Page 26

26: Tori

I wake to the rustling of a bag near my ear. The bed is surprisingly empty, which only makes me feel worse. Nausea rolls through my stomach, probably from all the fucking semen I swallowed last night. We didn't exactly stop after the bathroom. I couldn’t tell you how many times I came; at one point I think I blacked out a little. We finally stopped, only because Blaze, ever the voice of reason, reminded everyone that as much as we enjoy marathon sex, sleep is still required.

“What are you doing?” I groan, prying an eye open to find Thorne standing by the bed, pulling something out of a gray plastic bag with a bright red W. Squinting, I watch him set something rectangular on the nightstand. My brows furrow as I slowly recognize the box.

Early detection pregnancy test.

And just like that, I’m wide-fucking-awake.

I sit up so fast the entire room spins violently, my stomach lurching from a gentle roll to a tsunami about to break. Throwing the sheets off, I leap from the bed—at least, that’s the plan. Instead, my foot tangles in the fabric, nearly sending me face-first into the floor. Cursing under my breath, I barely manage to kick free and stumble to the bathroom, my knees slamming onto the tile floor just in time to empty what little is in my stomach into the porcelain bowl.

Fuck .

This is morning sickness, isn’t it? Not the aftereffects of a night of endless orgasms or Ryder's relentless stamina, but honest-to-God pregnancy nausea.

A cold wash of reality slaps me hard, sobering my swirling thoughts.

A kid.

Me, Tori—sarcastic, stubborn, damaged-as-hell Tori—bringing a life into this world.

I grip the edges of the toilet seat, heart hammering, panic squeezing my chest so tight I can barely breathe. I’m on the verge of puking again, but this time for completely different reasons. Fear. Doubt. The thought of being responsible for another human being. God, I can barely keep my own shit together half the time. I have absolutely no business trying to parent. The word 'mom' tastes strange on my tongue, foreign, heavy with responsibilities I don't think I'm qualified for.

But then, Thorne’s large, comforting hand slides gently along my spine, rubbing small, soothing circles. Blaze appears beside me, quietly gathering my tangled mess of hair in his hands to keep it away from my face, whispering softly, telling me to breathe. Ryder leans casually against the doorframe, his blue eyes sparkling with the kind of mischief only he can manage in a situation like this. He looks utterly thrilled, his grin stretching wider than the fucking state of Texas.

And suddenly, I remember—I’m not alone.

I’ve never been alone, not really, not since these three idiots barged their way into my life. Sure, they drove me crazy at first, bullied me, tormented me, confused me—but now, they’re the air I breathe. They’re my entire world. And a kid, our kid, would have the kind of love and protection I never got to have. We’re all damaged, sure. Each of us fucked up in our own way, carrying scars from shitty childhoods. But maybe that’s exactly why we’ll be good at this .

We know exactly what not to do.

One of them is the father—though, let's be real, if I had to place bets, it's Ryder. That asshole has been coming inside me repeatedly without even pretending to pull out. He totally knew what he was doing. I’m sure of it now.

My eyes narrow playfully, locking onto him. “Ryder Hayes, did you fucking baby trap me?”

Ryder’s smirk shifts into an outright laugh, completely unashamed. “Maybe a little. Can’t blame a guy for securing his place, KitKat.”

Thorne snorts softly, trying—and failing—to hide his amusement, while Blaze merely shakes his head, the corner of his lips quirking up in that rare, genuine smile he reserves for moments like this. Moments when we’re messy and complicated and terrified, yet somehow still perfect together.

“You okay, Vic?” Thorne murmurs gently, leaning closer and brushing his lips across my temple, his voice soft and careful.

I nod slowly, swallowing down the remaining nausea, letting the warmth of their presence settle my racing pulse. “Honestly? I have no idea. Terrified, excited, nauseous as fuck? Probably about to panic again any second. Take your pick.”

“You’re gonna be an amazing mom,” Blaze reassures me quietly, his voice so certain that my throat tightens unexpectedly.

“And the kid is definitely mine,” Ryder adds with absolute confidence, not an ounce of doubt in his voice, eyes gleaming mischievously.

Blaze rolls his eyes, throwing a pointed look at Ryder. “Statistically speaking, sure. But let's face it—any kid raised by the four of us is gonna end up sarcastic, reckless, and probably banned from at least three countries before they hit puberty.”

“Sounds about right,” Thorne mutters with amusement, pressing another soft kiss to my hair .

The image makes me laugh, genuine and deep, cutting through the tension still lingering in my stomach. Suddenly, the panic eases slightly, replaced by something else—a warm, hopeful feeling that maybe, just maybe, this can actually work. We’re not exactly traditional parents, but we have something stronger than that. Love, and a fierce determination to do better for our child than what was done to us.

