by Bella Rose
“What’s that?” Juliet almost hated to ask. Antonin was horrible when it came to saying no to Ana.
“We got a puppy!” Ana squealed. She started bouncing and clapping her hands.
“Whoa there, princess,” Antonin said quickly. He reached out and plucked his daughter from her mother’s lap. “You’re going to dent your little brother’s head bouncing around on Mama’s tummy like that.”
“Oops, I forgot.” Ana looked chagrined. “I was just so excited about the puppy, Mama! Her name is Flo, and she’s poufy and white and so pretty!”
Antonin shifted from foot to foot, looking contrite. “You always did say you wanted a dog.”
“I’m not sure a poufy white fur ball was what I had in mind when I told you I was going to feed your balls to the dog, but we can deal with that later,” Juliet said wryly. “Flo?”
“Ana picked it,” Antonin said quickly.
Juliet could see Alexei struggling not to die laughing in the background. He actually had his hands pressed over his mouth. Then Reggie came strolling back in carrying Mikhail by his feet. The baby was squealing with glee and waving his arms at his papa. Antonin swept his son out of Reggie’s grip and kissed the baby’s forehead.
“How is my little prince?” Antonin murmured lovingly.
Any irritation Juliet might have felt at the addition of a puppy to their menagerie of children and mobsters evaporated as she watched her husband lavish his son with attention. She never could have predicted how good Antonin would be with kids. The man was a natural. No woman had ever been so spoiled by a doting husband and coparent. She loved him to distraction, and she knew that while he was still hard to kill—and always would be—he was also incontrovertibly hers.
“Mama?” Ana whined. Her little voice was pathetic. “Are you mad? Are we going to have to take Flo back?”
“No, sweetheart. You can keep your puppy, but you’re going to have to make Reggie help you clean up after it. Mama has enough cleaning up to do with your brothers.”
“Hey!” Reggie said indignantly. “Why do I get that job?”
“Because that’s what underboss means,” Juliet said sweetly. “And you make the big bucks.”
Reggie snorted, but he also winked at Ana. “Why don’t you go introduce me to Flo? We can find someplace for her to sleep where she’ll be comfortable.”
“Duh!” Ana put her hands on her tiny hips. “In my bed, Uncle Reg.”
ANTONIN WATCHED HIS daughter lead Juliet’s second-in-command from the room while she chattered away about the future awesomeness of her puppy. Then he turned his attention back to his wife. She was rubbing her belly and looking uncomfortable. After two pregnancies, he knew what that meant. Especially since they were so very close to her due date.
“Alexei,” Antonin said quietly. “Bring the car around.”
Alexei glanced from his Pekhan to Juliet. “Shall I call the doctor?”
“Yes.”
“Antonin, you’re overreacting,” Juliet insisted.
“And you’ve got lower back cramps and an itchy belly,” he retorted.
Her lower lip pouched out. “Maybe.”
“So why haven’t you said anything?” Antonin wanted to know. “You know as well as I do that means you’ve only got a few hours left before you start labor.”
“I wanted to get this done. The deal goes down tomorrow, and I need it to be flawless.” She was actually pouting. It was adorable. “I know Reggie can take care of it. And I know Alexei will be on hand to help, but still.”
Antonin moved to her side and very carefully lifted her into his arms. Her groan told him that she was further along than she’d let on. “How long?” he said, referring to her contractions.
“About an hour.”
“How much time between?”
“Maybe ten minutes.”
“Woman, you are going to be the death of me,” Antonin growled.
She wrinkled her nose. “Only if you really piss me off.”
He laughed. He loved her humor, and he loved how tough she was. Now he kissed her forehead and cuddled her close as he carried her through the house and downstairs to the car. They passed several of the men on the way out. The place was filled to the rafters with both Bratva and Caglione men. Their wives were often employed as housekeepers, cooks, and even nannies. Children ran pell-mell through the rooms, and more than one of the men held a baby in his arms. This was exactly what Antonin had always dreamed of. Across town, the Bratva home base looked exactly the same way. They were family and that was a bond that would withstand anything.
“Heading to the hospital?” Reggie appeared with Ana. There was a squirming white ball of fur in her arms.
“Yes.” Antonin nodded. “There’s a spreadsheet on her computer for that deal tomorrow.”
Reggie grinned. “I’ll take care of it. I wondered why she kept pretending she wasn’t in labor.”
Juliet looked disgruntled. “I don’t like it when you talk about me like I’m not here!”
Then Reggie ducked down and kissed her cheek. “Blessings on you, Juliet Caglione. We’ll all be waiting for you to bring us the next ball of fire.”
“Take care of Ana and Mikhail,” she told him.
“My wife is on her way. She’ll stay here with me tonight and make sure they’re just fine.”
Antonin felt Juliet relax. Their children had so many aunts and uncles that sometimes he wondered if Ana and Mikhail even noticed when he and Juliet were gone overnight. It was not a bad state of affairs. Their children were loved and cherished, and that was what mattered most.
Alexei had the car waiting at the bottom of the front steps. Antonin climbed into the backseat with Juliet, and off they went. The doctor was waiting at the emergency room entrance. In what seemed like minutes, they were ensconced in a comfortable delivery room.
Antonin stood beside Juliet’s head, her hand clutching his as she struggled to bring their third child into the world. He watched in awe as sweat poured down her face. Finally it was time. The doctor and a nurse stood by, a drape over the lower portion of Juliet’s body as she pushed with all her might. Antonin waited, his heart pounding in his chest. No matter how many times he experienced fear or excitement, this moment would always stand out in his mind as the most beautiful of them all.
A baby’s cry shattered the air. Antonin squeezed Juliet’s hand and lifted it to his lips. She fell back against the pillows and breathed heavily as she finally relaxed. Then she turned to him with tears in her eyes.
“Well?” she whispered.
The doctor smiled broadly behind his mask, the corners of his eyes crinkling with joy. “It’s another healthy baby boy. Nearly ten pounds! I would say this one will give Mikhail a run for his money. Have you thought of a name yet?”
Antonin gazed down at his beautiful wife with her sweat-damp dark hair and brilliant blue eyes. “Charles,” Antonin said firmly.
“Enzo,” Juliet added.
Antonin nodded and then finished with, “Caglione.”
The doctors and nurses finished with the Apgar tests and wrapped the baby in a warm blanket. Antonin sank onto a seat beside Juliet and leaned over to press a kiss to her forehead. He loved her more than he could have ever imagined loving anything. Yet each time he met one of his children for the first time, he realized that there was so much to be thankful for in this life.
“I think this young man could use a meal.” One of the nurses placed the baby in Juliet’s arms and helped her to arrange her hospital gown so she could nurse.
Juliet touched their son’s perfect little hand as he latched on and started to nurse like a pro. “He’s beautiful.”
“You’re beautiful,” Antonin responded. “I never realized how empty my life really was until you stumbled into it, Juliet. Thank you for everything you have done for me.”
She looked up at him and offered a smile. “I love you, Antonin. That will never change. Not even when all of these babies have grown up and had families
of their own and we are old and gray.”
He touched their son’s head. “Forever.”
“Forever,” she agreed.
THE END
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