Page 313 of Second Sets Omnibus

“Morning, Daddies,” she chirps, throwing her arms around Kieran’s neck.

“Sleep well, Little One?” I ask, grinning when she spins around and nods with an eager smile.

“I love this house,” she says, staring at Kieran’s plate with big eyes.

“Don’t worry, Little Pretty Girl. I got a plate for you,” Rad says, jumping up and heading into the kitchen with a bounce in his step. “And you too!” he shouts, pointing at River, who winces from his loud voice.

“Coffee,” River mumbles, stumbling into the dining room with a mug in her hand. She groans, taking the first drink with her eyes closed.

As she tilts her head back, I examine the remnants of Van’s handy work. A small burn sits on her jaw from the barrel of thegun being pressed into her skin too soon after firing. Bruises sit around her lips from the force of his grip.

Everything in me wishes I could erase all the pain he inflicted on her. Hell, I’d settle for going back in time and taking him out before he got to her or Lyric.

But I can’t.

So, I settle for taking her free hand and squeezing.

“Have a good sleep?”

River grins at my question, nodding. “Yes. I slept like a log.” Liar. She was up more times than I can count checking on me. Or switching beds, trying to get comfy. The bags under her eyes don’t lie. The dimmed light in her eyes doesn’t lie.

“Breakfast, my ladies,” Rad coos, setting a plate in front of River and a smaller one in front of Lyric.

“Pancakes!” Lyric celebrates with a tiny clap, digging into the food.

“She’s going to become a pancake monster,” River quips, grabbing a fork and cutting into her breakfast.

“I love pancakes, Mommy,” Lyric says through a mouthful of food.

“You sure do,” Kieran chuckles, moving her crazy hair out of the way as she eats some more pancakes and sticky syrup, getting it everywhere.

“We’re going to have to hose you down before school,” Callum chuckles, cutting a piece of pancake for her.

“No school,” she pouts, opening her mouth when Cal holds his fork in front of her lips.

“Yes, school,” I respond quickly, earning a frown.

I can tell there are more protests on the tip of her tongue, but Cal doesn’t give her a chance to speak as he feeds her with a wide smile.

This is how it should have been all along. Us. Our girl. Little Lyric. I like to imagine what it would have been like if we hadstayed in Central City. If I had never betrayed River in such a big way.

Baby Lyric would have had four caring dads at her beck and call from the beginning. Night feedings. Diaper changes. Everything that comes with new babies. Kieran and I would have figured out how to handle Nigel and his demands.

It would have worked out. But I guess this is the ultimate journey we had to make. We’re fundamentally changed. For better and worse.

“All right, Little Lady. Time to get dressed for school,” River says, leaning her cheek on her palm.

“I’m sick,” Lyric says with a fake cough, pouting even more.

“Heard that one before, Little Pretty Girl. You’re going to have to come up with something better than that,” Rad snorts, shaking his head. “There’s five of us now.”

“Let’s not give your momma a hard time today, okay?” I ask, leaning forward and catching her eyes. “Go upstairs, get cleaned up, brush your teeth, and get dressed. I bet your friends have missed you.”

She huffs when she jumps down from Kieran’s lap and walks up the stairs, stomping the whole way.

“And you want more,” River snorts, taking another sip of her coffee.

“It’s five adults against babies. We got this, Pretty Girl. Now, go get dressed and take her to school.” Rad gets up and kisses her cheek.