“I’m still freaking out, though,” I admit softly, looking up into their faces. “We don’t exactly scream ‘normal family,’ you know?”

Ryder shrugs easily, still grinning. “KitKat, what’s normal anyway? You think anyone else out there has the kind of badass mom who’s taken down crime lords or three dads who are basically superheroes in bed?”

I laugh despite myself. “You’re an idiot.”

“Yeah, but I’m your idiot,” he reminds me, blue eyes full of warmth. “And now you’re stuck with us.”

Forever. A family. It’s not perfect, it’s definitely not conventional, but it’s ours. A rush of warmth floods through me, spreading to my chest, my heart swelling with a powerful certainty.

I take a deep breath, nodding slowly, gripping Thorne's hand tight in mine. “We can do this, right?”

Thorne gives my hand a gentle squeeze, his thumb stroking softly against my knuckles in silent reassurance. Blaze nods, the usual quiet intensity in his eyes softening into something reassuring, certain, unwavering. Ryder’s grin fades, transforming into a look so unexpectedly tender my heart nearly stalls out in my chest.

Blaze clears his throat gently, breaking the tender silence. "Maybe we should actually confirm you’re pregnant before we start picking baby names and nursery themes?"

"He's got a point," Ryder agrees quickly, pushing off the doorframe. "I mean, I'd hate to waste all this stellar baby trapping I've clearly mastered. "

I roll my eyes, shaking my head as Ryder heads out to the bedroom, grabs the box, and strolls back in like he’s delivering the crown jewels. He hands it off ceremoniously to Blaze, who then passes it to me, his expression soft and carefully composed—almost as if he's bracing for impact.

"Here you go, Doll," he murmurs softly, holding my gaze. "Moment of truth."

My pulse quickens as my fingers close around the thin cardboard. My heart pounds, my stomach knots, but my mind is at ease knowing three possessive, protective men are by my side.

I take the box in shaky fingers, feeling suddenly like the flimsy cardboard weighs a thousand pounds. Blaze’s hand slides over my shoulder, giving a gentle squeeze. I glance at him, his dark eyes calming me.

“You good, Doll?”

I nod once, swallowing thickly. “Yeah. Fine. Totally cool. Just casually peeing on a stick to find out if one of you knocked me up. Typical Tuesday.”

Ryder snorts softly, leaning against the counter now. “Just for the record, if it’s positive, we’re naming it Ryder Junior. No negotiations.”

Thorne shoots him a look. “Absolutely not.”

Ryder gasps dramatically, pressing a hand to his chest. “You wound me, Thorne.”

“Keep talking and I’ll make it literal,” Thorne replies dryly, but his eyes twinkle, the warmth behind his harsh tone reassuring me more than anything.

Blaze gently nudges me toward the toilet. “Ignore them.”

“I know you've seen me naked and all, but could you guys maybe not watch me pee?” I arch a brow, wondering when exactly they plan to leave the bathroom to let me pee. They stare at me blankly, as if I've just asked them to chop their hands off and they're waiting for me to say ‘haha, just kidding.’

“Come on,” Thorne sighs, pushing the other two out, and closing the door behind him. I can hear Ryder protesting but I block it out as I sit on the toilet, tearing open the box, my fingers trembling. My mind races a mile a minute. What if I am pregnant? What if I'm not? Do I even know what outcome I want?

I pee, missing at first because I've never had to pee on something before. When I finish, I set the test on the counter, wash my hands, and then open the door. Three pairs of eyes snap toward me instantly, each filled with varying shades of anticipation and barely restrained nerves.

God, they’re beautiful idiots. How did I get so damn lucky?

“How long?” Ryder asks, impatiently tapping his fingers against his thigh. “Feels like forever.”

“It’s literally been ten seconds,” Blaze points out dryly.

“Longest ten seconds of my life,” Ryder mutters.

Thorne steps forward, gently cupping my cheek, his thumb stroking tenderly across my skin. “You okay, Vic?”

I hesitate, biting my lip as I look into his eyes. “I think so. I just...what if we’re terrible at this? What if we screw everything up?”

“You kidding me?” Ryder cuts in, instantly serious, his voice soft and deep, holding a vulnerability I rarely hear from him. “KitKat, I grew up with everything except love. Money, reputation, prestige—none of it made me happy. None of it made me feel wanted. But here? With you three? I feel more loved than I ever thought possible. If that’s all we give this kid, that’s more than enough.”

