Callie believed the lies about me. That’s probably why it took so long for us to reconnect. By that, I mean busting down her door and never leaving her life again.

See, that New Year’s Eve I spent the night with Cal, I’d never known as much peace as I did then. I thought we’d have more. That the night meant just as much to her as it did to me. Soon after, I realized I was wrong and I thought she’d decided I was a mistake that she didn’t want to repeat. Never did I imagine that she didn’t remember.

When Becca came to me that night in tears and a complete mess, I knew I had to step in. Even if Callie didn’t want me near her, I wasn’t willing to risk her safety for my pride.

After finding out she was sick, there was no way I’d walk away or let her push me away. Wouldn’t fucking happen. I’d buried my feelings for too long, and with her life on the line and the real possibility she could die, I wouldn’t leave her side.

I can’t explain when I knew I loved her. It wasn’t after our first night together. I knew I wanted her in my life, but with my job and her ignoring me, it wasn’t possible. I can’t pinpoint when I knew there would be no one else in my life, but she slowly crept into my heart and consumed my entire soul.

One thing I know for sure, if she would have died from cancer, I never would’ve recovered. I lost part of myself when Maggie and my unborn child died, and the rest would’ve shattered from losing Callie. There would have been no coming back from another loss.

When we found out she was in remission, I wanted to give her the world. I left my undercover assignment as soon as I could wrap up my final cases and dragged Callie from the city. It wasn’t hard to convince her. She was in love with my family and chomped at the bit to get to marry me and become one of us. I asked her to marry me on the one-year anniversary of her being cancer free and I never looked back.

Every year, I held my breath when she’d go in for testing to find out if the cancer had returned. I never feared for my life, but always for hers. When she had her five-year scan, the most important and pivotal one, I almost went out of my mind waiting for the results.

At our request, Dr. Craig called us to give the results of the five-year scan. He told us we had to come in instead of hearing them over the phone. Callie was almost catatonic by the time we sat down in front of him to hear the news.

“Your scan is clean, Callie,” he told us, to our surprise.

We cried, and even Dr. Craig choked up a little. But the news gave us the peace of mind we needed to focus on the future without the black cloud hanging over our heads.

Fast forward to today. Callie’s asleep, snoring like crazy and completely glowing. See, right after the doctor gave us the go-ahead, we started to plan a family. Fifteen months later, I’m sitting here with my son wrapped tightly in my arms. Callie pushed for twelve hours, and my heart ached watching her go through the pain of childbirth. She screamed and cried, but she told me if she could get through cancer, bringing my son into the world was worth every excruciating second.

“What do you want to name him?” the doctor asked us when he came screaming into the world on New Year’s just as the clock struck 12:01 a.m.

Callie wiped the tears from her eyes and said, “Lee Ray Bruno.” She insisted that we name him after my sister, given everything she’d done to help both of us in our lives. I was given the right to pick his middle name. I couldn’t give him mine, and no, I’m not telling you what it is either. I chose Ray. Because as much as Callie says I’m her light, she’s mine. Our baby is the thing that binds us together for eternity. Forever will a piece of us walk this earth. He gives us hope for the future and chases away the darkness that has clouded our world for five long years.

“Lee, my son,” I whisper as I trace the lines of his delicate face, and I know I’ll forever be in love with this little man. “Daddy loves you.”

He lets out a tiny cry, and I glance at Callie. His hand reaches out and curls around my finger. The moment he was born, everything changed.

I raise him to my face and kiss his soft, chubby cheeks. “I’ll always protect you,” I whisper in his ear.

I’ve cried very few times in my life. But when Lee was born, I couldn’t stop the tears from flowing. I had everything I’d ever wanted—a wife, a baby, and a future.

“Do you want a baby brother?” I ask him, as if he’s going to answer me, and I smile about having a small army of kids running around the house.

“Rocco.” My mom’s voice is a whisper at the door.

I motion for her to come in and place my finger against my lips, glancing at Callie. Mom smiles and nods before entering the room followed by Gabby, Lucca, and my father.

