by Janie Marie
Kylie leaned her head against his shoulder. “I’d say damn her for putting herself through hell for us, but I guess she did exactly that on her own.”
“Exactly.” He laughed, nodding for them to continue inside. “Come on. Maybe them seeing what a great mom you are will help them. You okay with that?”
“You think I’m a good mom?”
He let go of the stroller to cup her cheeks. “Baby, you’re an incredible mom, and you’re going to do a wonderful job raising them.” He pressed a long kiss to her lips, though that sadness was there again.
“You didn’t tell her she was a good mom, did you?”
His dark eyes dimmed as he shook his head.
She sniffed, hugging him. “Oh, Logan. That’s why you tell her every time you see her with the boys. You know, sometimes I just want to wrap you up like a present and give you to her.”
He kissed her head, smiling again. “That would get me a pretty good fight with Ryder.” He started pushing the stroller. “But remember, I was only meant to make a journey with her. You were there too. I shielded you from their wrath.”
“You did?” She looked up at him. He was smiling her favorite Logan Grimm smile.
“What you saw when you blacked out that night is clear as day to me. My last memories from that existence.” He glanced at the door. “I got my girl, and I got my friend.”
“Yeah.” She wiped her cheek. “So I just act like I know nothing?”
“If you want to ask, you can ask them questions. Just be patient if they’re hesitant—they’re all getting used to life together again.”
“I can’t believe Ryder’s okay with this.”
“I think they have fights, but you know he does anything for her. Just wait until you realize Little Luc calls them both Daddy.”
She covered her head. “God, this is insane.”
“Weird, but I like their weird.” He opened the door and pushed the stroller in, heading toward the receptionist's desk. “My Janie liked messes, and she somehow found them beautiful and made sense of them.”
“Yeah. Just like when she hired those women.” Kylie never got over that Luc had hired the hostess from the little cafe Logan had taken her to on her eighteenth birthday. Now she worked as a receptionist at the gym.
“Afternoon, Mr. and Mrs. Grimm.” Hela beamed at Logan. “Miss Mortaime is in the private gym. The whole crew is here today.”
“Oh, really?” Logan read over something without paying much attention to Hela.
“Yes. Except Luc,” she said a little too dreamily.
Poor girl, Kylie thought. Luc was never getting over Janie, and he gave no woman consideration at all. It made Kylie wonder why Janie had been the one to get Hela the job after they met during one of Janie’s birthday celebrations.
Kylie thought the girl was going to burst into tears when Luc kissed Janie and gave her a necklace and pendant, a pair of black angel wings, and two silver wedding bands hanging from it.
Logan glanced at Kylie, smiling as he handed Hela some notes back. “Reschedule tomorrow for me. I’m taking the wife out.”
Hela grinned at Kylie. “Oh, I bet he’s got another dream date made up.”
Logan grabbed Kylie’s hand, bidding Hela a dismissive farewell as he pushed the stroller toward their destination.
“You know,” Kylie said once they were out of Hela’s hearing range, “I wonder what Janie’s real motives are for Hela. Do you think she hopes Luc will grow an actual heart and pick Hela?”
“No. Luc has a woman.” He smirked at her. “There’s no one else for the king but his queen.”
“But they’re not together. Seems sad.”
“Not for him.” He waved at a few fighters.
“Do you like her?”
“Is this a trick question?” He grinned at her. “And not really. She’s too eager to please people. It’s exhausting.”
“Hm.” Kylie agreed with him, and she was glad he wasn’t a fan. “Still, I think Janie has something against her. She always makes a point of getting close to Luc when she’s around.”
“Who, Hela?”
“No, Janie.”
Logan laughed loudly. “Yeah, she’s territorial, and Luc enjoys showing off his queen.”
“I think Janie and Luc would be cute. But I love her with Ryder.” Kylie grinned down at Natalie when she let out a coo.
“You call the King and Queen of Hell cute?”
She rolled her eyes. “Duh. I can’t wait for the day he gives her a crown.”
“That would send Hela and Melody into fits,” Logan said.
