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LOGAN
My crutch caught on the doorframe as I hopped inside.
‘God, it’s good to be home,’ I said as Valentina held the door for me.
‘Are you sure it’s okay for me to be here? I don’t want to crash your sibling thing.’
I pulled her to me with my free arm and kissed her softly. ‘Baby girl, it’s always okay for you to be by my side.’
I’d woken up in hospital two days after Hugh shot me, multiple transfusions and a surgery later. The first thing I’d done was try to leave, off of my tits on pain meds and screaming for Valentina.
The next time I awoke, she was by my side and had barely left since. I’d come so close to losing her I needed to keep her close.
‘Love you, Daddy,’ she whispered against my lips as I slid my hand down to cup her full arse.
‘They’re here!’ A shout echoed from the main sitting room as noise filtered through our gargantuan home.
‘Ready?’ I asked.
‘As I’ll ever be.’ Valentina smoothed down her dress and bit her bottom lip as a torrent of my loved ones emerged.
My niece Grace threw herself at me, nearly knocking me over as my crutch slid out.
‘Sorry Uncle Logan,’ she said. ‘I’m so glad you’re okay.’
Elais, my other teenaged nibling, awkwardly shook my hand before I pulled him against me. The two of them just kept growing, both standing almost as tall as the surrounding adults.
They were all there, Mac and Katie, Esther and Alec with their two toddlers, Maeve and Cam, and my brother Ewen.
‘Happy non-wedding day, bro,’ Mac said, passing me a glass of whisky as I took up residence in the armchair closest to the fire.
‘Thanks. Everyone, it’s about time you met my girl. This is Valentina.’ I took her by the hand and pulled her onto my good thigh, trying not to wince as she touched my healing one.
‘Welcome to the madhouse,’ Ewen said as she smiled at him, her hand gripping mine tightly.
‘Thank you,’ she said. ‘It’s nice to properly meet you all.’
‘What a way to come into the family,’ Ewen said with a grin.
‘Oh, we do like a dramatic entrance, a rite of passage,’ Maeve said with a laugh. ‘You’ll fit right in.’
Valentina raised a brow at me and I kissed her cheek softly while whispering, ‘I’ll tell you all about it later. You’re not the only one who’s arrived in a blaze of bullets. Nor the only one who went a little stalkerish.’
‘I didn’t stalk you,’ Valentina said, giving me a pretty little pout.
‘You totally did. Not that I would have it any other way. I only wish I’d given in sooner.’
The bubble of my family around me warmed me as I held my girl in my arms. I’d still need to talk to Nicole after everything that had happened, and likely her father too, but they’d agreed to cancel the wedding with nothing more to be said about it.
‘Have you spoken to your mum yet?’ I asked Valentina.
‘I did. She’s pretty mad at me but understands that you and Nicole were never meant to be. She’s also pissed that she doesn’t get to wear her fancy frock to the wedding.’ Valentina smiled, making light of the situation, but I knew hurting her mother had hurt her too.
‘She can wear it to our wedding instead,’ I said.
‘You’re so sure I’d say yes, are you?’
‘I’d tie you down and edge you until you’ve got no other choice.’ Pleasure filtered through me at the blush that rose in her cheeks.
