Page 195 of Savage Empire

Before she can inquire more, Leo is moving. He practically drags his father and brother upstairs, determined to get his hands on the cats he’s come to adore. He’s surprisingly gentle with them for a toddler, and they don’t mind hanging out with kids as a result.

“Our turn with the hostess,” Jade sings softly, coming up to us with a tiny bundle in her arms.

“Oh my goshhh.” My wife closes the space between them and gives my sister a gentle hug from the side. “I can’t get over how precious he is. And you look so good, and rested. Is he sleeping well?”

“He is,” Jade agrees with a happy sigh. “He’s still doing every two hours for feedings of course, but Dmitri wakes up with him most of the time and gives him what I’ve pumped. He’s the best. He has the twins right now, too. He wouldn’t let Ivan or Matteo take one, he’s in full dad mode tonight.”

“Apollo does the same with the feedings,” Rayna tells her blissfully.

“Of course he does.” Jade grins at me, nodding to Vaughn. “He’s always been a good dad, he’s just been waiting for a baby of his own.”

“Quite right, sweetheart,” Dad agrees, suddenly appearing at my side. “How’s my grandson this evening?”

“He’s currently in a milk coma,” I report, lips twitching. “He had four ounces instead of three and it knocked him right out.”

“Ugh, milk drunk babies are the best,” Jade declares, looking nostalgic. “Cesar used to do it to himself all of the time. Isobella would be done minutes before him and totally alert, meanwhile he’d be zonked out on my chest.”

“One of the few ways you could get him to sleep without him fighting the nap.” Dad chuckles. “That boy still doesn’t like to miss a thing, does he?”

“He certainly does not,” my sister agrees with a playful huff. “Hopefully Isobella will keep him in line as they grow up. His energy levels concern me sometimes.”

“At least he’ll be able to keep up with a family this big,” Rayna jokes. “I think Vaughn and Viktor are going to get up to mischief together too, they’ll just be more subtle about it.”

Jade hums, looking down at her newborn son. “They are pretty quiet so far, aren’t they?”

“So far,” I agree.

“With this family, that could change at any moment,” Ana warns, greeting Rayna with a hug. “Matteo has been giving the twins chunks of steak to gnaw on and even shy little Isobella growls while trying to devour them.”

“It’s true.” Jade sighs. “But I mean, don’t we all feel like growling when sinking our teeth into a big juicy steak? There seems to be something primal about that.”

Ana nods thoughtfully. “Hmmm, you might be on to something.”

“Speaking of food,” I pipe up. “We have plenty of it. We should dig in before it gets cold. We ordered fromFalcone’s.”

Jade gasps. “Their garlic bread is the stuff of dreams. Tell me you got some?”

“A bunch,” I confirm. “Rayna likes it too.”

“I do,” she agrees dreamily. “I really really do.”

“Falcone’sis agood choice,” Martha compliments, taking Jade’s place as she darts off in search of the famed garlic bread. “If I’m not cooking, they are the next best choice.”

“Thank you for coming,” Rayna tells her, happily accepting Martha’s cheek kisses. “You deserve the night off. You’ve been spoiling Jade and I with food for weeks and weeks now.”

“A small price to pay for more children to brighten my days.”

It takes a while for everyone to get settled into our formal dining room. But it’s surprisingly peaceful once we’re all seated. Plates are piled high with good food, drinks are flowing, and conversations are being sparked all around.

“Does anyone else feel like one day there won’t be a table big enough for all of us?” Matteo jokes, looking around the almost-crowded space. “We’re growing at an almost alarming rate.”

“I love it,” Jade declares happily.

“Me too,” Martha cheers, lifting her wine glass.

“Hey, I’m not hating,” Matteo defends. “Honestly, I’m trying to imagine what it’ll look like when I have my own kid to hold while I try to shovel pasta in my mouth before they start crying.”

“Terrifying,” I quip. “For us all.”