Page 41 of Single Mom’s Navy Seals (Claimed by the Alphas #2)

LIAM

I t’s been a couple of days since my unsettling call with Morales, and though we’ve begun making moves to ensure Ava and Eli’s safety, the tension still clings stubbornly to my chest. Tidying up the kitchen tonight provides a welcome distraction.

I stack the last plate into the cabinet, my movements automatic, my mind elsewhere.

Nearby, Jax is meticulously wiping down counters, humming softly under his breath, while Cole gathers scattered toys from the living room floor, arranging them on a nearby shelf.

We’ve agreed not to alarm Ava with our concerns yet.

Still, our movements tonight feel subtly sharper, each action carrying an underlying urgency we can’t entirely mask.

We're preparing—ensuring that, no matter what Morales or anyone else throws our way, we’re ready.

For the first time in my life, my resolve isn’t just about the mission.

It’s about protecting something real. Something that’s become essential.

A gentle laugh drifts down the hallway, Ava’s voice mingling with Eli’s playful chatter as she bathes him and gets him ready for bed.

The sound eases something deep within me, grounding me again.

Glancing over, I catch Jax’s eye, noting the quiet smile tugging at his lips.

Cole, too, pauses, a similar expression flashing across his face.

Before I can dwell further, footsteps echo against the wooden floors. Ava rounds the corner, Eli hanging off her hip in his familiar Spiderman pajamas. She smiles when she sees us.

“Oh, there you guys are,” she says, adjusting Eli’s weight. “He’s about to go to bed, and he asked if you three would come with us tonight.”

“Wouldn’t miss it,” he says, arms already outstretched.

Eli launches himself without hesitation, legs wrapping around Jax’s waist like they’ve been doing this for years. Jax catches him with ease and heads for the stairs, as if this is just routine now. And maybe it is.

Cole and I follow behind, letting Ava take the lead. We all end up crowding into her and Eli’s room, quiet but relaxed. There’s something about the way the four of us move together now that feels easy in a way it shouldn’t, not so soon. But here we are.

Eli tucks into his bed with zero protest, only the faint rustle of his blanket breaking the silence. Then his gaze finds Ava, then flicks to Cole. He’s serious now, blinking through the haze of sleep.

“Cole, can I ask you something?”

Cole nods. “Always.”

Ava glances over, a little curious but not alarmed. Eli’s chewing his lip like he’s thinking hard, trying to get it just right.

“Can I call you all my daddies yet?”

The whole room stills.

Even Jax stops moving. My breath catches before I can hide it, chest going tight.

Ava stiffens slightly beside me, and when I glance over, I catch the flash of panic in her eyes before it softens into something closer to dread.

She doesn’t say anything. Just watches Eli like she’s not sure what to do with the weight of his words.

Eli’s voice stays quiet, but the determination in it is solid. “You all said mommies pick daddies. And daddies and mommies are boyfriends and girlfriends. And boyfriends and girlfriends kiss.”

His brows knit together, gaze jumping from one of us to the next. “I’ve seen all of you kiss my mommy. So why can’t you be my daddies now?”

Ava’s face flushes. Her eyes dart toward Cole, then me, then Jax like she’s hoping one of us has an instruction manual for this kind of moment.

Sadly, we really don’t.

But Cole steps in, calm and steady like always. “Well, see…your mom hasn’t actually said she wants all of us to be her boyfriends yet.”

Ava looks like he’d just smacked her with a pillow. She blinks at him, completely caught off guard. Jax snorts, covering his mouth with his hand, clearly entertained. I press my lips together to keep from laughing, but I know it’s no use. It’s written all over my face.

And Jax, of course, runs with it.

“Oh no,” he says dramatically, clutching at his chest like he’s been mortally wounded. “Eli, your mom hasn’t officially asked me to be her boyfriend. Do you think she doesn’t like me?”

Eli lets out a quiet giggle, eyes half-lidded but amused. “No way, Jax. Mommy definitely likes you.”

“You think?” Jax gasps. “Thank God. I was starting to worry.”

I shake my head, chuckling. “Sounds like we’ve got work to do, Eli. Gotta prove we’d make decent boyfriends.”

Cole ruffles Eli’s hair. “Exactly. Your mom just needs a little more convincing. When she’s ready, she’ll let you know.”

Eli thinks on that for a second, face scrunching up with seriousness. “If you want Mommy to say yes, you should bring her chocolate ice cream. And draw her a picture. That always works when I want extra treats.”

Ava breaks into a laugh, full and warm, shaking her head like she can’t believe this conversation is even happening.

“Alright, alright,” she says, bending to kiss Eli’s forehead. “Enough conspiring against me. Bedtime, troublemaker.”

She tucks the blanket tight around his shoulders. Jax reaches over and flicks off the main light, leaving just the soft glow of the night lamp.

One by one, we slip out of the room.

The door clicks behind us, but the weight of that moment hangs heavy between all of us. Eli is asking to call us daddies.

None of us said no. Not even her.

We linger silently in the dim hallway outside Eli’s room, none of us quite sure how to address the bombshell that kid just casually dropped.

Ava stands between us, staring at the closed door like she’s trying to mentally rewind the entire conversation.

Her arms cross, her posture defensive in a way that makes me suspect she’s bracing for pushback.

Cole finally breaks the silence, calm but direct. “You okay with all this, Ava? Seriously?”

She hesitates, eyes flicking to each of us in turn, clearly gauging our reactions. Eventually, she lets out a tired sigh and shakes her head, offering a dry, humorless smile.

“Honestly? It caught me off guard. But Eli’s made up his mind—he chose you three. Who am I to tell him no?”

Jax snorts, leaning against the wall with his usual ease. “Kid has impeccable taste. Clearly gets it from his mom.”

Cole elbows Jax, rolling his eyes. “You’re just impressed he gave you ice cream strategies.”

Jax shrugs, not denying it. Ava’s mouth twitches into a genuine smile now, the tension in her shoulders easing a fraction. When her gaze settles on me, it’s sharp, searching—not for reassurance, exactly, but something close enough. She’s checking to see if I’m truly on board.

I step closer, keeping my voice firm and steady, no room for doubt. “Eli knows exactly what he wants, Ava. As far as I’m concerned, the kid’s judgment is solid.”

She nods, weighing my words before she responds. “So, we’re really doing this, then?”

I hold her stare, unflinching. “Already decided.”

Ava relaxes visibly at that, dropping her arms and exhaling like some invisible pressure just eased off her chest. The cautious hesitation she’s worn since Eli’s question fades to acceptance, and something deeper, something more resolved, settles between us all.

“Alright,” she says, voice steadier now. “We’re all in.”

Jax pushes off the wall, already turning toward the living room. “About damn time.”

Cole gives a quiet chuckle, following closely behind. I gesture for Ava to walk ahead, falling into step at her side, the silence between us comfortable. No sentimental words needed. We’ve made the decision, and it's one I stand by without question.

Whatever shit comes our way, we’ll handle it. Together.