Page 57

“I can’t wait,” I agree, my stomach rumbling in anticipation.

As we walk further up the path, he adds, “Oh, Jensen has something to tell everyone later. “

“Interesting,” I reply, my eyebrows raising curiously.

There’s no point in me asking Cash about it now. If he was going to tell me, then he would have told me, not just said that Jensen had something to tell me. I’ll ask Jensen over dinner because I’m pretty sure that Cash isn’t telling me because we all need to know, and obviously Jensen wants to tell us.

We head inside and Cash immediately goes into the kitchen and starts to help the guys find something to eat, while I sit down at the weathered table and start to write out the email to Mr. R, and Pete sits opposite me and prepares the file to send it over to him.

Ever

We’ve only just got back and I’m trying and failing to help the guys find something to eat. To be honest, I’m just watching at this point, since the kitchen is only tiny and there are already several very big guys searching through it.

My phone is buzzing in my pocket though, so I’m assuming that it’s managed to find some of the limited signal that seems to exist on this island, and all the messages that I’ve missed are now coming through.

I take my time reading through the messages.

Honestly, I’m surprised I have as many as I do, considering Peter and the guys are with me, and then I realize that most of them are updates from the organization. Just the generic memos. I don’t know why they can’t put it all into one message. Surely that would be more efficient.

I freeze as I spot a message that is definitely not from the organization.

“Oh my fucking god!” I exclaim excitedly.

“What?” Rage asks, his head popping out from the cupboard. “What’s wrong?”

“Look,” I grin, my eyes filling with tears as I turn my phone around to the guys. “Lyric had her baby.”

“No fucking way!” Jensen exclaims as he immediately pulls out his phone and then smiles softly. “They sent us photos too, guys.”

“She’s beautiful,” Trick says softly as he looks down at the photo of the baby on his phone.

I don’t even try to stop my happy tears.

Atlas pulls me back against his chest, looking over my shoulder at the pictures as I scroll. She’s sent a lot, and I am so glad she did.

“They all look so happy,” I smile. “They deserve that. They’ve all been through so much.”

“That’s the most loved baby and protected baby in the whole damn world,” Atty mutters, a catch in his voice.

“Damn straight she is,” I agree fiercely. “I want to check what time she sent the last message. It’s really late, and she’s got to be exhausted. I don’t want to bother them if they’re all sleeping.”

“Good idea,” Jensen says from beside us. His fingers hovering over his phone, about to send a message.

Fortunately, I see that the last photo she sent was sent only a couple of moments ago and says that they’re both doing well and that she’s so in love with her.

Me: You are absolutely incredible. She is stunningly beautiful, Lyric. Let me know if you need anything at all. Rest and send as many pictures as you possibly can. I want to see them all. Love you, guys!

Lyric: She’s so tiny. I knew she was going to be tiny, obviously, but she’s so tiny. She’s perfect. Ever, I’ve never loved anyone or anything like I love her. Of course I’m sending pictures, you just try to stop me. We’re taking a few days to adjust and enjoy our bubble, and then you can come and have cuddles. Side note, it hurt like a mother fucker, but as soon as I held her in my arms, it was so worth it. I would happily experience that pain again if she’s what I get at the end.

I’m crying again.

I can’t help it. Admittedly, I was worried about her and the whole giving birth thing. I never once questioned whether she was strong enough to do it, but I’d gone down a research rabbit hole and ended up scaring myself with what could go wrong.

My own fault, and obviously I didn’t say anything to Lyric. I’m so relieved that it all seems to have gone straightforward and that they’re both safe and happy.

“Wow,” Atlas mutters, clearing his throat as emotion catches in it.

Chapter Nineteen