Forbidden Heir (The Heirs 8)

He lets out a chuckle. “You have something growing inside you, and my guess is it’s not a tumor.”

“Danny’s pregnant?” Ryker asks, his hand almost crushing mine.

“Yes. Looks like the two of you are all about performing miracles.”

“Oh my God,” I whisper as surprise washes over me. Then the relief hits, and I let out a sob. “Oh my God.”

“I’ll refer you to an OB/Gyn so we can work closely together, seeing as you’ll still have to go for your quarterly MRI scan.”

Ryker and I sit frozen, just staring at Dr. Friedman, and it draws a burst of laughter from him. “You’re having a baby, Danny.”

Another sob burst over my lips, and then Ryker yanks me to him.

“I’ll leave you to bask in the happy moment. Stay as long as you want.” I hear Dr. Friedman leave, and then I cry from the intense relief and happiness overwhelming me.

Ryker pulls back, and then he kisses me even though I’m a blubbering mess. When his eyes meet mine, and I see the happiness shining from his eyes, it’s impossible not to ugly cry.

“We’re having a baby,” he whispers with awe.

I begin to nod. “A little Ryder or Ryelle.”

“You know what this means, right?” he asks. When I shake my head, he says, “You’re going to be a mom, Danny.”

My chin quivers as I nod. “The mother of your child. Our little miracle.”

RYKER

Ryelle – 6 Years Old.

There are regular kids, then there’s Ryelle.

She’s bouncing in the backseat as we pull up to her school. The moment she sees all her uncles, she lets out a high-pitch scream.

I pull a face as I glance at Danny, who looks like she’s about to cry.

“We’re here! Let me out!” Ryelle yells. I get out, and the moment I open the door, she’s out of the car like a lightning bolt and running toward her grandfathers.

My father-in-law catches her, and she gives him a wet kiss before she reaches for my dad. All the men crouch down, so they’re eye level with her.

She presses wet kisses to their cheeks as she mumbles, “Love you, Uncle Ledge. Love you, Uncle Jax. Love you, Uncle Marcus.” Then she moves onto the younger generation. “Love you, Uncle Christopher. Love you, Uncle Tristan. Love you, Uncle Noah.” Ryelle stops to catch her breath, and placing her hands on her hips, she mutters, “Phew, this is hard work.” Then she continues, “Love you, Uncle Kao. Love you, Uncle Jase. Love you, Uncle Hunter. Love you, Uncle Forest.”

When she’s finally done, she glances back at Danny and me. “Can I go in now?”

Danny lets out a sputter, and it has me saying, “What about Mommy?”

“Ugh. Do I have to? I’ll see you after school,” she sasses me.

“Just like her mother,” I mutter to Danny, then I crouch, “It doesn’t matter, Ryelle. Come give us a hug.”

Ryelle pushes out her bottom lip. “Fine, but make it quick.”

When her tiny arms wrap around my neck, I stand back up and hold her tightly to me. “Love you, princess.”

“Not half as much as I love you,” she whispers.

I pass her over to Danny, and when she hugs our daughter, emotion pushes up my throat.

Every day is still a miracle for us.

“Love you, my princess,” Danny murmurs. “To the moon and back.”

“Love you, Mommy,” Ryelle whispers. “Further than the moon and back.”

I let out a chuckle, and then Ryelle squirms out of Danny’s hold, and the moment her feet touch the ground, she runs for the entrance.

Taking hold of Danny’s hand, we follow after our daughter, who’s way more prepared for her first day of school than we are.

DANNY

Ryelle – 18 Years Old.

My eyes are glued to Ryelle, where she’s standing with the other kids.

She’s starting at Trinity Academy.

God, where has the time gone? My baby’s an adult.

It’s a pity my nieces and nephews graduated last year. I would’ve felt a hell of a lot better if they were here to look out for Ryelle. At least she’s not alone. Forest and Aria’s son is starting his final year. There’s also Fallon and Kao’s youngest son, who’s the same age as Ryelle. And next year, Jade and Hunter’s daughter will start at Trinity.

Again… where the hell did all the time go? It feels like just yesterday, I found out I was pregnant with Ryelle.

“What are you thinking about?” Ryker asks as he wraps his arm around my shoulders.

“How quickly time has passed. It’s hard to believe Ryelle is starting college.”

“Yeah, you know what that means, right?” I shake my head, and it has him chuckling, “We’re getting old.”

“Yeah, I can see the gray coming through,” I tease him. Pressing a kiss to his mouth, I murmur, “You’re the hottest father here.”

Ryker gives me that sexy smile I love so much. “With Ryelle at college, we’ll have the house to ourselves.”