Sinning in Vegas (Vegas Morellis 2)

Once we’re both clean and germ-free, I help him clean up the wound a little better and layer a bunch of gauze over it before taping it down. His shirt is ruined, so he bundles it up and tosses it in Rafe’s trash can. I try hard not to ogle him, but that danger is leaking out of him again, tonight with a battle-hardened edge. He’s clearly worn out from today, but he carries on, like he always does. Rafe was sitting here eating seasoned fish with vegetables and playing cards while Sin was out getting shit done, and now apparently we have to take a baby home because Rafe doesn’t feel like doing that, either.

“Gio and Lydia both, huh?” I ask.

“It wasn’t the plan, but yeah. She fucking shot at me. I didn’t even have time to think, I just…”

“Of course. You had to defend yourself.”

“I made that poor kid parentless.”

I sigh, wrapping my arm around his unwounded side and hugging him. “You had no choice. Gio and Lydia were terrible anyway.”

“You’re always defending me,” he says, lightly tugging my hair back to tip my head up so he can kiss me.

“I always will,” I assure him. “You can do pretty much no wrong in my eyes.”

“Got yourself a pair of rose-colored glasses, huh?”

“Hey, I knew which side you were on going into this. I’m not some fragile flower who can’t hang. I’m taking mob wife lessons. It’s gonna be fine. I’ve got this.”

“You’re a natural,” he assures me.

“I beat Rafe and Rex at poker tonight,” I tell him, as we head back toward the living room.

“Bullshit,” he answers. “I can’t speak to Rex’s skill, but there’s no way you beat Rafe. He let you win.”

“Well, yeah,” I allow. “They wiped the floor with me a bunch of times first, but then they let me win so I didn’t start crying.”

Sin cocks an eyebrow. “Because you’re four?”

“Because I’m pregnant,” I correct. “Rex says it makes women emotionally unstable.”

“Rex better learn to be more tactful before he gets married,” Sin advises.

I grin up at him. “I gave him some variation of the same advice.”

When we get back to the living room, Sin relieves Rex of his baby burden. Skylar seems to recognize him, and she promptly pats his face with her tiny hand.

I sigh shamelessly, watching him stand there shirtless with a baby on his chest, tattooed and bandaged like a hardass, but pressing his lips to Skylar’s forehead and giving her a kiss, murmuring an apology to her and calling her shortcake. My heart is so full, it aches.

“I should get him a shirt,” Rafe volunteers.

Rex smirks and glances over at me. “You okay over there? You look a little flushed.”

“I’m allowed to stare,” I inform them both. “I’m marrying him, so all that belongs to me.”

Rafe’s eyes widen. “Back up. What was that?”

Sin walks over and bends down to grab his jacket. “That reminds me, I made a stop this morning before today went to hell.”

My heart leaps as he opens his hand and there’s a little square jewelry box in his palm. Bringing my wide eyes to his face, I say, “You didn’t.”

He hands me the box and nods. “Open it.”

“You aren’t seriously doing this in front of me,” Rafe says. “You are an asshole. You’re not even doing it right; you’re supposed to get down on one knee.”

“Yeah, but he’s standing here like a badass at the end of an action flick with a baby on his chest,” Rex reasons. “I don’t think he has to. Pretty sure that starry-eyed look on her face pretty much answers his question.”

“Thanks,” Rafe says dryly.