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"Story," Sebastian demanded as Bash tried to put him down.
With a chuckle, Bash shot me a glance as he settled back down onto the tiny chair by the crib. Sebastian, his eyes gleaming at the prospect of a story, settled himself as comfortably as he could on his tiny pillow. I sat on the edge of his crib, running a hand down his soft curls.
"Alright then," Bash said, clearing his throat dramatically. "Once upon a time there was a little prince named...Sebastian."
The toddler giggled excitedly, clapping his hands together.
"This prince lived in a grand castle with his Uncle Bash and Aunt Juju," Bash continued with a smile, winking at me.
"And he was very brave," I interjected. Sebastian beamed at me, looking proud.
"Yes," Bash agreed. "He was brave and kind, and loved by everyone in the kingdom."
With my hand idly tracing the checkered pattern of Sebastian’s blanket, I watched as Bash’s eyes lit up with each word of the tale he spun. His voice had a soothing rhythm to it that was surely magical for a child so young.
"And every night," Bash continued, "the prince would go on an adventure in his dreams, exploring enchanted forests and sailing across candy-coated seas. He fought dragons made of fluffy clouds and rescued princesses who turned into beautiful butterflies."
Sebastian's eyelashes fluttered, his little body sinking deeper into the soft mattress as his eyelids grew heavy. We watched as his small chest rose and fell steadily, signaling the arrival of sleep.
"And then," Bash's voice dropped to a hushed whisper, his eyes never leaving Sebastian's peaceful visage. "The prince would go back to his castle, and sleep, knowing that he was safe and loved."
As he finished the story, I looked over at Bash, finding him already looking at me. The room was silent for a while as we watched Sebastian sleep. His tiny hands clutched the blanket, his mouth slightly open as he breathed in and out peacefully. I reached out to touch his rosy cheek gently before standing up.
"I will fucking kill anyone who tries to touch this baby," I said under my breath.
Bash looked at me, his eyes dark and serious. "I know," he said quietly. "So will I."
We stood there for a few minutes more, watching Sebastian sleep, two ruthless guardians ensuring the safety of an innocent life. The silence was broken only by the soft sound of Sebastian's breathing and the occasional distant laugh or shout from the meeting still going on in the living room.
"We should get back," Bash said finally, standing up and wrapping an arm around my waist. "We have this thing tonight and I need to work it."
"Don't you have men for that?" I asked.
"I do, but I need to oversee this one personally," he said, his tone leaving no room for further questions. He gently kissed the top of my head before leading us out of the room, carefully closing the door behind him. "I'm taking Skylar and Hassan with me, too. Don't worry. I'm not going on missions alone anymore."
"Good. What about Zane?"
He shook his head. "Nah," he said. "As important as this shipment is, I don't want to leave the two of you alone."
"I can take care of myself."
"I know, darlin', but you don't have to," he replied. “And obviously I’m going to take care of my child and my wife.”
As we slowly descended back into the heated chaos of the living room, I looked up at him, a question on my lips. "And if something goes wrong tonight?"
Bash paused, his hand tightening around mine. His eyes met mine in the dim light. "Then you take Sebastian and run," he said firmly. "You don't look back. You don't wait for me or Zane or anyone else."
“But—"
"No 'buts.' Promise me," he cut me off, the gravity of his gaze making my heart pound.
"I promise," I muttered, feeling a cold shiver run down my spine. The possibility of losing Bash—of losing any of them—was chilling.
Leaving Bash with Skylar and Hassan, I walked over to where Zane was nursing his bruised face with an ice pack, his eyes deep and thoughtful as he watched the scene before him. He smiled when he saw me approach him; it was a sad sort of smile, but it reached his eyes, lighting them up in a way that made the room feel a little less tense.
The rest of the guys left, leaving Zane and I alone in the room. The laughter, the jokes, the plans...they all seemed to fade away, leaving behind a deafening silence.
I settled down next to Zane. "You okay?" he asked, turning to face me.
