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“Let’s go inside,” Tiger told Ze and together, they went with the nurse to get prepped. Now that they were ready with gloves, masks, and coverings, they entered the room where Pauline was giving birth to his son.

“You made it in time, this is good,” Helena said. She was standing beside the bed, holding the woman’s hand.

“It’s been a busy night,” Tiger said, then he took over, taking Pauline’s hand and allowing her to squeeze his for support. “You’re doing great,” he told her, even though he wasn’t sure. Just seemed like the right thing to say.

Ze stood on the other side, watching the whole thing as it happened. He’d never seen anyone give birth before and he was extremely excited because it was his and Tiger’s child who was about to be born.

Pauline screamed as everyone encouraged her to push. The nurse and doctor were doing their job to the best of their ability and after several more minutes and two more great pushes, the sound of a baby crying filled the hospital room. Pauline released an exasperated sigh, her chest heaving as sweat drenched her body. The pain had been terrible, but the hefty payment had made up for it.

Tiger watched as the nurses checked out his son and cleaned him up a bit before urging him to come closer to the tiny human.

“Do you want to cut the cord?” the nurse asked him.

He nodded and did the honors, then took hold of his baby. Ze came around to gaze down at their son. Tiger turned to Pauline, who just looked exhausted. “Thank you,” he said.

She gave him a smile and nodded.

Tiger gave the baby to Ze to hold and he smiled as he watched Ze melt with the baby in his arms. Zaire was a man who could kill without remorse, who got off when his hands got messy with the blood of his prey. But right then, he never looked so gentle with their infant son in his arms.

“So, did you decide on the name out of our selection?” Tiger asked.

“Seth,” Ze said. “Seth Esai-Bridger.”

“A fitting name,” Helena said as she approached. “May I?” She held out her hands.

Ze didn’t dare refuse as out of all the people he’d met in his life, Helena Bridger was one of the scariest, most intimidating he’d known. There was just something about the woman that was cold as ice. She would probably eat her own children if she didn’t think they were worthy of her love. He handed her the baby and she smiled at the child that squirmed a little in her arms.

“Oh, he’s beautiful. Perfect,” Helena said as she smiled down at the baby.

“He is,” Tiger said.

“I had concerns since you waited so long. I wanted to make sure your swimmers could produce a healthy child,” Helena said.

Tiger rolled his eyes. “I’m fifty-one, mom, not eighty.”

“Still,” she said, then nuzzled her grandbaby before handing him to Colt.

He held his son a bit longer, then gave him to Ze, who nuzzled the baby and played with his tiny fingers before the nurse came to take care of the baby further. Ze gave his new bundle of joy to her, feeling a little sad that he had to. But he knew he’d be spending the rest of his life taking care of their son.

Tiger spoke a bit more to Pauline before leaving her to rest. He and Ze removed their protective gear and joined his family in the waiting room. “Our son is beautiful,” he told them.

“I’m just happy my eldest finally bore fruit,” Helena said.

“For the family to harvest,” Ze remarked.

Helena turned to him sharply. “And from what I understand, your club will be doing the same when he comes of age. Of course, he’ll already be well established in the family business by that time. A true professional.”

“Well,” Iris said, stepping between Ze and her mother. “You look happy to be fathers,” she said to her brother and the man he was willing to risk everything for. Having met Ze, she could see why. In her opinion, the two men were perfect for each other.

“Jury is still out,” Tiger said in his honesty.

“I am,” Ze said. Having a family was something he always wanted, but didn’t think was possible. He knew Tiger would come to agree with him soon enough. Kids were wonderful.

“Get ready for the biggest challenge of your life, brother,” Nathan said. Like Tiger, he didn’t want kids either, but was a happy single father now, even though his road to getting there had been rocky. He took a look at his brother’s outfit. “Wait, hold up… is that your cut?” He stepped up and checked it out.

Tiger looked down and smiled. “Yeah… I made patch tonight. It’s the reason why I was hard to reach. There was a party to celebrate.”

“My god, it’s gaudy,” Helena remarked.