Page 48 of Her Dark Melody
Fino looked like he was going to protest but then nodded, laying back on his pillows and closing his eyes. Atlas found a nurse to sit with him then went to find Cormac. Cormac was standing outside, out of the rain under the hospital’scanopy.
“Cormac?”
Cormac turned to look at him. Atlas went up to him, then after a second, offered him his hand. Cormac shook it. “Whatever differences we have had in the past, and however strange this set up is…Fino loves you,” Atlas said gruffly. “Ebony is carrying your child, whether I like it or not. So…we have to find a way of working thisout.”
Cormac nodded. “I agree. Look, here’s the bottom line. A year ago, I was told it was unlikely I would ever have kids. My sperm count is low. I reacted by going a little crazy, going to sex clubs. Ebony…I could tell she was a newbie, so I took care of her in the club…and yes, we made love. I used a condom, but it broke. I swear, I did tell her, but the whole time, she never saw my face. I was wearing,” and he laughed now, “one of those ridiculous masks…hey, I was trying something new, okay?” He added as Atlas smirked. “So, she really, truly never knew it was me. She told you the kid wasn’tyours?”
“Yes.”
“I respect her for that. Hell, I just respect Ebony – I’m sorry I called her a whore; she’s anythingbut.”
“Tellherthat.”
“I will, I promise.” Cormac sighed. “So, bottom line, I just want to be involved with my kid’s upbringing, as well as Fino’s. I’ll let you be a family, Atlas. Just allow me to be part of it.Please.”
“No more shadytricks?”
“None.”
Atlas regarded him for a long time. “When you told me you were the father of Ebony’s child, I just flipped. I felt like everything, everything was being taken away from me. Mateo, Fino, Ebony, the baby…everything.”
“I know. I’msorry.”
“I am too. We’ve both screwed up beyond belief, but at least you’re making amends. I haven’t even startedyet.”
“She’ll forgive you,” Cormac replied. “You were out of your mind for any number of reasons that day. Doesn’t make what you said right, even if I pushed you over the edge. But she’ll forgive you anyway, because she’s that kind ofperson.”
Atlas nodded, shrugging off more chaotic emotions. “And thank you for dropping the case. Fino does belong with Ebony and me - but he needs you too. As for the baby, really, that’s up to Ebonynow.”
“Agreed.” Cormac rubbed his face. “I wasted so many years hating you and Mateo for what now seems to be completely uselessreasons.”
“It’s never toolate.”
“You’re right.” Cormac clapped Atlas on the back. “Come on, let’s get back to Fino and wait for Blue to updateus.”
Two hours later,Blue came to find them…and he wassmiling.
Chapter Twenty-Three
One yearlater…
Romy grinnedas she watched Ebony struggling with a very wriggly five-month-old. Even still tiny, Matilda knew how to twist her mother around her finger. Romy’s own twins, now almost two, were chasing their big sister around with the help ofFino.
“Can you manage?” She finally asked Ebony, who rolled hereyes.
“Yeah, just about…she’s a little monster.” She blew a raspberry on her daughter’s belly which made her giggle and chirrup. Ebony kissed her soft, downy cheek and hugged Matty to her. “But I do love you, squishy girl.” She kissed her again, then handed her off, somewhat reluctantly to Cormac, who swung the child up in his arms, the usual look of elation all over his face. There was no question the man was totallybesotted.
Atlas watched them, smiling. “What a weird family I have,” he said, not for the first time, and laughed as they allgroaned.
“Every time, you say that.” Ebony touched his cheek, and he pulled her onto his lap, pressing his lips tohers.
Their extended family – Atlas and Ebony, Matty and Fino, Cormac and Lydia, Stanley and Vida, plus the Allende’s – were enjoying a late summer barbeque together before Atlas and Ebony flew off for their long-awaited and well deserved honeymoon in theSeychelles.
“Two weeks of fucking you is all I want right now,” Atlas murmured softly into Ebony’s ear, and she shivered with excitement. “I’m going to have you as soon as we get to that villa on the beach, in every room, in every way,baby.”
Ebony hid a groan of desire. “Well, you better keep thatpromise.”
They both chuckled. Since Ebony had given birth to their daughter – Atlas still regarded Matty as his as well as Cormac’s – they had grown even closer. When Ebony had woken after days of being in a post-surgery-induced coma, Atlas had spent hours apologizing to her until she stopped him and told him to kiss her instead. He happilyobliged.
