Page 25 of Fiend

“All good, man.” My eyes lock with his, and I can see the sincerity in them. Convinced all is well, we both make our way back into the room where I instantly go to Essa’s side. Poppy is done eating and all swaddled up again; she seems to be more content with that than to not be.

I place a kiss on her head and then on Essa’s. She places Poppy in Leo’s arms, and I burst out laughing. Leo’s eyes narrow as he glares at me, and Essa smacks me in the chest. The size difference is comical. Big ol’ Leo holding a baby so tiny that the smallest shift of his arms could take her out of view.

“Shut the fuck up, Vincent,” he growls but keeps his tone quiet so he doesn’t startle a sleeping Poppy. He stares down at her with love and admiration, and I can’t help my own smile.

Essa grips my shoulders and pulls me back against her pillows. I wrap my right arm around her and pull her close, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

“You work shit out with Jax?” she asks, and I nod, resting my head against hers.

“Yeah, we’re good.” I look around the room. Jax is now by Leo’s side, peering down at Poppy with a smile wide enough to match my own every time I look at her.

She may not have the biggest family, but I know the four of us already love her more than any large superficial family ever could. More than anyone else ever could.

“Perfect.”

I glance at Essa, and she peers up at me, tears spilling from her eyes, making her green irises appear brighter than ever.

“You both are.”

And for the first time in my life, it all makes sense. Every piece of me I swore never fit, even after Essa, shifts into place, settling me down to my very fucking core.

I’m not ignorant to the fact that there will be bumps in the road, especially because I’m me—hotheaded and controlling—and Essa is who she has always been—feisty and stubborn.

But this, what we have, will conquer it all.

And I plan to fight for them both—until my last breath.

The End of VinEssa.