Fearless (Broken Love, #5)(82)

“I’m fucking terrified.”

I didn’t know how to respond because he wasn’t making sense.

“So why?”

“I promised to give you everything, and I know this is what you want. So, I thought maybe I could make that sacrifice.”

“That’s not a reason to face your fears. I don’t want a family to be a sacrifice.”

“I thought so, too.”

“Then why!” I yelled frustrated and stepped back. I wanted to believe him. I wanted a family with him.

But not if my happiness was a sacrifice that he couldn’t live with.

“Haven loves Dash and Dash loves him back. He’s. Just. His. Son.”

“Keiran, baby, explain a little better,” I pleaded. I felt just as desperate as the look in his eyes.

“I got a call from Daniel after we were married. They wanted me to know the inheritance is still in place. If I have a son, I’ll inherit.”

“My son will not be a meal ticket.”

“I’m glad you said that because I told him if I ever did have a son, any cent given to me will be donated or burned. He seemed to understand.”

“So what does this mean?”

“It means I’m not Mitch, and I never will be. I know that now. I want to be a father.”

“What if one day you wake up hating me, or I wake up one day and you’re gone?”

He reached out for me and I went. He needed to touch me just as much I needed him to but he didn’t stop there. He kissed my lips until I softened against him. “That’s never going to happen. Even when I hated you, being without you wasn’t something I could do. It’s you and me forever, wife. Get used to it.” I laughed until he lowered to his knees and looked up at me. “Do you trust me with our kid?”

My relief over his willingness to give our family a try was nothing compared to how I weakened at the humbled look in his eyes. “I trust you,” I found myself saying easier than ever.

He kissed my stomach through the dress, and I wanted nothing more than for him to continue, but a knock on the door pulled us apart. He glanced at his watch and cursed.

“The wedding is about to start.” When he opened the door, we found Willow standing on the other side with her arms crossed. “Shouldn’t you be getting ready to walk down the aisle?” he joked.

“In a minute… Is everything cool?” she grilled with her threatening glare on Keiran. He snorted and ignored her to wrap his arm around my waist and he pulled me in front of him. They had grown closer and by closer, I meant they agreed they were each equally important to me. Willow still tried to assert dominance over him, though, and Keiran still found it amusing.

“We’re going to have a baby.”





KEIRAN


NINE YEARS LATER


“Phee. What is this?” I held up my favorite ball with flower stickers all over the surface. I almost wept when I saw it. Keenan and Dash gave me shit the entire practice after I’d pulled out my ‘pretty ball.’ A few years ago I took over coaching the boys high school basketball team with the help of Keenan and Dash during Saturday morning practice.

“What do you mean, daddy?”

“What do you mean, what do I mean?”

“I mean,” she emphasized, “what do you mean?”

“Phee.” I pinched the bridge of my nose and prayed for patience. The little shit maintained a serious expression even though I was sure she was fucking with me. The universe cursed me the day he gave her my personality and her mother’s looks. Maybe it was payback for the shit I gave as a kid.

At only seven years old, she was a fucking nightmare.

“Daddy, I just wanted to make it better. Don’t you like it?”

“No.”

“Well, I like it,” she stated and walked past me, silently ending the conversation. I spun in time to see her and her evil pigtails leave her room.

Oh, hell no.

“Sophia!” I roared, following behind her. She must have run off because the hall was empty.

Somewhere near, I heard a sigh and the patient voice of my wife asking Phee what she’d done now. I followed the sound of their voices and found them in our bedroom. Lake was in bed where I left her this morning as she breastfed Nicky. He was only four weeks old and ate more than three grown men. I wasn’t complaining, though. Each time I watched her feed him, it only made me want to breed her again.

One more.

And then I promised her I’d quit.

I eyed Phee faking fear and attempting to hide against her mother’s side. Despite how crazy she made me, I wanted another princess. Maybe one gentle like her mother. This one was all me. I’d never say it out loud, and fuck whoever disapproved, but she was my favorite. I’d just never tell her so.

Or make any of my other kids feel inferior.

It wasn’t about that.

I’d die for any of them.

“Dad?”

My attention shifted to the door where my oldest looked as if he’d just woken up. It was almost fucking noon and he got to sleep in. I couldn’t even sleep past six anymore even on weekends.

“Trey! Daddy’s being mean again.” She left Lake and ran straight into Trey’s arms, knowing her older brother would put up the biggest fight. Lake and I had an agreement that we didn’t disagree in front of the kids ever. It never stopped her claws from coming out behind closed doors. They had her wrapped her finger.