Kylie grinned at this. Not only was Hela a woman from their high school days, but Melody Sokolov, their old bully, was also in their lives. Janie had bumped into Melody at a pediatrician’s appointment one day. Melody was there with her kid. She had no husband or boyfriend, and she was struggling to make ends meet.
Melody broke down in tears asking for a job at Ryder’s or Luc’s businesses. Of course, Ryder told her to go cry to someone else, but Janie dished out revenge and mercy by telling Melody the ballet studio Luc owned needed someone. By someone, she meant Maura needed an assistant. Now Melody worked under one of her old victims.
He laughed, reaching for the door to the private gym. “Maybe. No one said Janie couldn’t be vicious.”
“Maura gets a kick out of it.” Kylie loved that Maura was doing something she was passionate about, and she was soon considering moving into her own home. Ryder had offered to buy her a house, but she and her boyfriend were determined to do things on their own.
“You still meeting your sister for dance class tonight? ’Cause I can ask Dad to babysit, and we can go pick up our new costumes.”
Her heart fluttered, and she pushed up on the tips of her toes to kiss him. “You’re such a horny man-boy.”
“Your horny man-boy.” He gave her the kiss she wanted.
“Ugh.” She was smiling though as she shoved the door open and held it for him to enter with the twins. “Your baby doll is waiting, so you have to get to work. Then we can play.”
His eyes brightened. “You really are the best, baby.” He gave her one more kiss before walking away. As soon as they rounded a wall of lockers, she breathed out.
The whole crew was there. Well, enough of them.
Janie sat on the floor by Ryder as he changed little Jason’s diaper. It was still so cute to see him and Logan being daddies.
Her attention shifted to Lance with his little boy. He was there with Lykos, using his eldest son as a test subject for holds. Little David watched with a seriousness that was adorable and a bit scary. He was going to be a charmer and a deadly threat, just like his dad and brothers.
Gareth and Gawain were there, too. Well, they stood in the distance with David Leodegrance, laughing and chatting like best friends.
“About time, Grimm,” Gareth hollered when they were spotted.
Janie and Ryder looked up together, like they were one person. Their gazes went from Logan, to her, to the stroller.
“Sorry we’re late.” Logan parked the stroller near the group and began lifting out the attachments so they were in bassinets.
Gareth grinned at Kylie as he walked over. “Is Grimm not helping? We’ll give him a good walloping if he’s making you get up all night without helping.”
She chuckled, hugging Logan’s arm. “He’s the best daddy. I rarely get up. If I do, he’s got one fed and asleep and a bottle ready for the next.”
They stared at Logan, eyes wide.
She wanted them, and Logan, to know what a brilliant father she thought he was. “I have to beg to change diapers.”
“Grimm can pick up a new job—saw the daycare down the street is hiring.” Gareth laughed, though it looked forced now.
Logan placed Nathan’s bassinet down in the center of the group before leaning down to kiss Janie’s head. “Hey, baby doll. Feeling good?”
She smiled, nodding before snatching the dirty diaper from Ryder. I
t was that moment Kylie realized David had come closer. He was right behind Ryder, his eyes on Nathan and Natalie. Oh, no. Kylie felt like a moron for already forgetting what praising Logan’s amazing Daddy-skills in front of them might do. No way was she going to hide how proud she was of Logan as her husband and the father of her children, but she could be considerate.
“Baby?” David held his hand out for the diaper Janie had. When she gave it to him, he held out his other hand. “You too.”
Ryder was still trying to get his son’s pants on, but he leaned over, kissing Janie and whispering in her ear.
Logan sighed as the two left hand in hand, then he placed down his bags and spoke to Ryder, “You sparring today?”
“Nah.” He finished putting on Jason’s cute little shoes and lifted his baby boy up, kissing his cheek. The baby squealed, grabbing Ryder’s face to make raspberries. “I’m on baby duty,” Ryder said. “David wants to help you, though.” Even his gaze fell on the twins, and sorrow swirled in his emerald eyes. “Are they doing okay?”
Logan nodded at him. “Perfect.”
Ryder smiled at them. “Good.”
