Page 29 of Revived (Lucky Ones #1)
Elle gently strokes up and down my calf in a show of silent support. Although, much like Dec, I'm in athletic shorts and a TVFD shirt, so I’m really going to need her to stop with the soft touches before I embarrass myself in front of my pseudo parents.
Rowan is seething, but Declan dips his chin with a look of pride and respect on his face, “Fair enough. You’re right, I’m not going to force you into anything, Sul.
It didn’t work when you were growing up, and I’m positive it won’t work now.
Also, no need to box this out. I agree bringing this up to Flynn will do nothing but cause issues. ”
“That’s it?” I ask with skepticism .
“That’s it.” Rowan finally pipes up, but he wouldn’t be Roe if he didn’t throw in a jab. “Would you like to see your nieces and nephews, or would you prefer we go ahead and flee the state now?” He asks with a roll of his eyes.
“Leave without letting me see them, and you’ll think Kieran’s job is child’s play.” Kieran is the enforcer for my family’s ‘business.’ He skins people alive for fun. It’s a whole thing.
Declan types something on his phone before looking at me and smiling. “Well, before we get everyone over here… Jake and I have a surprise for you and Flynn.”
Right at that moment, Flynn walks through the door looking half frantic. “What’s going on?”
I just shrug at him, “your guess is as good as mine.”
“Flynn, go sit by Sully. We have something to tell you.”
Flynn cautiously moves across the room until he sits on the far end of the sofa that sits right beside my recliner. We’re looking at each other and then, the two oldest with confusion. Rowan stands up and moves to the front door just as someone knocks. Before he opens it he turns back to us.
“No yelling, and the rest of us will be over in forty-five minutes.” With that, he’s gone.
Declan opens the door wide, and what I see knocks my breath out of my lungs. Declan’s husband, Jake, walks in carrying not one, but two little bundles of blankets. One in each arm. Holy shit.
“Boys, and Elle.” Declan chuckles as he takes one of the blankets. “We’d like to introduce you to your brand new nieces.”
My eyes instantly mist over. I feel Elle get up but can’t even focus on what she’s doing or where she’s going because Jakob is placing the most perfect baby that I’ve ever seen in my arms. She’s tiny, and I say that as someone who has caught a couple of babies on the side of the road before.
This baby can’t be more than a few days old.
Brown hair peeks out from the little beanie she has covering her head.
She has perfect long lashes, pouty lips, and the cutest little button nose.
She opens her eyes, and that ice blue gaze tells me exactly who she biologically belongs to.
“How? What? Why did we not know?” Flynn asks all the questions that I’m wondering but can’t put words to, because this sweet angel just blinked up at me before closing her eyes to snuggle back in. I know without a doubt that I’d throw myself in front of an entire army of lions just to protect her.
“This is Lina Quinn.” He reaches down to the baby I’m holding and runs his knuckle gently down the length of her nose. That’s our Ma’s middle name. It’s beautiful, just like the little girl in my arms. Jake is standing awkwardly beside me like he wants to take her from me.
Yeah fucking right. He can go get fucked if he thinks I’m giving this baby up right now… German bitch.
Declan kneels in front of Flynn, who’s holding another little girl in his arms. He’s holding her in the perfect position so that I can see her face.
She’s just as perfect and beautiful as her sister, though it’s clear they aren’t identical twins.
This baby has strawberry blonde hair, heavy on the strawberry, and when she opens her eyes, light green ones stare back at me.
Holy shit, those are the exact same shade as—
“She has Annie’s eyes.” Flynn chokes out past the emotion clogging his voice.
Declan reaches up and grabs him by the back of his neck in support. “She does. This is Cara Anneliese.” I watch as Flynn and Declan share a moment while staring at baby Cara with my heart so full that it feels like it’s going to burst .
That is until fucking Jakob tries to take Lina from my arms. The noise that rumbles from my chest causes him to pause.
“Let’s get one thing straight, you little dick.
That’s my daughter you’ve got in your arms, and when I want her back, I’ll take her back.
You’re lucky I let you hold her in the first place.
” He scoops Lina out of my arms, which makes me want to put a bullet in his head, but he’s right. That is his kid.
He walks over to Elle before carefully depositing Lina into her arms. The sight of Elena holding a baby has every atom that makes up my body screaming to get her pregnant as soon as humanly possible.
This deep seated desire to take her in the other room and knock her up is so strong that I have to look away before I snatch her up and drag her into my bedroom like a caveman.
Elle stands up and walks over to me with baby Lina in her arms. She gently sits on my lap sideways and gingerly leans into me until I’m cradling her while she cradles the baby.
Pushing back the pain I’m in, I soak up that this may just be what my future holds.
Me, her, and a sweet baby. Only that baby will be half of her and half of me.
Declan takes Cara from Flynn and gives him time to dry his eyes before changing babies, and we get to hold Cara while he bonds with Lina.
“How did this happen without us knowing?” Flynn wonders out loud at the same time I ask.
“How old are they?”
Elle is smiling down at a now sleeping Cara, while Flynn holds Lina tight to his chest and gently rocks in his seat to soothe her.
“Well, no one knew until three days ago when they were born. That’s why we weren’t here when everyone else got here.
We showed up yesterday with two healthy babies and two tired daddies.
We figured we’d surprise everyone with FaceTime.
Then you decided to be dramatic while our surrogate was mid push.
” Dec smiles while watching his daughters with awe.
“He was struggling between updates on the surrogate and updates on you. Multiple of his kids were driving him sick with worry.” Jake smirks before leaning down and pecking Declan on his forehead.
I may not prefer him, but he is amazing with my brother.
They really are perfect together, and I know they’re going to be amazing dads to these girls.
“You know everyone else can fight me if they think they’re going to hold these girls, right?” Flynn asks with a smirk.
“I’ll hold the babies while you whoop ass for the both of us.” I quip, causing us to both chuckle.
There’s a knock on the door, and I get ready to use every card I can think of to keep these babies in mine, Elle’s, and Flynn’s arms.