Page 90 of Married into the Mob

“Nor me,” he echoed.

We stared at our daughter as she struggled to grab one of the edible flowers while everyone cheered.

“Come to me, Brielle.” Dad took our little girl while Uncle Arnie and Odell cut the cake.

“Was that…?” Tony looked at my brother.

“I think it was,” Flint answered.

“Was it a fluke?” Madd asked.

“Doubt it,” Ranger replied.

Everyone was talking around us. Our daughter was one but she blew out those two candles with such force, the flames appeared to be running away from her.

“You’re all talking in code,” my mate said while licking frosting from his fingers. “Is something wrong with our daughter?” He took Brielle from Rudy and hugged her. Maybe our little one sensed her daddy was upset and she cuddled into him.

“The opposite. You said she’d be a leader, and she’s showing shifter traits already,” I explained.

“Is it bad?” There was fear in my mate’s eyes, and I wanted to banish it.

“Absolutely not. She’s showing us who she is earlier than most other kids.”

“Okay.” He rested his chin on Brielle’s head. You had me worried for a minute.”

Dad came up to me. “Hunter did that too as a baby.”

“What?” Ranger’s brows shot up. “No way. I would have remembered.”

“You were a child, Ranger.”

“I don’t recall that,” Flint said.

“You weren’t old enough to be paying attention and were busy exploring the world, darling. You wouldn’t remember your little brother’s exceptional abilities,” Dad told him.

“Ha. See, Ranger, Dad said exceptional.” It was so good to brag.

“Bah!”

“You sound like my wolf. But if you want to pit your skills against mine, I challenge you to a cook-off.”

“No way, ‘cause I’d kick your ass, little bro.”

“Kick your ass,” the other kids chorused.

Matt elbowed his mate. “Now look at what you’ve done.”

“Present time.” Dad lifted the sheet covering the wrapped presents, and Brielle tore through the wrapped paper. There were toys, games, clothes, and books, but the most significant gift was one our daughter would appreciate in a few years.

Dellie and I had had a charm bracelet made, and my family were all contributing charms. Flint and Tony added a tiny wolf to the bracelet, Ranger and Matt attached a heart with the La Luna Noir logo, Dad and Uncle Arnie had a moon, while Treyton and Madd’s charm was a tiny compass.

“It’s because she’s full of adventure,” Treyton explained.

“What about yours?” Flint asked me and Odell.

“We’ll do ours at home,” my mate told him as we shared a glance and a kiss.

After we toasted Brielle and everyone had cake, the kids were tired and cranky. Madd and Treyton offered to clean up so we could all head out.