MasukZade’s POV As we sit here, continuing to eat, a sense of relief settles over me.Relief that Daisy’s baby is okay.Relief that my wife, yeah, my wife, is giving me another chance.And for the first time in a long time, I feel… content.Sitting around family like this?Yeah… this is everything.I reach over, pulling Clover’s hand to my lips, pressing a soft kiss against it. She glances at me, a smirk playing on her lips.“What’s going on with you?” she asks.I just shake my head. “Nothing. I’m just… happy to be with you.”She laughs lightly, and that sound alone does something to my chest.Then I hear someone clear their throat.I look up snd it's Mr. Blackwood.“Yes, sir?”He leans back slightly, studying us. “I see you and my daughter have reached some sort of understanding. So, what are we doing about living arrangements? The house will be ready in a couple of weeks. We’re starting on the baby’s room next week.”I nod slowly. “I’d love to live with Clover… but I think it’s too soon
Daisy’s POV Knock. Knock. Knock.I don’t even bother saying anything. I just sigh and turn my head toward the hospital door as it swings open.Of course it's Detective Torres.Tight bun. Tight face. Tight-ass attitude.She walks in like she owns the room, hands clasped behind her back, that same annoying little smile sitting on her lips.“Well, Ms. Daisy Blackwood,” she says, dragging my name out like it’s something sour, “we’re gonna go ahead and get you prepped for transport. You’ll remain on the gurney.”I roll my eyes.She tilts her head slightly. “One thing’s for sure and two things for certain, you are pregnant… but you are also a nuisance.”I scowl. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”She lets out a short laugh. “It means your little stunt didn’t do anything except piss us off.”I look away from her, jaw tight.“Daisy,” she continues, her tone shifting just slightly, “I don’t think you understand what you lost. You had a family that loved you.”I scoff. “Yeah. Sure.”“No
Lucas’s POV As we finally pull up to my parents’ house, the entire place is buzzing. Lights on, cars lined up, voices echoing faintly through the walls, and it already feels like one of those nights where everything is about to unfold whether we’re ready or not.I step out of the car, glancing over at Emily and Stephanie as they follow behind me, and the moment we walk inside, I clock the room.Clover’s here with Zade right by her side and, of course, Bennett and Terrence aren’t too far behind. Still in position, still alert… but I can already tell their presence is starting to ease up. Give it another week or two, maybe a month, and they won’t be needed like this anymore. Not unless something else blows up, which, knowing our lives lately, isn’t exactly impossible.I shut that thought down immediately.The second I step further into the house, my attention locks onto my mom.She looks… off.Sad.Clover’s beside her, gently patting her hand, trying to comfort her, and that alone tell
Clover’s POVI wake up the next morning with a deep sigh of relief.For once… I can breathe.Number one... Daisy’s little scheme? Done and over. Everybody’s been caught, and I don’t have to keep looking over my shoulder every five seconds.Number two... Zade.I glance over at him, still knocked out beside me, lightly snoring like he doesn’t have a care in the world.And yeah… according to everything from the evidence, timelines, all of it, he didn’t cheat, but he still chose her in that moment over me.And that?That still pisses me off.That’s why I’ve been letting him work hard. Letting him prove himself. Letting him spin the block until I feel like it’s enough.I shift slightly, watching him.He looks… peaceful, very handsome, and calm.Too calm.I reach out and run my finger down his face, tracing his features. He really is beautiful.I lean in and press a soft kiss to his lips.He groans. “Mmm…”I laugh quietly. “I’m gonna use the bathroom, okay? Can you release me from your stee
Daisy’s POVI sigh as I sit in this damn jail holding area… just waiting.And it’s not like on TV. Not even close.There’s no little bed, no bench, no private space with a toilet tucked in the corner. None of that.I’m handcuffed to a chair in what looks like a crowded, run-down waiting room, surrounded by women I don’t know, and don’t want to know.There are so many of them.Some look strung out. Some look like they’ve been on the streets for years. A few look like they came from money and just got caught up in something stupid. One woman looks like she got the hell beat out of her.It’s chaos.And it smells like it too.I shift uncomfortably, rubbing my belly. I need to get out of here.The woman next to me leans over, eyeing me.“So… what you in for, prego?” she asks. “You kill your boyfriend or something?”I roll my eyes and turn away as much as I can, ignoring her.She laughs. “First baby, huh? Well, I got five.”I still don’t respond.I’m not about to sit here and have a convers
Zade’s POVAs I take my wife, and yes, she’s still my wife, legal separation or not, into this local eatery, I can’t help but feel a little lighter. It’s not some five-star spot, but it’s nice, comfortable, and familiar. The kind of place where you don’t have to pretend.They recognize the Smith name, so we don’t even wait. We’re seated immediately.We order quickly, and just as the server walks off, my phone starts ringing.I frown, glancing at the screen. “It’s your brother.”Clover shrugs, already reaching for her drink. “Go ahead. Pick it up.”I answer. “What’s going on, Luke?”He exhales on the other end. “Your brother Dustin’s at my office.”I sit up straighter. “Why is Dustin at your office?”“Well,” Lucas says, “Detective Torres contacted him. Daisy told them he might be the father of her baby and it's a fifty-fifty chance he might not be. He’s not handling it well.”I close my eyes for a second and shake my head. “Yeah… I figured he wouldn’t. He’s always been in love with her
Zade's POVToday is the day.The day everything changes.I sit in the waiting area of DNA Diagnostics, staring at the sleek white walls like they’re going to give me answers before the test even happens. My leg bounces restlessly as I check the time again.9:30 a.m.Lucas and Clover should be here
Clover’s POV By the time Friday rolled around, I woke up with a long, exhausted sigh.Maybe, just maybe, Zade had been right.Not about everything.But about Bennett and his attraction to me.Thursday had been the first official day of my new security detail. Terrence Clark and Bennett Radecki.An
Zade POVBy Wednesday, I decide I’m done being reactive.No more pushing.No more intensity.No more cornering her with emotion she isn’t ready to hold.Zen mode.I get to work at seven sharp.The office is quiet, still carrying that early morning stillness before the building fully wakes up. I dr
Clover POVA rustle of movement and the faint creak of the house pulled me out of sleep.I blinked slowly, disoriented, then remembered where I was, that's right in Lucas’s movie room, curled up in that ridiculously comfortable recliner. My neck was warm. Too warm. I pushed at the extra blanket a







