My world would never be right if I lost my husband.
“My heart, look at me. Give Junior to me.” I shake my head, holding my baby tightly to my chest.
“Yes, my sweet. I want to hold you.”
“Okay.” He settles our boy in his play yard and then scoops me up in his arms on the sofa, cradling me like a baby.
“I love you, Lara. I’m here for you, and I always will be.”
“I can’t lose you.”
“And I can’t lose you. I’m sorry about your father. I know this is hard and in time it will ease, but it will never go away. I’m here for you, and I’ll do everything in my power to always be here.”
“I know, because if you go, I go.”
“Well, then, it’s a good thing I take safety to an insane level.”
“I suppose it is, Mr. Black.”
“Good. Tobias should be here any minute, and you need to be strong for him as well.”
“Please. He’s a football player and uber strong.”
“Too strong, and he’s going to take blame for this. You know that, right?”
“Why?”
“Because he should have been on the ranch, learning to take over and not playing.”
“Oh my goodness. You’re right. He’s going to put this on himself.”
“So we don’t let him. Understand?”
“I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
Landon
A few months later
“Tobias. Stop. Fucking listen to me.” Tobias slams down another drink. I pull the bottle away from my brother-in-law. This has been brutal on him as he copes with his father’s death.
“It’s all my fault. If I’d been here.”
“Listen. We can’t change the past. If you’d been here, that wouldn’t have stopped your father from helping on the ranch. He loved this place as much as he loved every single one of you. He wanted to work the land because it meant the world to him.”
“Still, I could have been the one working in the area and he wouldn’t have gotten hurt.”
“Stop the what ifs. There’s something I need to share with you. Something I never told anyone but your sister. I’m telling you this because I love and trust you. You know that my father wasn’t really my father right?”
“Yeah. I’m sorry that it took a long time to find out the truth.”
“All my life I spent believing Johnny’s lies, living in fear and letting him swindle me into caring. I almost let him back into my life again then I met Lara. He is the one who tried to take her from me, and I killed him for it.”
“What?”
“Yeah, the man I’d known all my life, the man who raised me, betrayed me. I have learned to let that go because it doesn’t do me any good. It doesn’t make things better. That beautiful woman out there who needs me, needs me to be my best. That little boy in her arms and the little one growing in her belly need my love and strength just like they need their uncle.”
“You guys are expecting another one?”
“Yes. So I need you to get off your crazy ass and sober up. Remember your daddy loved you. Something you had that I killed for.”
He swallows hard and nods. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry. It’s fucking natural to feel sad and miss him. I miss your dad and I didn’t know the guy long, but he was a good man. So I get it, but remember he left a legacy for you to fill. A ranch to bring love and life to, so make him proud.”
“Thanks. My sister’s safe now?”
“All my known enemies have been dealt with. All those who dare will pay the price. I guess I’m more like my birth father than I realized, but I’ll move Heaven and Earth for her, and send every bastard to Hell if I have to.”
“Sounds good to me.” We shake hands and chuckle before walking out of the barn to go find my wife and mother-in-law, who were worried.
“It smells good in here.”
“My mom and I cooked dinner for you guys.”
“I’m talking about you, beautiful.”
“Come on. You’ve already made the babies,” Tobias grumbles.
“He’ll understand one day,” I whisper in her ear, nibbling and making her giggle.
“I’m so happy for you two. Tobias, I can’t wait for you to fill these rooms with little ones as well.”
“Maybe one day if I’m lucky, Momma.”
Four years later
Landon
Since I met Lara four years ago, having these parties has been a test of wills. I want to forget that anyone else is here and take her to the nearest hidden room and drill her on any sturdy surface. She looks fabulous in her perfectly sexy gown as she commands the room. Over the years, she’s only become even more intriguing. People gravitate toward her, which pisses me off. Still, I let her shine because she makes a wonderful hostess and the children’s charities make a killing when she’s in charge.