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His disbelief is almost as strong as Alex’s, but where Alex is feeling so negative and destroyed, Ben has hope.
His eyes flash blue, and he steps back once more as he lets the tears pour from his eyes.
“Enough,” Topher snarls, letting out a very loud growl. I flinch, and Phoebe starts to cry over the baby monitor. We all freeze, nobody even breathing, as she lets out another one.
I turn tail, racing up the stairs faster than any of my men react, and fly into the bedroom. She’s crying hysterically in the crib, her eyes bright—almost glowing in the dark—and I turn the lamp on as dim as it goes.
“Hi, baby,” I soothe, lifting her up into my arms. She quietens almost immediately, and I cuddle her in close. “Did you get a little fright?”
“She did.” I turn to the doorway, seeing Topher there with a hesitant look on his face. “May I come in?”
I shake my head, tears dripping down my face, as my anger builds. He reacted in a very angry way, and that scared her enough that she woke up.
He caused her panic.
But then his face falls, sadness and regret filling his side of the bond, and I sigh.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper.
“Breathe, princess,” he soothes.
The bedroom door was closed. Her windows are closed. Sure, she might’ve felt his anger and woke up because of that, but the likelihood is that she didn’t.
I’m placing blame for no reason.
I cross over to him and pass my daughter over into his arms. She settles completely as she grasps onto Topher’s finger, and he smiles, leaning down to kiss her nose.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper, and Topher looks up, giving me a soft look. “I was angry and blamed you, but no blame was needed.”
“I’m sorry, little pup,” Topher says, his voice a little higher than normal as he talks in such a gentle tone. I feel rude standing here watching this adorable moment, but I can’t bear to even blink and miss a second of this cuteness.
“I’m not mad at mummy,” Topher adds, leaning down to brush a kiss against our daughter’s forehead. “Silly daddies.” He laughs. “No, little pup, you’ve got Daddy T tonight.”
“What?” I ask, confused.
He smirks, looking up at me. “I’m not saying she has a favourite, but you really need to cut Seb off. I refuse to have her beg for a different daddy when I’m the one here.”
I laugh as tears fill up my eyes, and I turn away from him to try and compose myself. Today has been rough, and I’m not sure how much else I have left to give. I’m exhausted, and my heart hurts.
The secrets continue, and for every answer we get, more questions form. I don’t know how any of the guys are still upright and coping.
They’re so strong.
I hear Topher’s footsteps as he comes to my back and gently places Phoebe into my arms from over my head. She nestles in close, and he wraps himself around me, softly kissing my pulse.
“You’re positive?” he asks quietly. It doesn’t take a genius to know he’s referring to his cousin.
“Pretty sure. The similarities are profound. She’s practically identical, other than the slight signs of age.” I tremble slightly, and he tightens his hold around me, and Phoebe’s smile is so beautiful as she looks up at us both. “I met her a few times throughout my childhood, always calling her Auntie Em?—”
“When was the first time?” he demands. His tone is abrupt, and I press back into him, sending love along the bond.
“She babysat me when I was… ten or eleven?” I say, thinking about it. “I met her a few times over the years, for dinners and at events. When I did my work experience at my mum’s foundation when I was sixteen, she was the one I shadowed.”
“I don’t understand how any of that is possible,” Topher says quietly. “We saw her dead body, Maia. It was her.”
“No chance she had a secret twin like Ryan?” I ask almost bitterly.
He shakes his head, sighing deeply. “No. She was a solo birth. I just don’t understand how it could’ve happened. I trust you, and if you say she’s out there, then she’s out there. I just can’t cope with the lack of answers.”
