Buttons and Grace (Buttons 6)

Adelina nodded. “Yes…Carter.”

I sat at the bedside with him in my arms. I spent all my time taking care of my wife, but now I had to make room for one more person. But with someone so small, it shouldn’t be a problem, not when my heart was so big. “Thank you, Bellissima.”

“For what?” she asked.

“Giving me my boy.” I brought him to my lips and kissed his forehead. “I’m a dad…it’s weird.”

“It’s not weird,” she whispered. “It’s right.”

“Yeah…” I felt like I was hogging him, so I transferred him back to her arms. “You did all the work. Your turn.”

She smiled and cradled him to her chest. “He’s perfect. I couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful baby.”

“No, you couldn’t.”

“Carter and Conway…they’ll be the best of friends.”

“I’m sure they will be.” I pictured them playing together the way Crow and I did. Our children would have their own siblings, but I knew our kids would always be close. We lived five miles apart, and we would always live five miles apart from each other. “Your parents are here. They’re eager to see the baby.”

“I know.” She stared down at Carter. “But I want it to be just the three of us a little longer.”

We sat in silence together, admiring the little man we made together. I never would have imagined my life like this. Five years ago, I was a criminal who killed without thinking. All I cared about was money and power. But now, I didn’t think about the business that I gave to Constantine. I didn’t think about making money. I didn’t care about any of those things. All I really cared about was my family—and not just the three of us.

Crow and I had both turned our backs on our legacy. We could have followed in our father’s footsteps, but we took our own path. We made our own lives while honoring the Barsetti name. Now we were surrounded by our wives and children. Life would pass quickly, but we would enjoy it so thoroughly.

How did I get so lucky?

Adelina turned back to me, knowing my mind had drifted. “What?”

I smiled at her, watching the love of my life hold my son. “Nothing…nothing at all.”