They’re all beaming and excited to meet the newest member of the Bruno family. They gather around me, staring down at Lee with love in their eyes.

“He’s beautiful, son.” My father lays his hand on my shoulder and starts to tear up.

“Congrats, bro,” Lucca says as he rests his hand on my other shoulder. “You’re a lucky bastard.”

“I know you love Mallory, Luc. You’ll be sitting where I am soon enough,” I tell him, unable to wipe the smile off my face.

He scoffs. “Not anytime soon, Roc. I’m not ready.”

I laugh. I didn’t think I would ever be ready to be a father. After losing my first child, the thought of losing another had paralyzed me. “You’re more ready than you know.”

He motions to Gabby. “She’ll get knocked up first.”

“Dude. Unless it’s immaculate conception, there’s no way I’m getting pregnant.” Gabby rolls her eyes. She is still living the lesbian lifestyle, which is great for me because I haven’t had to kick anyone’s ass.

“Kevin,” Lucca coughs and Gabby stiffens.

I glare at her, and just as I’m about to go off the rails, Callie says, “Hey,” and I forget all about Kevin and Gabby and the ass I’ll eventually have to beat because she it seems she has recently decided she is no longer a lesbian.

All eyes turn to Callie, congratulating her and showing her so much love she starts to cry. She’s overwhelmed, and I know the pregnancy hormones are in full batshit-crazy mode.

She does grabby hands at me with tears streaming uncontrollably down her face. I laugh as I carry Lee to her, and my family watches, cooing over his every movement.

“Lee,” she whispers through her tears as she holds him tightly. “Isn’t he the most beautiful thing in the world?”

“We’re proud of you,” my mom tells Callie and kisses her forehead tenderly.

Callie looks up at her and smiles. My heart squeezes at the sentiment, and I know Callie is beyond words with the amount of love in the room. Being without a mom, she clings to my family. And in usual Bruno fashion, they’ve taken her as one of their own.

My mom and Callie formed a special bond after we moved to Watkins Glen. When she found out we were having a baby, they became inseparable. I didn’t mind. I’d lived my entire life with my mother hovering over me, and I figured my girl needed that after being without for far too long.

“Do you want to hold him, Mom?” Callie asks with trembling lips.

My mother smiles and grabs Lee from Callie’s arms quickly. She carries him around the room, bouncing him lightly and whispering in his ear.

“Ready for this?” my dad asks, squeezing my shoulder as I sit in the chair and watch my family, knowing nothing will be the same.

“I’m so ready, Dad.” I glance up at him and smile. Even though he’s half off his rocker at times, he’s always been my favorite person in the world. I want that type of relationship with my son—a bond that can’t be broken no matter how embarrassing I am at times.

“How’s Lee?” I ask, and I feel guilty that I’m not by her side.

He squeezes my shoulder and smiles. “The doctor said she’s ready to push. We gave them some privacy, but we’re going back in a minute.”

Lee and Carlos, Lee’s longtime boyfriend, found out she was pregnant a week after we did. To say the girls were giddy would be a major understatement. The entire family went into baby mode, and it didn’t stop for seven long months. Things will never be the same again. Tiny Brunos are going to be running around the house in no time.

Everything is different. When we walk out of the hospital, life as we knew it will cease to exist anymore, and I’m completely happy about it. I’m beyond blessed and don’t know what I’ve done to deserve so much happiness in my life.

I thought when I fell in love with Callie that there was no room in my heart to love anyone else more than I loved her. But then my son was born and I realized I’m no longer missing a piece of my soul.

I told Callie that the darkness makes the light more profound, and the words ring true. Without the tribulations of the past, I wouldn’t be able to grasp the enormity of my happiness and the peacefulness that overtakes me.

I’ll never let the darkness overshadow my world.

I cherish Callie, treasure our child, and am the luckiest son of a bitch in the world.

***

If you enjoyed Enshrine, please check out other Throttle Me, Book 1 in the Men of Inked series, is FREE!