Page 18 of Power Play

seven

. . .

Al

Emmy babbles happily at me as she lies on my chest, her sticky fingers grabbing at my beard. We’re having some daddy-daughter time. Very important business being discussed.

“Am I doing the right thing?” I ask the six-month-old, running my hand over her back. “We just want to protect you.”

She giggles and tugs at my beard.

“I don’t feel like I’m making a bad decision. It might be quick, but we know where we stand. This isn’t an emotional decision. It’s a logical one.”

Normally, I run into everything headfirst, consequences be damned. But this time… the repercussions are pretty damn scary.

I’ve only known Emmy for a few days, but I would already fight tooth and nail to keep her. She’s mine. Nobody can take her away from me.

Not even Riley.

But if marrying a complete stranger is the only way I can keep Emmy… I’ll do it in a heartbeat.

The prenup came in this morning, and even though I encouraged her to find a lawyer of her own to review it, she signed it with the notary a few hours ago. She says she trusts me, and I insisted my lawyers were generous, but we both know what’s at stake if this marriage dissolves.

I may be Emmy’s father, but Riley is all she knows. She shouldn’t be separated from either of us.

No matter what happens between us, we’ll have to find a way to coparent her together.

The front door opens, and I turn, expecting my soon-to-be wife.

But it’s my brother.

“The fuck are you doing here?” I demand, sitting up and clutching Emmy to my chest.

“The fuck are you doing with a baby?” Tony smirks at me.

“Don’t say fuck in front of my baby.” Standing, I bound over to him, and he tugs me into a hug, Emmy crushed between us. She shrieks with delight.

Behind Tony is his partner Viv, who’s a former rugby player—she used to be Cari’s team captain—and even grumpier than my surly brother, which I didn’t think was possible.

They moved to Denver over the summer when Tony enrolled in veterinary school, and Viv is exploring life as a content creator and motivational speaker.

“You look good, Al,” Viv says, giving me a hug as well. “You holding up okay?”

“I’m fucking fantastic. I’ve honestly never been better.”

Tony takes off his leather jacket, hanging it on the hook beside the door, and then hangs Viv’s jacket, too.

“Well, of course. You’re getting everything you ever wanted,” he says. “Just… a little backward.”

“Cari told you, then.” With a sigh, I turn back to the couch, settling again.

“Dude. You’re getting married. Of course I’d be here,” Tony says, like he can’t imagine any other option. “I’m just surprised you didn’t call me yourself.”

“Didn’t know what to say.” I run my hand over Emmy’s wispy hair, trying to tame it a bit. “Knocked up a stranger, didn’t find out until over a year later, and, oh yeah, I’m marrying her sister.”

Viv laughs. “When you commit, you go all in.” Whereas I might be offended if one of my siblings said it, with Viv, I know it’s a compliment. My chest warms with affection. I’m so glad she’s become part of our family.

My brother claps me on the shoulder. “Okay, now introduce me to my niece.”