Page 137 of What Remains

She lifts her hand in apology, misreading my confused look. “Sorry, don’t mean to get preachy on ya.”

“Maybe a little preaching is what I need.” I exhale. “But how about we wait until after I survive this?” I side-eye her. “Then you can preach to me all you want. I even promise I’ll do my best to listen with an open mind.”

She rests her head on my shoulder and sweeps her thumb under her daughter’s bottom lip. The idea of Gwen having my child is . . .

I have no words, to be honest.

“Constantine will have your back out there. He knows if anything were to happen to you, I’d be a disaster. There’s nothing that man won’t do for me, which means I have total faith he’ll ensure you and Gwen come back safely.”

“Yeah, I would prefer him to stay here with his family, but you’re like everyone else on this floor. Stubborn with a capital S.”

She lightly laughs. “Guilty.”

“I’m sorry to interrupt.” Speaking of stubborn women. “Just wanted to let you know Uncle Gray talked to his dad and the president.”

Juliette waves Gwen in, but she’s busy staring at Illiana in my arms.

“What’d they say?” I ask when she’s yet to continue. My nerves are motherfuckin’ nerving, and I need to know if her plan is a go.

Her beautiful eyes journey back to my face. “The plan is a go.”

Dammit.

She slowly walks over, like she’s worried her footsteps will wake Illiana. “Sydney would like to fly out and join us, but Grandpa said no. Besides, there’s no time.” She grimaces. “Unfortunately, Elaina now knows what’s going on. She eavesdropped on the call with Liam.”

“Shit.” I shake my head. “And?”

“Liam has to watch her like a hawk to ensure she actually swallows her pills.” She frowns. “But in other news, Carter said Sebastian’s joining us in Bern, so that’s good.”

Having Sebastian with us equates to about five to seven extra bodies. So she’s right, that is something.

“It’s his safe house we’re using. Apparently, he bought the boutique hotel for his wife after she fell in love with it when they traveled there last year. They decided to convert it to a vacation property for themselves instead of keeping it as a hotel.”

So that’s where Carter’s head went when we mentioned Bern.

“Sebastian’s willing to risk it getting shot up for us, so that’s nice of him.” She casually raises a shoulder like what she said didn’t just stop my heart from beating.

“There will be no shots fired near you.” The fact I can’t actually prevent that from happening is beside the point. And just the thought is going to kill me.

“Are you all telling Diana’s mom about the plan?” my sister deflects, saving my sanity from checking into the hotel of worst-case scenarios.

“Carter would prefer to keep it from her, just in case she’s still in on this somehow,” Gwen answers.

Not a shocker. I rise, doing my best not to disturb my niece. “When do we leave?”

“In twenty minutes.” She opens her arms. “May I?”

I close the space between us and hand her Illiana. I can hardly breathe at the sight. Gwen rocking a child in her arms, her hips swaying side to side, may be the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen.

Juliette stands and wraps a hand over my tense forearm, her way of letting me know she understands the emotional storm happening inside me.

“I’m so sorry your family is in this position because of me,” Gwen says while looking up at my sister, her voice as soft as silk.

“You didn’t do this,” Juliette beats me to saying. “But you’ll be one of the reasons we’re safe when this is all over. I know that for sure.”

Gwen gently hands my niece to my sister, her hair falling into her face, soft strands moving as she does, so I can’t read her expression.

“How’s your dad holding up about all this?” Juliette asks her.