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A smile spread Lexi’s face. “Aurora Lane Holmes.”
Savannah melted against Toth’s side and he hugged her to him, wishing he could absorb her pain.
“That’s such a pretty name,” Sav said.
“I guess now’s the best time to tell you,” Lexi said to Cole.
“Tell me what?”
“You’re her godfather.”
His smile fell. “Huh?”
Nash chuckled and wrapped an arm around Lexi. “Whether you admit it or not, you protected me my whole life. And you continue to protect everyone around you. We can’t think of anyone else who’ll keep her safer than you in the event she needs a guardian.”
Toth watched Cole’s throat bob. A muscle at his temple jumped, and if he didn’t know any better, he’d think the asshole was feeling something.
Cole brought his gaze down to his niece. “I’ll always protect her.” A few more minutes passed and then Cole handed Aurora back to her mother.
“Do you want to hold her?” Lexi’s question snapped Toth to the moment.
He cleared his throat. He barely knew these people, couldn’t be more of an outsider if he tried, but god he wanted to be part of something. The fact that he’d been invited to such a special moment gave him hope that everyone would eventually accept him as their brother—maybe even Cole.
“Don’t drop her,” Cole growled, as Toth leaned in to scoop up the baby.
He rocked her as he held her warm, compact little body. She yawned and his heart melted. He flicked his gaze to Savannah. Her smile held fast, and there was tenderness in her eyes. “Do you want to hold her?” he asked.
He didn’t have the right to offer. And maybe holding Aurora would be devastating for Savannah. But maybe it would bring her some peace and contentment.
“I shouldn’t—”
“It’s okay,” Lexi said encouragingly.
Gingerly, Sav accepted Aurora, her eyes round with wonderment. “Oh my gosh. Hi, little one,” she cooed. “You’re just the sweetest thing.”
Aurora grunted and everyone chuckled. A few minutes later she stirred some more and started to wriggle. “I think she wants her mama.” Sav passed the baby back to Lexi.
Minutes later they left, promising to call after they let Nash and Lexi get settled with their new little bundle. Toth laced his fingers with hers as they walked down the porch toward his vehicle. “You okay?”
She ducked her head and her hair shrouded her cheek. “I’m fine.”
When they reached the passenger door, he turned her so her back pressed against the car. Sliding his hand along her cheek, he forced her to stare at him. “Don’t hide your pain. Not from me. Got it?”
She pursed her lips and nodded. “Okay.” Her shoulders rose as she inhaled then trembled as she exhaled. “That was hard. I mean, seeing Lexi glowing and so beautiful with motherhood was... amazing. I just can’t help but feel jealous, I guess. It’s stupid.” She lowered her lashes and he swept his finger over her cheekbone. The bruise was still prominent. It’d been barely forty-eight hours since they drove away from Jace’s cabin.
“Ain’t nothing stupid about that, babe. I’m sorry. We shouldn’t have—”
“No, I’m glad we went. It makes me happy you’re finding your way with your brothers. And even seeing Lexi and Aurora... that was good for me. Just hard.”
Still, he hated he’d been part of another round of agony for her. “You did good. Better than I would have.”
She smiled through the tears shimmering in her eyes, and even that was like a punch to his gut. So damn brave.
“Thanks for bringing me.”
“Don’t mention it.” He opened the car door and she slipped inside, and then he rounded the vehicle and got into the driver’s seat.
She hadn’t asked about the fire, but the news report yesterday had stated that one man died inside the house. He’d made sure Jace paid. In the end, though, the guy hadn’t even begged for his life. The dude had wanted to die and Toth couldn’t blame him. But he sure as hell hadn’t made the process easy on the fucker.