Fracture (Unbreakable Bonds 6)

“First one? You plan to do this again?”

“Of course. Just look at what we made. And I’m next.” He ran his finger down Daci’s cheek, the corners of his mouth going up when she tried to suck on his finger. She cooed and waved her fists in the air. The child might not biologically belong to Lucas, but he considered himself her father just as much as Andrei. Love did that.

He looked forward to having that himself.

“Jude and I are going to adopt,” Snow said softly, knowing that news would get Lucas’s attention.

Lucas’s head came up and he regarded Snow closely. “It’s what you want?”

Snow nodded. “I do. I really do.”

“Then that will be the luckiest child. To be brought into your home. Adopting a child out there in need is a beautiful thing, Ash.” He smirked. “What happened to the man who never wanted children?”

“I could ask the same.”

“But you were always more adamant.”

Snow looked at Jude to find him watching Snow, his affection plain for anyone looking at him. They’d stayed awake the rest of the night before, both too excited about their plans. His entire life was about to change, and he couldn’t be more thrilled. “We go through hard things in life and we change. Then grow. And I understand now that we make our own happiness, and I can’t think of anything in this world that will make me happier than seeing that man as a father. He has a lot of love to give.”

“So do you.”

Snow managed to tear his gaze from Jude’s to look at his best friend. “I do. And that’s partly thanks to you.”

“I was just there for you, that’s all.”

“That’s not just all. It was everything. I wouldn’t be who I am and living this life if I hadn’t had you. Would never have met Jude.”

Lucas lifted Daciana to his shoulder, kissing her head. “And I wouldn’t have met Andrei, so I say we’re both blessed.”

At one time, Snow would have scoffed and made some smart remark then, but Lucas was right. He looked around the room at his friends, at his family. Noah had his head back, laughing at something Rowe must have said if his smirk was anything to go by. Andrei watched Lucas and Daciana, his heart in his eyes. And Jude watched Snow. Their eyes locked as that infinitely strong connection moved between them, pulling him toward the man.

But the doorbell rang and he smiled, that warm feeling returned to his chest. He rubbed it as he walked to let the rest of his family in, and he thought about all the years he’d searched for something to give his life meaning. He’d always had Lucas, then Rowe and Ian, and now he had Jude and Jude’s family. He had Noah, Andrei, Daci, and even the annoying Hollis. He was going to have children.

He was no longer searching.

Blessed felt too small a word for how truly fortunate he was.