My throat tightens unexpectedly, and Blaze’s warm hand lands on my shoulder. “I spent my whole life trying to please a man who was never proud of me, no matter how perfect I tried to be. But here, with you? I’m good enough, Doll. We’re good enough. Our kid won’t know what that feels like. We’ll make damn sure of it. ”

I blink back the tears that suddenly blur my vision, looking up at Thorne, who gives me a soft, almost hesitant smile.

“My dad hated me. You know that better than anyone,” Thorne says quietly. “He blamed me for everything wrong in his life, and for a long time, I believed him. But then you came along, Vic. You saw through all the damage, all the broken pieces, and decided they were worth loving anyway. I might not know shit about being a dad, but I know you’ve already shown me what unconditional love looks like. Our kid’s gonna have that. And I think that makes us pretty fucking unstoppable.”

A breath leaves me in a shaky rush, relief and love washing through me so strongly it steals my words. “Dammit, you guys are making me emotional.”

Ryder breaks the tension with a wink. “That’s pregnancy hormones, baby mama.”

I swat at him, laughing despite myself. “Don’t start.”

“Too late. Ryder Junior is incoming,” Ryder singsongs, wiggling his eyebrows.

“God, I hope it’s Blaze’s,” Thorne deadpans.

“Same,” Blaze mutters. “At least the kid would have some sense.”

Ryder shrugs, entirely unfazed. “Nah, it’s mine. Strong swimmers, remember?”

I roll my eyes, shaking my head at their antics, but loving them all the same. They’re idiots, absolute idiots, but they’re my idiots. The anxiety loosens its grip just a bit, replaced by warmth, by certainty, by an overwhelming sense of belonging.

“Time’s up, Doll,” Blaze says quietly, nodding to the test still face-down on the counter. My heart pounds in my chest like it’s trying to break free.

This is it. Moment of truth.

Sucking in a deep breath, I step forward, reaching out to grab the test. My fingers tremble as I flip it over .

Two pink lines.

Holy fucking shit.

Two lines stare back at me, vibrant, undeniable. My heart thunders in my chest, louder than any drumbeat. I turn slowly, meeting three pairs of eyes watching me, holding their breath. The entire bathroom is thick with tension, expectation, hope.

“So?” Ryder whispers, finally breaking the silence, his voice barely audible, almost afraid of the answer.

I swallow past the lump in my throat, holding up the test, hands still shaking. “Positive.”

The silence that follows is the loudest sound in the world. Then suddenly, chaos erupts.

Ryder lets out a whoop, a huge, idiotic grin splitting his face as he practically leaps across the bathroom to reach me. Thorne exhales sharply, tension draining from his shoulders before he steps closer, wrapping a protective arm around my waist. Blaze is quiet at first, his eyes widening slightly before they soften, his entire expression melting into something I've never quite seen on him before—pure, unfiltered joy.

Before I can say anything else, Ryder’s strong hands are around my waist, lifting me effortlessly into the air. He spins me around, laughter spilling from his lips, contagious and genuine, filling the room with warmth. I can’t help but laugh, clinging to him, feeling lighter than air.

“I knew it!” Ryder cheers, setting me back down carefully, eyes shining brighter than ever. “Told you. Strong swimmers, baby.”

I swat at him playfully, but there’s no real annoyance in me—just a dizzying kind of happiness that leaves me breathless. “You’re impossible.”

“You love it.” He kisses me firmly, his lips tender, his usual playful energy tempered with something deeper, more meaningful. “And I love you. We’re really doing this. ”

“Yeah,” I whisper, voice catching. “We really are.”

Blaze steps closer next, his dark eyes searching my face intently before he wraps me up in his strong arms. He presses his lips softly against my temple, holding me gently but firmly, protective as always.

"You okay, Doll?" His voice is steady, calm, grounding me instantly. "I mean, really okay?"

I hesitate, biting my lip. "Honestly? I don't know. Excited, terrified...maybe a little in shock."

He nods slowly, pulling back just enough to meet my eyes. "Yeah, I feel that too. But we've faced worse, right? We got this.”

I breathe in slowly, taking comfort from his steadiness. "Yeah, we do."

When Blaze steps aside, Thorne finally moves toward me. There's a strange hesitation in his steps, a tension radiating from him that coils around my chest, making my heart ache. Thorne, my rock, looks vulnerable as hell right now, his dark eyes shadowed, fear flickering beneath the surface.

"Thorne?" I reach for him, gently threading my fingers through his. "You okay?"

He swallows hard, his throat working. "Are you okay, Vic? Really? Any nausea? Pain?”

His eyes scan me critically, almost frantically, looking for something wrong. It hits me hard, understanding slamming into me so suddenly I nearly gasp.

