Page 134 of Bound By Blood and Lies

Riggs immediately abandons the icing and practically launches himself at the box.

“Oh my God,” he gasps dramatically whilst reading the side. “It’s one of those electric cars kids can drive around in.”

My eyebrows shoot upwards. “You bought him a car?”

“It has a remote control,” Victor says seriously like that somehow explains everything. “And working headlights.”

Robyn snorts into her drink whilst I blink at him in complete disbelief.

“Vic,” I press my fingers against my temple, “the baby can’t even hold his own head up for months let alone operate heavy machinery.”

Victor frowns slightly at the box like this information genuinely never occurred to him. Honestly, none of the boys seem capable of acting normal about this baby anymore. Ever since my bump started properly showing they’ve all completely lost their minds in different ways. Atlas has installed enough security cameras around the house to monitor a small country. Riggs keeps buying tiny Leeds United football kits despite the fact me nor Roman support them and Felix has become so overprotective that last week he nearly argued with an old woman in Tesco because she said my bump looked “small.” Victor’s obsession mostly seems to involve buying increasingly unhinged gifts that the baby won’t realistically be able to use for another five years.

Silence stretches.

Then he shrugs, “we’ll make it work.”

Before any of us can stop him, he turns and starts carrying the giant box out of the kitchen toward the nursery upstairs. Robyn shakes her head before stepping toward me and rubbing softly over my bump. The baby immediately chases the feeling with a series of tiny kicks and her whole face softens.

“Your uncles are insane,” she stage whispers toward my stomach and I giggle.

Robyn glances up at me whilst I wink at her.

“He’s definitely going to be spoilt,” she smiles softly.

“Oh absolutely,” I snort. “Roman has already threatened three separate people for looking at me too long and Atlas researched the safest baby mattresses for twelve hours straight.”

Riggs gasps dramatically from the other side of the kitchen. “I would just like it officially noted that I’m going to be the cool uncle.”

“You’re absolutely going to teach my child how to get away with crime.”

“Not true,” he places a hand against his chest looking offended. “I’ll teach him how to stalk his lover without getting caught, unlike Uncle Felix. There’s a difference.”

A laugh bursts out of Robyn as the kitchen door opens again and Atlas walks in carrying what looks suspiciously like another roll of cables in his arms.

“Please tell me you’re not rewiring something again,” I sigh.

Atlas looks genuinely affronted by the question. “The baby monitor system needed updating.”

“He isn’t even born yet.”

“Exactly,” Atlas replies seriously. “I had time to make sure he’s the safest baby in the world.”

I stare at him for a second before walking over and pressing a kiss against his cheek anyway.

“Thank you,” I say sincerely.

A blush instantly crawls up Atlas’ neck whilst Riggs gags dramatically behind us.

“Oh my God,” he groans. “The praise kink strikes again.”

I laugh, but my chest still tightens as I look around the kitchen. Sometimes I think they’re all trying so hard to protect this baby because none of us really know how to exist afterspending so long surrounded by violence and The Company. We’ve lost so much over the last few years that maybe this little boy feels like proof something good can still survive through all of it.

A sharp ache suddenly pulls through my lower back and I wince as my hand flies toward the counter for support. Riggs notices immediately.

“Okay nope,” he points at me like an angry mother. “Absolutely not. Sit your heavily pregnant arse down before you collapse and Roman murders all of us.”

“I’m fine,” I lie automatically.