Page 14 of Zin and Celeste: A Fortis Family Christmas

“Being a parent is hard and terrifying, but the fact you care enough to wonder if you can give him what he needs proves you can. All kids need is love and time, and you already give him that. Don’t think we don’t all know about the books you have stashed in your locker on childbirth. Which I’m gonna need to borrow by the way. My point is, she loves you, and I see how much you love her because I love your sister the same.”

“He’s right, Zin. Everyone with eyes knows how much you two love each other, and if your child feels even a half of that, he’ll be a lucky boy to have parents like you.”

Zin leaned round to look at Aubrey.

Will was resting his head on her shoulder; his eyes were closed but he was awake. “Listen to my woman, she speaks the truth.”

Aubrey shook her head, but a small smile tilted her lips.

“You’re right and I have so many regrets about holding back now. I need to get back to my fiancée and make sure she knows how much she means to me.” His thoughts were becoming sluggish, and he wanted to sleep but knew it wasn’t a good idea, so he kept spilling his guts like a pussy. “Did I beat your time?”

Kanan reared back. “Are you fucking kidding me right now?”

Zin smirked. “I beat your time.”

“Shut your stupid Russian head up.”

“I want to change my bet.”

“You can’t change your bet, dumbass.”

“Why not?”

“That is not how this works.”

“Let him change his bet, K,” Will stuttered, the cold getting to him.

Zin tell they were all starting to feel the effects of the adrenalin crash and cold.

“Fine. What is it you want instead?”

“I want to marry Celeste before the baby comes and I need your help.”

“Now, that I can do.”

“Ooh, can I help? I need the practice for when we tie the knot next year.”

“Yep. The more the merrier.”

“The pain is getting to you and making you loopy, I’ve never heard you say the word merrier.”

“Nope, just realising what I have to live for and it’s good.”

Zin closed his eyes for a bit trying to give his body a chance to rest and build some reserves in case they had to walk out of there on their own.

He was dozing when Will exclaimed, “I got a signal.”

The tech genius, and there was no other way to describe William than as a genius, was clicking buttons on the advanced piece of equipment he wore on his wrist. It was similar to the one the rest wore except he had the capability of doing more intricate coding.

The one he had on read his vital statistics, location, location history, it also had a camera, a mic and speaker, as well as some new features but none of them were going to get them out of this shit sandwich without a signal.

Zin sat forward as Will quickly typed out a message, and they all waited with bated breath for an answer.

A light flashed, and Will read it and seemed to sag in relief. “They’re about three miles out from our location and closing in. ETA one hour if conditions don’t deteriorate.”

“Thank god.” Zin saw Kanan visibly sag in relief as Will kissed Aubrey.

Thirty minutes later as they fought to stay warm, they heard another gunshot, and this one was close, too close. Their gunman had found them, and it seemed their luck had run out.