Page 95 of Entangled

“Don’t rush, we’ve got time.”

Gian chuckled, and shook his head. “You’re kidding, right? Of course, I’m going to rush.”

“Don’t get yourself killed on the highway or something, Gian. I swear to God.” Cara’s next breath came out stuttered and her voice strained. “All right, I’m going to hang up because another one is starting, and I don’t want to talk through it.”

“I’ll listen to you rage, if that’s—”

“Goodbye, Gian.”

He laughed when she hung up the phone on him. He had zero doubt that Cara would be just fine through labor and birth. If anything, she was too stubborn to get overwhelmed by something as silly as pain. It would likely be him on the floor in a panic, passed out or something equally humiliating.

Birth was not for the faint of heart, or so Gian was told.

“You’re leaving?” Elena asked.

Gian closed down his laptop, packed it up, and grabbed the suit jacket off the back of the office chair. “I am.”

“Congratulations are in order, hmm?”

He shot his wife a look. “I beg your pardon?”

“The only reason you would rush out at night after a phone call like that one is because your goomah is having the baby. Congratulations are in order, so congrats.”

Apparently, Gian had not been as vague as he thought on the phone call. That, or Elena was just very perceptive.

She cleared her throat, and crossed her arms over her chest. She was ready for bed, by the looks of the silk robe she wore, her clean-face, and the messy bun of hair on top of her head. It was rare that Gian saw Elena in a state that was any less than perfect.

“I did try to be discreet on the call,” Gian said.

“I could tell, but I’m also not stupid.”

“I likely won’t be around for a couple of days. Don’t expect me, not that you’ll mind, I’m sure.”

Elena glanced away, her jaw tight and eyes hard. But there was a barely hidden sadness in her features, too. Gian hadn’t expected that at all.

“Again, congrats,” she murmured. “I hope he’s everything you want, and everything we don’t have, Gian. It’s easier for you that way, isn’t it? When everything you share with her, is nothing like what waits for you here?”

“You don’t really need an answer for that, Elena. You already know.”

How different they could have been, he thought. How entirely different their life could have been together.

If only she had cared enough.

Gian no longer cared at all.

Marcus Gian Guzzi made his way into the world nearly twenty-four hours to the minute that Cara had called Gian. He came into the world quietly, pink, slick and bloodstained. He didn’t cry at first, but not because something was wrong.

No, he didn’t cry because he was born with his eyes wide open, already looking for the people that belonged to only him.

The smallest thing to have ever scared the very life out of Gian.

The most beautiful thing to have ever graced his life, next to his mother.

An amazing, tiny, brown-haired, dark-eyed creature that was nothing like Gian had expected, but so much more. Ten perfect fingers, and ten perfect toes. Soft, warm skin, and facial features, right down to the dimple in his cheek, that matched his father.

Features that matched the Guzzi genes.

Cara had been so quiet through the process, measured breaths and quivering words. She wanted Gian close, but she barely spoke to him at all. He went off her cues, to give her what she wanted, and didn’t ask to be told what to do. It wasn’t him doing this wonderful thing, after all. It was all on her.