Savaş plopped down beside Natalie and reached down to caress her cheek. “Hey, Little Monster.”
“And the Little Prince,” Tercero said as he eyed Nathan.
“Were those old nicknames for them?” She didn’t know how to behave around the brothers. They gave off dark auras that sent tingles of fear down her spine.
Savaş grinned when Natalie squeezed his finger. “Just what I called them.”
Gawain also reached into Natalie’s bassinet. “She was David’s princess.”
“And Nathan was his Little Man.” Gareth smiled as he picked up the dinosaur plush and shook it for Nathan. “I wonder if he’ll grow up loving dinosaurs again.”
“Not with you playing with his toys.”
Kylie gasped as Luc came to her side. “Oh, hey.”
He cast a dispassionate glance her way before speaking to Logan. “She has an appointment this afternoon. It would be best to get started now, if you still wish to train with her.”
“All right.” Logan reached into his bag for a water bottle before kissing Kylie. “Get me if you need anything.”
She nodded, watching Ryder reach in to touch the twins. His expression was empty, but the babies seemed to welcome his presence. They both cooed and smiled. She realized Luc was staring at them the same way. Oh, gosh. They’d all lost the twins because of her.
Luc darted his one eye her way. It was still so weird to see him with an eye patch. Somehow, the man made it look good while giving off a more dangerous vibe. “You give yourself far too much credit, Mrs. Grimm.”
Ryder chuckled before standing and carrying his baby boy toward Janie and David. The fighter was taping her hands as she had her eyes closed. No smile. The girl was fading again.
“I hope they don’t fight over her,” Kylie said, watching Ryder speak to David. She blinked, darting her eyes between them: they actually looked like brothers.
The Godsons laughed as Archer said, “She has no idea.”
Kylie’s face grew hot as she sat near Savaş. “I know they both love her.”
Archer smirked at her. “No, you really don’t know what they are or what they do together.”
“The Little King is present,” Tercero said, shaking his head at Archer. “Have some manners.”
Little Luc walked up next to Luc. He peeked in at the babies, his green eyes glowing for a moment.
The elder Luc touched his head, and the fire dimmed as he spoke to his nephew, “Your souls are still siblings.”
Kylie’s heart ached, and she kneeled in front of Little Luc. “You remember them, don’t you? In your dreams, maybe?”
He darted his gaze to Nathan and Natalie. “They are my big brother and sister.”
“The innocence of his youth will make it difficult for him to separate this life from the last one.” Luc didn’t seem upset by this as he smiled at Ryder’s son. “You need not concern yourself with our burdens, Mrs. Grimm. We expected this in order to see Jason’s soul and yours choosing the right paths.”
She rolled her eyes. “Do I get no say in what is for me and my husband?”
No one replied.
Kylie swallowed hard as she took in the little boy who looked so much like Ryder. He wasn’t cold like his daddy, though. Every emotion was painted clearly across his face—he was sad. “Would you like to help me with them while everyone trains your mama? You don’t come see me anymore. I want to know all about you, and you can tell the twins.”
Little Luc glanced behind him to see Ryder switching his attention between Little Luc and Janie. Logan was placing out a few mats and objects Kylie sometimes saw him use with his students, but he was also talking to Janie who looked on the verge of breaking down.
Janie was trying to let her and Logan have the twins to themselves, and she was going to tear herself apart, which would break everyone. Kylie understood it now—they were all tied together, and Janie anchored them at the center. She really was like the moon, controlling the tides of her Earth.
“You may stay and help,” Luc told his nephew.
The little boy turned to Kylie, and the cutest smile spread across his face. “Can I hold them, too?”
“You can.” She grinned, guiding him to the bassinet. “How about you hold Natalie, and I’ll let Nathan get his exercise?”
“He exercises?” Little Luc got on his knees as his uncles all stood, leaving them alone.
“Yes.” Kylie realized Luc wasn’t going anywhere. He was watching without being obvious. She sighed. This man would never trust her.
