Chapter 17 - Holding the Heir Savannah Wanted Dead
Tears streamed freely down my cheeks as I looked down at the tiny,
perfect face nestled against my warm skin.
He had a full head of dark hair,
tiny curled fingers,
and a powerful,
steady heartbeat that echoed the very rhythm of the universe.
Declan dropped to his knees beside the bed,
his broad shoulders trembling as he reached out with shaking,
calloused fingers to gently touch the baby’s smooth cheek.
For the first time in his dangerous life,
the fearsome mafia boss who commanded half the underworld wept openly without shame.
“He has your eyes,
” Declan whispered,
his voice choked with raw,
overwhelming emotion that transcended words.
“And your stubborn,
beautiful spirit.
” I smiled,
leaning my head against Declan’s shoulder as he wrapped his strong arms around both of us,
forming an unbreakable shield against the rest of the world.
“What are we going to name him?” I asked softly,
looking up into his tear-filled eyes.
Declan looked down at our son,
his dark eyes shining with profound reverence and redemption.
“Leo,
” he said without a single hesitation.
“Leo Voss,
because he survived a war he never asked to fight,
and he brought me back from the dark.
” I kissed the top of our newborn son’s head,
whispering the words I had once feared to speak aloud in the dark.
“You’re safe now,
Leo,
because your father’s war is over,
and you belong to the light.
” Tears streamed freely down my cheeks as I looked down at the tiny,
perfect face nestled against my warm skin.
He had a full head of dark hair,
tiny curled fingers,
and a powerful,
steady heartbeat that echoed the very rhythm of the universe.
Declan dropped to his knees beside the bed,
his broad shoulders trembling as he reached out with shaking,
calloused fingers to gently touch the baby’s smooth cheek.
For the first time in his dangerous life,
the fearsome mafia boss who commanded half the underworld wept openly without shame.
“He has your eyes,
” Declan whispered,
his voice choked with raw,
overwhelming emotion that transcended words.
“And your stubborn,
beautiful spirit.
” I smiled,
leaning my head against Declan’s shoulder as he wrapped his strong arms around both of us,
forming an unbreakable shield against the rest of the world.
“What are we going to name him?” I asked softly,
looking up into his tear-filled eyes.
Declan looked down at our son,
his dark eyes shining with profound reverence and redemption.
“Leo,
” he said without a single hesitation.
“Leo Voss,
because he survived a war he never asked to fight,
and he brought me back from the dark.
” I kissed the top of our newborn son’s head,
whispering the words I had once feared to speak aloud in the dark.
“You’re safe now,
Leo,
because your father’s war is over,
May you like
and you belong to the light.
”
