Page 115 of Lethal Attraction

“Good.”

Everyone waits with bated breath as the time ticks by. No one says a word as Rowan leans against the open door frame and picks at his nails with nerves. Bailey paces near the stairs, occasionally looking up to see if anyone has emerged. Alana is seated on the edge of the sofa, her hands gripping the cushions as Connor holds her close. Thalia keeps her head tucked into my side, her eyes never leaving her guest room door.

Steps outside make Rowan turn. His expression shifts when he sees Theo and Dom’s grave faces.

“We need to talk,” Theo whispers.

The Midwestern branch leader nods before closing the door to give them privacy. We can hear their muffled voices from outside, but no one understands what’s being said.

Thalia’s watching them through the window, her hand tightening in my shirt as her eyes narrow. Tension lines her shoulders, and I squeeze her to me as I talk quietly in her ear. “I’m sure it’s nothing.”

She hums. “That would be entirely too easy.”

Rowan returns a second later, his face devoid of any emotion as he steps back into the house. Until we all hear it.

One little, long cry that cracks through the air. Everyone visibly relaxes as Thalia places a hand over her heart and her tears roll.

“She sounds so beautiful,” she sobs.

Rowan swallows, sniffling as he fights his waterworks. “She’s got strong lungs.”

I take my girl in my arms, wiping away her tears. The upstairs guest room door opens, and Taryn walks out with blood-soaked towels wrapped in her arms. She notices everyone downstairs smiling. “She’s healthy.”

Cheers erupt around us as everyone claps with joy. Next to follow are Atlas and Addison, and we don’t miss the little bundle wrapped up in the burly man’s arms as he coos down at his daughter.

“Everyone,” he addresses the room softly, on the last step of the staircase, “I would like for you to meet Sophia Kingsley.”

A tuft of dark hair peeks out from beneath the pale pink blanket wrapped around her, and her tiny face is scrunched in sleepy confusion as she blinks against the light. One fist escapes the blanket long enough for her to wave it through the air before settling back against her chest.

A collective gasp fills the room.

“Oh, my goodness,” Alana breathes, pressing a hand to her mouth.

Bailey abandons all attempts at looking composed. “She’s perfect.”

Atlas’s grin widens. The man looks like he hasn’t slept in days; his shirt wrinkled and stained from the birth, but pride radiates from every inch of him. He glances down at the infant in his arms as though she hung every star in the sky herself. He looks up and makes direct eye contact with Thalia across the room.

“Do you want to hold her?” He asks.

Thalia freezes. “Me?”

Atlas chuckles. “Yes, you.”

Her eyes widen to impossible proportions. “Are you sure?”

“You look like you’re about to pass out if I don’t let you.”

A nervous laugh ripples through the room. Atlas carefully descends the last step and stops in front of us. The moment he places Sophia into Thalia’s arms, my girl stops breathing.

At least, that’s what it looks like. She stares down at the newborn as though she’s been handed something sacred. Sophia squirms slightly before settling against her chest. And then, impossibly, one tiny hand wraps around Thalia’s finger.

A broken sound escapes her. “Oh.” Tears immediately spill down her cheeks again. “Oh, sweetheart.”

The room grows quiet. Bailey stops pacing, Rowan stops pretending he isn’t emotional, and everyone simply watches.

Because something changes in Thalia’s expression. Something so soft and full of unconditional love. Sophia opens her eyes for the briefest moment, dark and unfocused, and Thalia smiles through her tears.

“Hi, Sophia Kingsley,” she whispers. “We’ve all been waiting for you.”