Page 128 of Fractured Empire

“Congratulations,” Dante says, his deep and clear voice rising above the nose. “Another Moretti girl is always a blessing.”

“Helps balance us out,” Apollo adds, nodding in agreement, lifting his drink in a silent cheers.

No one makes Leo feel bad for accidentally spilling the beans, and I don’t bother to even help him realize that he did. His intention was to defend me from rogue baby kicks as it is; I can’t let him feel guilty for such a little mistake.

“I’m so excited for you guys,” Jade exclaims, teary eyed and giddy. “That makes three girls and six boys. Dad, you’re going to have a whole army of grandkids soon enough.”

“Oh my goodness,” my mom gasps, clutching her chest as she closes the space between us. “A girl for my girl. I’m so happy for you, sweetheart.” She hugs me tight and then crouches down in front of me. “And you, you precious boy. You’re going to be such a good brother, aren’t you?”

Leo grins at her compliment, nodding happily. “Uh-huh.”

“And you know, since I’m your mommy’s Mama, you can call me Nana, if you’d like. Your little sister probably will, after all.”

“I never had a nana,” Leo proclaims with big round eyes staring back at her. “You be mine?”

“Well, yes of course,” Mom tells him, absolutely charmed. “Both you and Bastian are my daughter’s sons and that makes me your family. You can call me Nana or Grandma or whatever you like.”

I look down at the scene, not surprised by her offer, but her willingness to be called grandma over nana if that’s what Leo prefers. She told me not even two weeks ago that Grandma made her feel like an old lady and that Nana was more appealing.

“Daddy, look,” Leo says, tugging on his father’s pant leg. “I have a nana now!”

My heart fucking melts as my husband smiles down at our son. “You sure do, bud.”

Turning back to my mother, Leo reaches for her hand and takes it like it’s the most natural thing in the world. “Nana, I’m hungry. You give me cupcake?”

“I sure will,” she agrees easily, not bothering to ask for permission. Though I can’t be upset with her about that, this is a lovely first grandma moment for her, and besides, Leo hasn’t had any treats yet today. “Let’s go get you one and one for your mommy, hmm? The baby is making her hungry too.”

“The baby always hungry.” Leo sighs, explaining the situation as he begins to tug her out of the room.

Well, he’s not wrong.

“You guys are making me want another baby,” Jade coos, looking around the room dreamily. “You have such an adorable little family. We really need to visit more.”

“Maybe wait until Viktor is done spitting up on himself before procreating again,” Nico drawls from the corner of the room, taking a deep drink of liquor.

Ares chuckles by his side, lifting his drink toward Jade. “I say the more the merrier. Married life looks good on you, love.”

Dmitri glares at my stepbrother and Jade rolls her eyes. “The fake flirting thing is getting old. Everyone knows that your father put forth a marriage offer between us while we were at Empire out of respect rather than ambition. You’d rather have three wives than one, and I’d rather eat dirt than be any of them.”

Armani sputters on his drink, laughing at his sister’s sass. Ares smirks, finding her entertaining rather than offensive. His strange desire to get under people’s skin is never-ending.

“I didn’t know you sent in an offer for Jade,” I say, turning to Linus in surprise.

“Who didn’t put in an offer?” Apollo drawls, rolling his eyes.

My stepfather shrugs, lifting his shoulders causally. “When the most powerful family in the country presents a long lost daughter of marriageable age, you don’t simply ignore it. Although, I’m glad your lovely sister-in-law was spared the burden of courting Ares.”

Jade beams at him, surprised by such a candid insult to his heir in favor of complimenting her.

“I don’t understand where Ares gets his personality from,” Ana muses, narrowing her eyes at the man himself. “The rest of you seem so pleasant.”

“Papa says he dropped him on his head when he was little,” Gaia informs her happily. “Things got shook around up there.”

“Traitor,” Ares accuses while the room fills with chuckles.

“You didn’t match with me, you deserve it,” she declares, turning her chin up at him and crossing her arms.

“You’re wearing pink,” he protests.