Warrior (First to Fight #1)(50)

“Even so, I don’t have time for a relationship right now. I go back to work in a few weeks, and I just need to focus on Cole.”

Cole, thankfully, interrupts the inquisition just as Ben and Jack walk back inside.

“I’ll get him,” Ben says, already starting up the stairs.

Sofie gives me a pointed stare, which I steadfastly ignore.

“Hey, little man,” the monitor cackles.

Oh, sweet baby Jesus. All the female things inside of me turn to mush.

“Rise and shine, sleepyhead.” A chuckle sounds, followed by a few plaintive cries from Cole. “I know, I know. You don’t know who I am, but we’re going to get to know each other. I bet you’re hungry. Let’s get you changed, and we’ll hunt down your mom and go play with your new family.”

Sofie makes more eyes at me, but I’m too distracted by the sweet-as-hell conversation between them to notice.

“There you go, all clean. See? That wasn’t so bad. We may get the hang of this after all.”

When I hear footsteps coming down the stairs, I book it to the living room, not wanting to be caught listening to Ben’s conversation. Sofie and Jack follow closely behind. Ben rounds the corner to the living room with Cole lying on his bare chest, bundled up in a camouflage sleeper outfit.

“He’s all changed, Momma.”

I hold out my hands and Ben passes him to me. As my arms are full of squirming baby, I am unable to resist when Ben places another swift kiss on my lips. Then he turns to grab something from the kitchen and leaves me staring after him like I don’t have any sense. I catch Sofie’s knowing look before retreating to the rocker to feed Cole, only to find Ben’s mom, Sheila, at the backdoor with his father and brothers, giving me a knowing look of her own.

Somehow, my life has spiraled straight past normal and into crazy town.





IT IS AN impossible task, and that is saying something considering some of the shit I’ve had to do over the years. I stare at the mountain of products before me and vow to just grab one if I can’t make a decision in the next five minutes. You’d think a man who held the lives of twenty other Marines in his hands could handle picking out a pack of f*cking diapers, but you’d be wrong.

“Ben?”

I turn my head and find my cousin Chloe and a big, hulking bastard walking up to me. I frown, because I don’t recognize him. “Chloe? What the hell are you doing here?”

Her face breaks into a wide smile and she throws her arms around my shoulders. “Visiting the family,” she answers after a lengthy hug. “I didn’t know you were back in town, too. Aunt Sheila must be slacking on the inter-family gossip.”

“Must be.” I shift my attention to the guy now standing behind her. I jerk my chin and extend the hand not holding a pack of diapers. “Hey, man. I’m Ben.”

“Gabe.”

“Nice to meet you.”

Chloe glances pointedly at the package in my hands. “Got something to tell me there, Ben? Your parents didn’t have any more surprise anniversary babies, did they?”

I choke out a laugh. “No, thank God. I think the twins were more than enough. No—uh, this is actually for me.” I clear my throat. “For my son.”

Her eyes widen. “When the hell did you have a baby?”

Gabe puts a hand over Chloe’s mouth and gives me a sympathetic look. “What she means is congratulations. That’s great news, man.”

“Thanks.” Apparently, this guy knew how to deal with Chloe’s outbursts—something that was a constant source of amusement amongst the rest of our family.

Chloe glares at Gabe and jerks his hand away from her mouth. “You know I can speak for myself, right?” She rolls her eyes then looks back at me. “The reason I ask is because I saw you not too long ago and you most definitely didn’t have any plans of having kids—nor were you currently even dating anyone. Last I heard, you and Olivia were still dancing arou—ohhhh!”

I look down at the perfectly innocent pack of diapers then back up at her. “Yes, his mom is Livvie. It’s—it’s a pretty long story.”

“I heard my mom talking about something that had to do with her when I was at her house the other day. Is it true she was shot a few weeks ago?”

“That’s part of the long story, yes.”

Chloe gasps. “Oh, my God, is she okay?”

Gabe interjects before it can become a full-blown discussion in the middle of the grocery store. “Actually, we’re about to have dinner at Chloe’s place if you want to bring them by. We’d love to have all of you over.”

I give Chloe a pointed look. “Maybe then you’ll explain the rumor I heard about you on some island last summer.”

Chloe blushes and Gabe looks rather smug.




Livvie brushes a hand down her dress and winces when the movement jolts her shoulder. I shift Cole to my other hip and wrap my arm around her waist to support her weight, even though I know she’ll manage just fine on her own. She looks up, her lips forming a little ‘O’ of shock. When I kiss those lips, it surprises us both.

The moment shatters when Chloe opens the door to her apartment. Her lips pull into a knowing smile when she sees the three of us. I glance back down at Livvie and find her cheeks stained red. A part of me that has long since withered away comes to life, warming me from the inside out.