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“Ya, think?” Mamba pulled out his maternity ward pass and waved it in front of the keypad. He drew in a deep breath as both their moods changed the minute the double doors slid open.
“So fuckin’ quiet in here.” Rattler put his wise ass attitude on hold.
“Fuckin’ hate hospitals.” Mamba’s heartbeat sped up at the thought of seeing Mandy in bed one more day.
“Let’s stop by the nursery first.” Seeing his baby girl gave him strength.
Instead of making a right to Mandy’s room, they cut left down another corridor until they stood in front of the plate glass window showcasing all the newborns.
“Shit, they’re so little.” Rattler’s smile was almost innocent.
“Wait here, I’ll hold her up to the glass so you can see her.” Mamba used his pass again to open the door, then he put on a gown, and doused his hands in sanitizer. He crossed the room to his baby girl’s bassinet and stilled.
Were his fuckin’ eyes playing tricks on him? Making him see shit that wasn’t real. He slowly moved closer not wanting to spook the image just in case it was fake.
“Hey.” Mamba reached out to Mandy in a wheelchair cuddling their baby girl to her chest.
She raised her face and smiled. “She’s beautiful.”
“Just like her mama.” Mamba hunched down so they were eye to eye. “When did you—I mean—how did you—”
Mandy squeezed his forearm. “Everything’s going to be fine.”
Mamba stroked her face, still not completely convinced he wasn’t having some kind of aneurism. “You finally came back to me.”
“Nothing will ever separate us again.”
Mamba leaned in and hugged the two people he loved most in the world, then pulled back slightly. “We gotta get a name for this little girl.”
“You’re happy it’s a girl, right? You’re not disappointed it’s not a boy.”
“Is that why you wouldn’t tell me the sex?”
“No, I just thought it would be more fun if it was a surprise, but I knew you would be the best father no matter what.”
Mamba hugged them again, forgetting about Rattler outside the nursery, forgetting about all the bullshit that put Mandy in the hospital. Just staying right here in this perfect moment with his perfect family.
EPILOGUE
One Month Later
Mamba surveyed the scene from his deck. Python was at his usual spot grilling hamburgers, ribs, and steaks, chugging beer and wisecracking. Cobra held court with Joker and Boa by the tapped keg, Joker’s teenage son entertained everyone with his daring somersaults into the pool, while the younger kids played on the jungle gym. The ol’ ladies gathered around Mandy holding their beautiful daughter, Harley.
What started out as Mandy ribbing him about his beloved motorcycle evolved into the name they picked for their daughter. After they discussed it further, they both realized it was perfect for the little girl who would probably love riding on her Daddy’s Harley.
Rattler joined him on the deck handing him a beer. “Shit got a little deep there for a while, but it all worked out in the end.”
“Absolutely.” Mamba nodded to Mandy and the baby. “I got everything I want right there.”
“I hear you, brother.” Rattler clapped him on the back. “Who would’ve ever believed I would settle my wild ass down, and here I am hitched to a Hollywood screenwriter.” Rattler bounded down the steps to join Serafina holding baby Harley.
Cobra broke away from the others and headed for the deck. His president’s serious expression made Mamba grip the deck railing tighter. When they were side by side Cobra reached into his cut, pulled out a thick white envelope and handed it to Mamba.
Mamba opened it and fanned through the thick bundle of hundred-dollar bills. “What’s this?”
“A little help from the Serpents.” Cobra’s usual cryptic way of saying something without really explaining.
Mamba resealed the bulging envelope. “It’s way the fuck more than a little help.”
