“You stabbed Breckin in the hand with a fork because you could hear him chewing… not that that one particularly bothered me.”
“We aren’t fucking animals and I’d do it without the pregnancy hormones,” she says with a shudder.
“You pushed me off the bed because my presence, sleeping presence mind you, was making you twitchy.”
Malia throws her head back and groans at my argument. “Your bed, Officer, lie in it,” she says with a proud smile.
“Gladly,” I put, leaning down to press a kiss to her forehead.
I chuckle, resting my hand against Malia’s cheek as she leans against my palm. I can only smile and be proud of how far she’s come, there’s a stark difference in how Malia was with Kai’s birth and Aurora’s.
My three-week-old son is crying in the nursery and I’m days without sleep. Colic has cursed my newborn and my wife is too terrified that she will break him if she so much as touches him.
My wife.
Malia Olin, ruthless arms dealer, fearless leader of an ever-growing mafia that cuts dicks off for fun and will decapitate a man without a second thought is scared to hold her own son because of the carnage her hands have caused.
I can’t fault her for the underlying fear. Being a mom was never in her training growing up and the mother she had was no one to idolize. A woman who wreaked so much havoc on Malia’s life, she doesn’t even want to be called “mom” or “mother” by our son because that was what she called her.
And I think that same woman instilled something in Malia that makes her fear that she will become like her own mother. Though cruel and callous to her enemies, cold to even family and friends, I know my wife would never treat our child like that. That type of cruelty doesn’t live inside her.
I have as much experience as Malia does in the kid’s department, never once thinking about having them in my future. But here we are, and I wouldn’t change it for the world. I stepped up because I knew our son needed me and I know Malia will come around soon.
I hope she comes around soon.
Kai Nathaniel wails louder this time and I groan as exhaustion settles deep in my bones, ripping the covers off and standing to stretch my tired muscles before going to check on him. I come to a halt outside his door when I see Malia’s silhouette standing beside our sons crib, looking down at him. I was so tired that I hadn’t even noticed she wasn’t in bed with me anymore.
Malia turns on the lamp beside the crib and I stand stock still, not wanting to alert her of my presence and watch what she does.
She would never admit to the fear I know is there, but I can see it clear as day as she worries her lip while contemplating what her next move is. Kai’s crying turns desperate when he loses his breath and each scream growing louder. Malia must finally make a decision when she reaches into the crib and picks up our baby boy, supporting his head and pressing him against her shoulder while cooing to ease his crying.
It’s such a simple thing, but like everything else she does, Malia is a natural.
I smile to myself and step into the room, letting her catch sight of me. When she turns to face me, I cross my arms against my chest and try to get a read on her emotions.
“I don’t want to break him,” Malia croaks while rubbing Kai’s back to soothe him.
His cries immediately stopped when she pressed him against her chest. Something no one has been able to achieve since he was born.
A boy needs his mama.
I shake my head and close the distance between us, reaching out to brush my thumb across Malia’s bottom lip.
“You’re fucking perfect, baby.” I smile at the progress but her frown deepens.
Malia’s eyebrows pinch together, and she traps me in her emerald gaze.
“I’m sorry,” she says.
I lean in and press my forehead against hers.
“I knew you’d get here, Little Warrior, but it was up to you to do it. I know as well as anyone else that there’s no making you do anything.”
She snorts at my response, and I chuckle before placing a kiss on Malia’s forehead then straightening.
Kai’s eyes are locked on Malia’s when she looks down at him, the calmest I’ve ever seen him.
Green on green.