Page 25 of The Ranger (Black Hawke Security #5)

COLE

––––––––

T he past few hours have been insane. After kissing the woman about to give birth to my baby (boy), the room filled with medical professionals and never emptied.

Scarlett’s contractions got closer together, and the doctor went from concerned to happy and back around again multiple times.

I’m a wreck.

But I’m not going to say that out loud. Honestly, I’ve been less terrified in combat.

Her legs are in stirrups, and there’s a tent-like thing over her where the doctor is down at the business end waiting for the baby to come.

“Another push, Scarlett,” he says, and she tightens her hold around my hand like a vise.

It’s weird how the most inappropriate thoughts come to you at the oddest times. I laughed to myself the last time she almost broke my hand, almost saying out loud if only your pussy clenched so hard.

Thank fucking god I did not.

I blame the kiss.

What a damn kiss. I put all of my feelings into it, trying to show her what I couldn’t say. Not here. Not tonight.

But soon.

I have no expectations of her, despite seeing her blink away her feelings. Christ, I just found her after being kidnapped, and she’s about to give birth.

It’s not the time.

Not the time to declare my love and demand she feel the same way. Even if a part of me wants to do all of that.

A man knows, when he’s holding a woman soaked in her own urine, that he’s in love when he can’t look away. Scarlett was bathed soon after we arrived at the hospital, but it made zero difference to me.

She’s currently pushing a baby out of her vagina, but I am, without doubt, in love with Scarlett Walton.

I love her body.

I love her mind.

I love her mouth.

I’m not being filthy either—okay, yes , that too—but I meant her sass, her quick, beautiful brain and the way she teases me back.

Exhibit A: Rainbow.

Jesus, I thought she was serious all these months. I even spoke to Mom about it. She looked unimpressed but kept her thoughts to herself, saying well, as long as it’s a healthy child, darling.

“It will get beaten up with a name like that, Mom. Jesus.”

“Well, I’m sure his Army Ranger daddy will make sure that doesn’t happen.” She winked at me.

Rainbow , fucking hell.

Any minute now I’m about to find out if we have a little boy or girl. I have never felt such anticipation in my life. Or like the bones of my trigger finger are about to be crushed.

“One more. That’s it. One more push.”

“You’ve got this, Scar,” I encourage. “God, you look gorgeous.”

“Tell him to shut up,” she screams. “And stop saying one more, argh , time.”

“One more,” a nurse says.

I laugh.

Bad move.

I can see I’ll pay for that at some point in my life...

Seconds later, I hear my child for the first time.

My heart swells to a thousand times its normal size as they lift him and lay him on Scarlett’s chest.

“Congratulations, you have a baby girl.”

Wait. What!?

I was certain...a girl. Jesus. I’m going to need more guns.

Holy mother of mercy. My heart almost stops as I stare down at her tiny red face and fall madly and deeply in love. She’s the most beautiful and precious thing I’ve even seen in my life.

“Cole,” Scarlett gasps quietly, having let go of my hand, her eyes lifting ever so briefly to mine.

She’s crying.

Shit, so am I.

Like pouring down my goddamn face.

“Fuck,” I mutter, wiping my cheek with my forearm.

“The first word you say to your daughter is a curse word? Nice one, Daddy.”

I ignore her and gently brush a knuckle over our little girl’s soft face.

She’s so tiny.

So soft.

I feel way too big, like I might hurt her.

“She’s perfect,” I breathe, more than say.

“So perfect,” Scarlett sobs quietly. “Hello, my little girl. I love you already.”

Me too. I’ve never loved anything as much in my life. I will protect her with my very last breath.

My eyes drift to Scarlett, and I watch her gaze at our daughter, and this amazing feeling settles in my chest. My life is complete with them in it. It’s a sensation I never knew could exist, and one I wasn’t prepared for.

They belong with me.

They belong to me.

My girls. Both of them.

And only one of them will need convincing of that. But I will...if it’s the last thing I do.

“Little Rainbow,” Scarlett coos.

Dear God.

My heart stops as I try to remember our last conversation. I thought she said she was joking. Is it the drugs?

She smiles, glancing up at me, and around me the nurses and doctor chuckle.

“You are joking. Right?”

Scarlett's eyes fill with tears. “Name your daughter, Cole.”

I blow out my breath.

Every single step feels like a monumental moment these days. I’m barely over her being kidnapped and here we are, greeting our daughter. Naming her.

Falling madly in love with her.

And she’s just given me this incredible honor.

Fuck.

I am not going to cry.

I am not...a tear slides down my face, and I’ve never felt more like a man when I smile down at my daughter.

“Welcome to the world, Zara. My sweet, beautiful girl.” I palm her tiny head and note how my hand looks like a giant’s.

“Zara Margaret Zimbardo,” Scarlett whispers, giving my daughter my mother’s name. “Perfect.”

T HE NEXT MORNING my neck is stiff after sleeping in the chair, and the hospital room is full of visitors.

“She’s so beautiful,” Cassy sighs as I place Zara in her arms.

Josh slaps me on the back and shakes my hand. “Congratulations, brother.”

I grin. “Thanks.”

I’m a dad.

Oh my god, I’m a dad. How I slept at all last night I don’t know. The chair was uncomfortable, and every thirty minutes or so I kept bolting upright, worried Zara wasn’t breathing, or Scarlett had some residual issues after Chen took her.

Chen.

He’s still on the loose.

“Any news?” I ask.

Josh shakes his head. “We have a couple of witnesses, so between our team and the authorities we are doing all we can to find him.”

Are they working together?

Aidan and Briar step in with a double stroller. The twins are asleep. I’m suddenly aware of the world I’ve stepped into. Going to Lamaze classes earlier in Scarlett’s pregnancy did kick that off, but standing here with an actual baby...well, that’s a whole different level of reality.

“Let me see her.” Briar joins Cassy.

“Welcome to the no sleep brigade.” Aidan yawns. “We can text in the middle of the night.”

I chuckle.

“He thinks I’m joking,” Aidan deadpans.

Scarlett glances at me from the bed. We both know it’s different for us.

Technically, we live apart.

Technically...because I’m not letting her return to her place while Chen is on the run.

As sadistic as this sounds, the asshole has given me a good excuse to keep them close, and I’m not that sorry. Sure, I’d like him caught, but the thought of dropping them home and driving away absolutely fucking kills me.

So, no, I’m not sorry in the least that she’ll be under my roof twenty-four-seven.

“What are you talking about? Look at her, she’s perfect. Zara will do as daddy says and sleep all night long, won’t you, sweetheart?” I slide my hands into my pockets and rock on my feet.

Ryder walks in and chucks me a bundle of clothes. “Go shower. You’ve clearly lost your mind and stink.”

Savannah is being induced just after Marshall’s wedding.

I wink at Scarlett then head into the private bathroom adjacent to the new room we moved to earlier this morning.

The only reason I’m taking my eyes off my girls is because they are surrounded by a Navy SEAL, US Marine and former Delta Force operator.

The only reason.

Well, that, and they are my buddies.