bubbled out between my sobs. "I delivered a baby!"
He stared at me like I lost my mind.
"She's perfect, beautiful, healthy," I gasped. "Ten fingers, ten toes, all there. Such a strong cry, and she latched right on to eat. Freyja even turned her from a breech position."
I was rambling, crying, and laughing like a madwoman, but I didn't care. There was no putting a lid on this pure, unbridled joy coursing through me. I did it, I delivered a perfect, healthy baby!
"So you're okay?" Reaper asked me skeptically. "You're just...really happy?"
"Yes!" I cackled, wiping at my eyes. "It’s been my dream since I went to school. I never thought I'd be able to do it, but now..." I circled my arms around his neck, sinking deep into those green eyes. "I did because of you."
He smirked then cupped my chin and kissed me deeply. "I can't take credit for makingthisdream come true. But I'm glad everything went well."
Jandro's plush lips pressed to the nape of my neck, his arms enveloping my waist. "Proud of you,mi Mariposita."
My heart swelled to the point of tears gathering in my eyes again. How did I go from hanging by a thread to a life full of purpose and love?
Someone came up to the side of me and kissed my temple. Gunner looked down at me with his dazzling smile and sky-blue eyes.
"Congrats on a successful delivery, baby girl. And if it wasn't obvious," he pressed his lips to my ear, "I'm all in. I'm yours and you're mine."
Twelve
MARIPOSA
"Ineed to talk to you."
Noelle's look was stern, similar to the one she gave me while Tessa was in labor. I'd forgotten about it until now, the morning after.