“Daddy puts a blanket down for Jason,” Little Luc said, rushing to a bag. He pulled out a black blanket which revealed a half moon with wolves running below it when he unfolded it. “The fighters make it dirty. You don’t want him on the dirt.”
He was too precious. “No, we don’t. Here, you hold his dinosaur, and he’s got a rattle you can wave for him.”
The little boy dug through her diaper bag as she lifted Nathan out. “I got it.”
“Good.” She put Nathan down on his back. “First, we’ll let him practice kicking his legs and then we’ll do tummy time. He likes tummy-time with Natalie.”
Little Luc nodded. “Daddy used to do tummy time with Jason.”
“I remember,” Kylie said. Ryder had the cutest yet strictest tummy times with Jason and Little Luc. Janie would always want to pick them up when they’d cry, and he’d stop her, saying they needed to be strong to take care of their sister, who did not even exist. It broke Kylie’s heart because Ryder obviously never came to terms with losing his daughter.
Little Luc made a roar with the dinosaur, and he laughed when Nathan kicked his feet.
Kylie ran her hands through his dark hair, smiling. “Tell me something you remember from before.”
The little boy looked up, his emerald eyes flashing. “I remember everything. Like Mama and Daddy.”
She darted her eyes up to the elder Luc. His jaw clenched, but he wasn’t stopping his nephew. “Um, how about your favorite story about the twins?”
The little boy smiled as she lifted Natalie. “I had two sisters. Natalie and Wendy.”
Kylie’s heart sprinted. There was a Wendy at the center.
“They named Wendy after Mama’s best friend who died. Daddy didn’t love us like he loved our sister.”
“Luc,” the elder Luc chided. “That is not so.”
Little Luc shrugged. “He can’t be normal. It’s okay. But he loved Wendy. He stayed a lot when she was born. The twins were big. They didn’t live at home. Natalie wanted to go to school. There weren’t that many schools because of the war, so we were happy when she moved back. I called her Sissy. She and Mama fought a lot, but both my daddies helped them make up. Daddy said that Mama and Sissy are just alike, so they butt heads.”
“So, your happiest memory is when she came home?”
He nodded. “Mama was happy to have everyone there. Daddy, I mean David, built her a house close by. She’d come babysit so Mama and my daddies could go out alone.”
She smiled, imagining Natalie all grown up. The fact Janie and Natalie hadn’t gotten along was disheartening, but it made sense. Moms often clashed with their daughters. It was a fear of hers already. She’d been an awful daughter. “So what happened?”
“Sissy had a boyfriend,” he said as though it was the worst thing in the world. “Daddy said the boy wasn’t good enough. My other daddy didn’t like him either. He said he was a wimp.”
Kylie chuckled, rocking Natalie as Little Luc kept playing with Nathan.
“Daddy caught them kissing in his room.”
“His room?” Kylie gasped as she struggle to keep up with which dad he was talking about—it seemed this might be David. “Was that your Mama’s room, too?”
He nodded. “Natalie was mad at Mama and Daddy. They said stuff about making babies. I can’t remember how they do that.”
Luc sighed, glancing down at her. “His memories will remain in time with his age to protect his innocence.”
“Oh.” Kylie smiled, thankful this sweet little boy wasn’t walking around with a mind of an old man or something.
Little Luc glared at his uncle. “I’m telling a story.”
“Then tell it properly.” Luc crossed his arms, focusing on the group ahead. “You are confusing her with your multiple fathers.”
The little boy scowled, just like Ryder. “I was with Jason outside. We saw them through the window. Daddy David”—he gave Luc withering stare—“had Sissy’s boyfriend by the neck. In the air. Daddy David’s strong.” He smiled with pride at David. “He told that boy who he was, the prince of princes—the greatest warrior of God’s kingdom. My other dad is the greatest everywhere.”
Luc shook his head. “Your fathers always forget there is other power.”
Little Luc continued. “Daddy David dragged that boy out of the house. Sissy screamed for him not to kill her boyfriend. I wanted to see Daddy kill. I’d never seen it before. My daddies are the best killers, and I was old enough to see it.”
Kylie’s eyes widened. “What?”