He's terrified.

Because his mother didn't make it.

My chest squeezes painfully. I cup his jaw, forcing him to look at me. "I'm okay, Thorne. I promise."

He exhales shakily, pulling me tightly against him. "We're going to the doctor first thing tomorrow," he says firmly. "You're getting a full checkup, blood tests, vitamins—the whole damn thing. ”

Ryder arches a brow, clearly amused by Thorne’s sudden shift into health-nut mode. "Looks like Dr. Google just got promoted."

Blaze chuckles softly, shaking his head. "You realize he's going to read every pregnancy book in existence now, right?"

Thorne doesn't even crack a smile. His teeth clench, stubborn determination settling in. "You're damn right I am. We're doing everything by the book. No exceptions."

My heart twists at the unspoken fear lacing his words. I stroke his cheek gently, my voice softening. "I'm not going anywhere, Thorne.”

He leans into my touch, exhaling slowly, the tightness in his shoulders easing subtly. "I can't lose you, Vic. Not like—" He cuts himself off, swallowing hard. "I'm just not losing you."

"You won't," I promise quietly, my voice fierce, absolute. "I'm right here, and I'll do whatever ridiculous, overly-cautious thing you need me to do to prove it."

He finally cracks a small smile, pressing his forehead against mine. "Good. Because you're eating healthy, resting, and you're definitely not doing anything stupid for the next nine months."

I roll my eyes, but secretly, the intensity of his protectiveness warms me from the inside out. "Yes, sir.”

“You guys realize this means we’re officially a family now, right?” Ryder interrupts gently, unable to keep the beaming happiness off his face, clearly loving the idea of the word family rolling off his tongue. “The four of us—and now baby Ryder.”

I roll my eyes again, but I laugh softly. “Nope. No Ryder Junior. You’re vetoed.”

“Vic Junior?” Thorne teases, chuckling when I shoot him a playful glare. “Okay, maybe not.”

“We’ll find a perfect name,” Blaze assures me quietly, already taking charge of this zoo. “We’ll figure everything out.”

I bite my lip, my heart thudding with excitement and nervousness all at once. “About that. If we’re really going back to California, how is this baby going to fit into everything?”

Ryder shrugs, completely unfazed, his confidence unwavering. “We build something better than Diablo ever had. Stronger, safer…legal. Something we can pass on to our kid one day—something worth having.”

Blaze nods his agreement, his eyes soft on me. "And we'll make sure it's safe. Legit. Something we’re all proud of."

Thorne’s grip tightens around my hand again, his voice quieter, serious. "We do this our way, Vic. A life our kid deserves."

My heart swells, my chest tight with emotion as their words settle around me. I never knew family, not really, but standing here, surrounded by these three men who've fought to hell and back for me, for us, it's impossible not to feel how deeply we're already a family.

"This isn't gonna be easy," I murmur softly, my voice cracking slightly. "We didn't exactly have stellar parents ourselves.”

Blaze smiles softly, his expression tender. "That's exactly why we'll be good at this, Doll. We already know how not to be shitty parents."

Ryder's playfulness softens into something deeper, surprisingly gentle. "And as fucked up as we all are, we're pretty great at loving each other. That counts for something."

Thorne cups my face gently, his eyes warm, vulnerable, determined. "And I'll spend every second of every day making sure you're okay. Both of you."

I let out a breath, my eyes stinging as tears threaten to well up. "Dammit, stop making me emotional.”

Ryder chuckles quietly, reaching out to press a kiss to my temple. "Too late, baby mama."

"You're an idiot," I say again .

Blaze leans in, pressing a tender kiss to my other temple. "But he's your idiot, right?"

I sigh dramatically, smiling despite myself. "Unfortunately, yes."

Thorne’s arms wrap around me, holding me protectively. He kisses my forehead softly, breathing me in, calming himself as much as he's reassuring me.

"Whatever happens," Thorne murmurs softly, sincerity coating every word, "We're in this together.”

"Together," Blaze echoes quietly.

Ryder nods firmly, his gaze serious despite the gentle smile on his lips. "Always."

A sense of peace I’ve never felt before spreads slowly through me, calming my heartbeat, quieting my doubts. It doesn't matter that our pasts are filled with trauma, that we're flawed and damaged in ways most people can't even imagine. What matters is right here, right now.

"Okay," I whisper softly, leaning into their warmth. "Let's do this."

They hold me tighter, like they can’t bear the thought of ever letting me go.

No matter how terrified Thorne is, no matter how uncertain any of us feel, we're choosing each other.

And really, that's all that matters.