Page 116 of Gangster's Empire: Leeza & Havel

Though Havel would have preferred Leeza stay off her feet, he respected her desire to keep moving and breathing through the contractions. Hovering over her, he followed her everywhere as she tended to her guests.

As she was coming out of the kitchen, he took a tray of sandwiches from her. “I draw the line at you carrying anything heavier than a glass of water.”

She smiled and followed him back into the living room.

The contractions lasted a few more hours before becoming close enough together for Leeza to climb into the pool. Havel helped her onto the bench and kneeled next to her, smoothing her hair off her face and kissing her.

“You’re incredible, lásko,” he encouraged her when it was time to push. “You’re the most beautiful woman on the planet. You… you…” He paused, overcome with emotion.

She reached back to grip him, her knuckles white, her body vibrating with tension.

Shaun was kneeling between her legs, water sloshing up her arms. “I can see the head. Give me another big push.”

Leeza gritted her teeth, squeezed her eyes shut and pushed with everything she had, grunting as the pressure grew unbearable.

“We have the shoulders,” Shaun said. “One more push should do it.”

“I’m going to give you the world after this,” Havel said in her ear. “All the jewels, all the houses, everything you’ve ever wanted.”

She turned her face into Havel’s neck. “You’re all I’ve ever wanted.” She pushed one last time, putting everything she had left into it. She felt intense pain and a rush between her legs, then the pressure was gone.

She watched with wonder as Shaun lifted the baby from the water. “You have a girl.” Then she passed the baby to Leeza who held her arms out eagerly.

“Hello, lásko,” Leeza whispered to her newborn. Her tiny face was wrinkled and red and her eyes were screwed up. A cry escaped her lips.

Havel touched her head, his hand massive in comparison.

“Isn’t she beautiful.” Leeza said softly, then looked around the room. “Where’s Kris?”

“It’s 3:00 AM, sweetheart.” Havel smiled at her tenderly. “He went to bed hours ago.”

“Can you bring him? I promised he could meet the baby as soon as it arrived.”

Shaun climbed out of the pool and Leeza was helped up and wrapped in a robe before she too climbed out. Havel helped her sit on the couch while Shaun checked the baby and swaddled her before settling her in Leeza’s arms again.

A sleepy Kris walked into the room, his hand held tight in Saskia’s.

Leeza reached out for him and he stumbled toward her. “Would you like to meet your sister?”

His eyes widened and he stared down at the baby, his mouth forming an ‘O’. Can I touch her?

“Of course you can.”

He ran his finger over her head, marveling at the soft down of her hair. It was light brown but would likely turn a dark chestnut colour like Leeza’s. Kris gently lifted her hand and touched each of her tiny fingers.

They’d spent months practicing how to be gentle with dolls so he knew exactly how to handle his new baby sister.

Leeza looked up and realized everyone had left the room except for Havel and Kris.

“How are you doing?” Havel asked, his voice shaking with emotion. “Can I get you anything? You must be…”

She shook her head. “I’m perfect.”

His bronze gaze glowed with love and happiness. “Yes, you are.” He sat next to her, pulling both her and the baby against him, then he reached for Kris, settling him on his knee. “We’re perfect.”

CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

Two Years Later

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