Total pages in book: 247
Estimated words: 248926 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1245(@200wpm)___ 996(@250wpm)___ 830(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 248926 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1245(@200wpm)___ 996(@250wpm)___ 830(@300wpm)
“I’m sorry for screaming and cursing at you.”
I shrugged and held her. “I do not remember that at all.”
“Liar.” She slowly closed her eyes. “I’m just resting. . .a little. Don’t let me. . .fall. . .asleep. . .”
I ran my fingers through her hair. “But one would say you should get some rest.”
Emilio cried as the nurses cleaned and assessed him.
I looked up at the door.
David grinned. “Congratulations to the both of you.”
Meanwhile, a red tint covered Blue’s face as she watched everything.
David gestured at the door. “Several people are in the lobby—Valentina, Maxwell, Misha—”
“They can all wait.” I kept my voice low. “But, get all those surprises for my mouse that I bought last week. I want her to see everything when she wakes up.”
They both nodded and hurried away.
I gazed back down at Emily while she slept. “All this time I thought I possessed everything that was important in this world. But, you showed me that I had nothing at all. Not one important thing.”
Tears left my eyes.
I wiped them away.
David opened the door and let two of our men in. “Stay out of the staff’s way and keep quiet.”
The men carried vases and baskets full of flowers into the room. I had no idea which flower would be perfect so I had made sure every type would arrive on the day my son was born.
Next, other men brought in tons of packages. They were a plethora of gifts that I knew Emily would enjoy—boxes of furs and diamond jewelry, exotic chocolates and expensive perfumes.
I even bought a few wigs that I hoped she would wear one day.
Once the men placed them near the bed, they rushed back out and Dr. Stovall carried my son over to me. “Poor Emily is asleep?”
“Yes.” I got ready to wake her.
“No, Kazimir.” He shook his head. “Let her sleep.”
“But, I promised.”
“She will have plenty of time to hold him. For now, she should get her rest.” Dr. Stovall brought Emilio over to me. “However, for you, there will be no sleep.”
“I am fine with that.” I held out my hands.
Dr. Stovall handed Emilio over to me.
I got my son and cradled him in my arms. “So tiny.”
He had a golden tan complexion. Short black curls outlined his small face. Already, I knew that he had my chin and Emily’s nose. He gazed back at me with little hazel eyes.
“Thank you, doctor.” I looked up and realized that Dr. Stovall and the nurses were already gone. “I will have to thank them later.”
Emilio formed his fingers into little fists and shifted in my arms.
“Emilio Kazimirovich Solonik. My lion cub. That’s what you are.” I wanted to run my fingers down his face, but was scared to hurt him. “Hello.”
He opened his tiny mouth and yawned.
“Are you just as tired as your mother?”
He watched me.
Shivering, I studied those eyes, seeing the presence of a divine God deep within them. “You’re mine. All mine. And I promise to protect you for the rest of my life.”
My eyes watered again, but I would not let my son’s first vision of his world be his father crying.
I walked away and held Emilio closer to me. “There are so many things I will show you. This world. . .is magical.”
I got to the window and held his head up a little bit to place his view on the outside world. “Can you see that?”
Emilio looked around at the window, but I wasn’t sure if he could truly see what I was trying to show him.
“That circle in the sky is the moon. Bright and glowing.” I lowered him back and cradled his little body close to my chest.
Please, God. . .let me be. . .a good father.
Nervous energy surged through me, but I did my best to push it back down.
I studied Emilio some more. It was unfair how helpless and vulnerable he was.
You are safe with me. No one will ever harm you.
My heart ached.
Slowly rocking him, I gazed up at the dark sky and focused on the bright moon. “Long ago, I walked this planet looking up at this same moon and being so captivated with it.”
I looked back down.
Emilio puckered his lips as if trying to figure out how they worked.
“Never did I think anything else could capture my heart as much as the moon, but I would find out one day that I was very wrong.” I glanced back at the bed, gazing at Emily—my mouse, his mother.
I swallowed and turned back to him. “I forgot to introduce myself, little one.”
He puckered those lips again.
“I am the Lion.” I pushed through my fear and gently touched his ear. The soft flesh smoothed against my fingertip.
Emilio blinked at me.
“I used to spend my days like a real ferocious lion. Roaring. Killing. Destroying all my enemies.”