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33
SHELBY
A YEAR LATER.
“Ican’t believe we created them, Eaton. Out of so much evil has come so much good.” I’m standing beside the crib of our daughter, Eliza.
Eaton sits on a chair giving David, her twin brother and our first born, a bottle. The babies are three months old now and named after my father and Eaton’s mother. They’re everything to us, and we both spend as much time with them as possible.
Growing up, their lives will be very different from the ones we experienced. They’ll be encouraged to stay on the right side of the law as much as possible. They won’t suffer poverty or hunger, and they won’t need to search for their next meal like I did. They’ll be loved and adored. It’s just a shame they only have the one grandparent.
“Here’s Eliza’s milk.” My mother hands me a warmed bottle, but I give it back to her. “It’s all right, Mom, you feed her.”
“You sure?” she questions.
I nod.
She’s been clean for over a year now and has her own annex in Eaton’s and my home where she lives. It was hard for her to come back to Vegas at first, but I know when the graves of my father and Eaton’s mother were moved together, she spent a long time there, chatting to them.
She’s apologized for not being there for me when I was growing up. I finally feel like a have a mother. And I’m happy that through the twins we’ll get to experience together the things I missed out on as a child.
I move to sit beside Eaton as our son finishes his bottle and falls asleep in my husband’s arms.
“I love you,” I tell him.
“I love you as well.”
These are words I never thought I would hear, but they’re ones he says to me often. They’ll never grow old. Even though he can still be a controlling, grumpy bastard, I wouldn’t want him any other way.
Lena pops her head around the door. “Can I come in?” she asks.
“Have you showered? I don’t want any of those parasite things near the babies,” Eaton questions, his brows furrowed.
“Of course, I have.” She rolls her eyes at him before taking David out of his arms and cradling him.
I can just see the first signs of a bump as the baby she’s growing for her and Max reaches it’s fourth month. I know it won’t be long until both men stop her working with the animals at the veterinary center that Eaton bought me in Vegas. I was made to stop at five months, but since the children have been born, I’ve been back there a few times.
As soon as the twins are old enough, I’ll get them involved with the center, and once I’ve finished my degree, I’ll be able to take on a more active role. I will always be there for my family, but I’m also achieving my dream. All of which started with Betty.
My best friend from Pharr is happily settled inside the house with her own family. She didn’t last long in the caged area in the garden. You would never know she was once a feral cat, and she’s been spayed now, so if she ever wanders again, she won’t come back with any more surprises.
“How is Kenny?” I ask Lena.
He’s a dog that was brought into the center last week with a nasty snake bite. It was touch and go whether he would survive for a while.
“He got sent home today. His owners were so happy. They were crying. It was lovely to see.” Lena smiles, taking a seat on the rocking chair with David still in her arms.
I watch as my mom sits Eliza up to burp her. With no children to cuddle, I lean back into Eaton’s arms, and he pulls me close.
“How was the casino today?” I ask.
“Good. We did have to send a little message. I found someone stealing chips. They won’t be doing it again.” He presses a kiss to my forehead.
“I know you’ll always have to do that. I’m just glad you finally shut down the sex trafficking and the drugs side of the business and are trying to help Diego legitimize his interests.”
I know that Eaton and Max have spent a long time disbanding the more illegal and disreputable side of the Armstrong empire. It doesn’t mean their rivals haven’t tried to take over, but with the help of Diego and some of the other powerful names in Vegas, none of them have been successful. We both know it won’t stay that way forever, but until it becomes unmanageable, we intend to enjoy our lives.
“Hey.” Max enters the room and dumps his travel bag on the floor.
