Chapter 13 - The FatherJulian walked slowly toward the bed, moving as if he were approaching something impossibly fragile and sacred.
The ruthless syndicate boss, the man who had just single-handedly slaughtered a dozen trained mercenaries, was trembling.
He dropped to his knees beside the bed, his wide, tear-filled eyes locked onto the tiny face peeking out from the blanket.
“Is he...?” Julian whispered, unable to even finish the sentence, completely overwhelmed by the magnitude of the moment.
“He’s perfect,” Elise answered softly, shifting slightly to give Julian a better view of their son.
Julian reached out with a shaking, blood-stained hand, hesitating just inches from the baby, afraid that his violent touch might somehow taint the child.
Elise reached out, gently catching his large hand and guiding it down until his rough finger brushed against the baby’s incredibly soft cheek.
The newborn instantly stopped crying, turning his tiny head toward Julian’s touch, seeking the warmth.
A single tear escaped Julian’s eye, tracking through the dirt and soot on his face to fall onto the stark white bedsheets.
“A son,” Julian breathed, his voice thick with raw, unfiltered emotion.
He leaned forward, pressing a desperate, reverent kiss to Elise’s forehead.
“Thank you,” he whispered against her skin, his voice cracking.
“You gave me a miracle, Elise.”
“You kept us safe,” she replied, her own tears flowing freely as she looked at the man she had never truly stopped loving.
“Always,” Julian promised fiercely, looking from her to the baby.
“I will burn down the world before I let anything hurt either of you ever again.”
Dr. Aris cleared his throat awkwardly, stepping forward with a medical chart.
“I hate to interrupt, Mr. Sterling, but I need to finish checking her vitals, and we need to get the baby into an incubator to stabilize his temperature.”
Julian stood up slowly, nodding at the doctor, though his eyes never left his new family.
“Take care of them, Aris,” Julian ordered softly.
“I have one last piece of business to finish outside.”
Elise grabbed his wrist before he could turn away.
“Julian, please be careful,” she begged.
May you like
He offered her a cold, terrifying smile that promised absolute destruction.
“Elias is waiting in the lobby,” Julian said.
