Locked Hearts (Chained Hearts Duet 2)

“How do you know it’s yours?” I ask, my brow raised in challenge.

“Don’t play with me, Sailor.”

Oh, wow! Now that’s a rarity. He used my actual name. Keir scratches his head as he thinks about who knows what.

I let him be because at least now his stupid phone is off, and he isn’t pacing anymore.

My eyes gaze down at the cute tiny bundle of joy in my arms and wonder how you can compare any other love to this. This right here is the meaning of love.

“It’s a girl.” His voice is quiet and oddly subdued for him.

“I know. You can go now,” I whisper, too caught up in watching her. I don’t give him any more attention to see if he leaves, focusing my eyes solely on her perfect face as she makes cute little noises and starts to fuss. She’s currently lying on my naked chest—skin to skin as they suggested—and I move her to the side, positioning her to my breast to start feeding her. The midwife steps in to help, and as soon as my beautiful girl is latched, she leaves.

When I peek up again, Keir hasn’t moved, but now he’s watching us both with eager eyes.

“You don’t have to stay. I’m sure you have people to kill and lives to destroy,” I say, smirking at him.

He says nothing, just stays where he is, watching us. I look back down to my baby and smile as I run my hand through her hair. She has a lot of it, not unlike her father. When I glance back up, he has stepped closer.

“She looks like Dillan, right?” I say with false confidence I’m not proud of. And I know it’s wrong when it leaves my mouth, but I just want Keir to go.

“No, she looks exactly like I did as a baby.”

I bite my lip and tear my gaze away.

Goddammit! He never falls for my bullshit.

“Why are you still here? It’s not a boy, you are good to go…”

He runs his hand down his face, which now that I really look at him, appears pale and completely exasperated. “That’s my child.” I hear the certainty in his tone, and my chest tightens at the reality of the situation unfolding in front of me—of my baby being his daughter.

My blood fights to boil or run cold, I’m so sick with resentment.

“No, you’re wrong. She’s mine,” I say, smiling. “Her name is Wren. Wren, why don’t you say hello to Keir before he leaves.” She finishes suckling, and I lift her up onto my chest to burp her. Keir’s dark eyes are locked on me, and they’re unmoving.

“I’m not leaving.”

“Yes. You. Are. We don’t need you. Just be glad that I’m not after anything from you.”

“You never did want anything from me.”

“And I never will,” I add, steadying my breath. Kissing Wren’s head, I change boobs and she latches on right away to which I smile before I glance back to Keir.

“I’m not her. That woman was chosen for you. I don’t want nor need you. Please leave and let us be.”

“I’m not leaving. Are you deaf?” That last part slides over his tongue with venom.

“Now you’re throwing insults. That’s just great. No, I am not deaf, but I want to sleep. I’m exhausted.” Wren starts to fall asleep on my breast, so I lift and burp her again before lying her in the crib next to the bed. I turn away from Keir and face my beautiful little girl, and it isn’t long before my eyes become too heavy to keep open any longer.

It’s his voice that wakes me, but it’s not his usual voice.

He’s singing. Who knew he could sing?

When I open my eyes, Keir has Wren in his arms, rocking her back and forth as he sings to her. If I didn’t just have a baby and didn’t know what a dick he really is, it would make me want another.

But I do know who he is. Maybe not all of him, but enough, and none of it is good. Well, apart from the sex, that is more than good.

But look where that led me.

“Keir.” He stops singing, and some part of me wishes I didn’t speak. Though, the better part of me knows better. “Give me my baby.”

He regards her once more, and it’s the first real smile I have seen him pull. He steps closer but makes no move to hand her over. “She’s beautiful,” he whispers.

“She is.” I don’t disagree because she is the perfect blend of the two of us. And let’s get our facts straight—Keir is a beautiful man. Very much so. “Give her to me,” I repeat, stronger this time. I sit up and reach for her, and for just a short breath of a moment, I wonder if he will take her from me and that sets panic racing through my veins.