Page 93 of Claimed By Ruin

“Well, this should be about it. He’ll eat. It’ll take a couple of days for his first real stool, but we’ll watch for that. And once Asia’s done feeding him, I want her to try to get up and walk around.”

“Already?”

“Yeah.”

“And me?” I said, arching a brow at her.

“I’ll give you two some time alone,” she said. “Asia, Lourdes says he looks great. But let either of us know if you need anything.” She checked her watch, then looked back at Asia. “I’ll be back in an hour or so. Make sure that there’s not too much bleeding.”

“She could be bleeding?” I asked.

“Yes. Some is normal, but I want to make sure it’s not excessive. I don’t think it is, but it’s better to check.”

“And what will you do if she is?”

“We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.”

But the urge to press was unavoidable. “But what if⁠—”

She pursed her lips. “Jack, go be with your family.”

Family.

That word froze me in place. Set my gaze drifting back to Asia. And my son.

My son.

He stretched. Pulled away. She just shifted him and lay him on her shoulder. Rubbed his back until he burped.

“You really are a natural.”

“No. No, I’m not,” she said, her expression dreamy. “You ready to hold him?”

“No,” I said, but I still extended my hands.

She settled him in my hands, and I stared down at him. He had a little tuft of curly black hair. His eyes were barely open, but I could see they were dark, almost black. Just like Evan’s and just like my father’s were.

“How pissed are you going to be if I say he looks like a pug?”

“My son does not look like a pug,” Asia said.

“He kind of does. But he is the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen,” I said. I barely recognized my own voice through the awe and wonder in it as I stared down at him. “Hi, kid. I guess I’m your dad.”

“Guess,” Asia said.

I smiled. Kept my eyes on my son. “There isn’t anything in the world I wouldn’t do for you.” I looked at Asia. “For both of you.”

THIRTY-FOUR

Asia

“Any pain?” Miranda asked.

“No,” I said, my gaze glued to the baby.

Yet again, the world had changed entirely in the space of hours.

This time for the better. Now that I saw him, knowing he was here and safe and real, the weight I tried to pretend I wasn’t carrying lifted. I had no idea what would happen tomorrow. But today, right now, he was here.