Page 34 of Mob Boss Daddy

He smiles at me and says, “Good morning, little mama.” He places the baby in my arms and climbs onto the bed beside me. “You look so beautiful right now.”

“I must look like I fought a bear and lost.”

“No. You look amazing. Don’t argue with me, baby girl. I’m the boss, remember?”

* * *

We takeJoshua home and get him settled into the nursery. With Macy getting older, we’ve moved her into a more adult bedroom. I stand in the doorway and watch as my little boy sleeps. He’s so tiny that he doesn’t even look real. Jack comes up behind me and puts his hands around my waist.

“He isn’t going anywhere, sweetheart. You need to rest, too. Let him sleep. He’ll be here when you both wake up.”

I take one final look and gently slide the door closed.

“Is the monitor set up?”

“Yes, sweetheart. Everything is as it should be. Now, come on. You’re getting into bed.”

He leads me to the bedroom and pulls down the bedding for me. I sit on the edge of the bed and Jack props my legs up, making me groan with how good it feels. He sits down beside me and runs his fingers through my hair.

“I’m so proud of you, baby girl. You did so good.”

“What did I do? He was coming whether I had anything to say about it or not.”

“You’re amazing. Don’t ever forget that.” He kisses my forehead and adds, “Now, it’s time for you to sleep.”

“Will you stay with me, Daddy?”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

He gets on the bed beside me and pulls me to his chest. I fall asleep to the sound of his heartbeat.

EXTENDED EPILOGUE

JACK

“Is she ready?” I ask Jessie as I survey the grays that have popped up in my hair.

“Finally, yes. I thought we were going to miss it.”

“What about the little ones?”

“Everyone is ready. We’re just waiting for you now. What are you looking at anyway? You know you’re the hottest man in town.”

“With the most gray hair,” I mumble.

“It makes you even sexier. I love running my fingers through it.”

“Alright, let’s round everyone up and go before they give her diploma to someone else.”

Today, Macy graduates high school. It’s so hard to imagine that the scared little girl who lost her father and came to live with me is now old enough to move out and start college.

When she lost her dad, I wondered if I would be able to do right by her as a single man with my profession. I almost looked into alternative living arrangements for her, but if it wasn’t for her, I might never have met Jessie. She was what brought us together and I’m so glad that I took her in. She is and will always be a part of us. She is family.

Joshua, Jade, and Johnny are all dressed in coordinating blue and white outfits. Those are Macy’s school colors. Jessie always thinks of little details like this that I would have taken for granted.

“Did I tell you how sexy you look, little mama?” I kiss her cheek before scooping little Johnny into my arms.

“Sexy?” she scoffs. “Daddy, I barely fit in this dress.”

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