Page 104 of The Ranger

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“Tell him to shut up,” she screams.“And stop saying one more,argh, time.”

“One more,” a nurse says.

I laugh.

Bad move.

I can see I’ll pay for that at some point in my life...

Seconds later, I hear my child for the first time.

My heart swells to a thousand times its normal size as they lift him and lay him on Scarlett’s chest.

“Congratulations, you have a baby girl.”

Wait.What!?

I was certain...a girl.Jesus.I’m going to need more guns.

Holy mother of mercy.My heart almost stops as I stare down at her tiny red face and fall madly and deeply in love.She’s the most beautiful and precious thing I’ve even seen in my life.

“Cole,” Scarlett gasps quietly, having let go of my hand, her eyes lifting ever so briefly to mine.

She’s crying.

Shit,so am I.

Like pouring down my goddamn face.

“Fuck,” I mutter, wiping my cheek with my forearm.

“The first word you say to your daughter is a curse word?Nice one, Daddy.”

I ignore her and gently brush a knuckle over our little girl’s soft face.

She’s so tiny.

So soft.

I feel way too big, like I might hurt her.

“She’s perfect,” I breathe, more than say.

“So perfect,” Scarlett sobs quietly.“Hello, my little girl.I love you already.”

Me too.I’ve never loved anything as much in my life.I will protect her with my very last breath.

My eyes drift to Scarlett, and I watch her gaze at our daughter, and this amazing feeling settles in my chest.My life is complete with them in it.It’s a sensation I never knew could exist, and one I wasn’t prepared for.

They belong with me.

They belongtome.

My girls.Both of them.

And only one of them will need convincing of that.But I will...if it’s the last thing I do.

“Little Rainbow,” Scarlett coos.

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