“I decided on a name while you were gone,” Cali announced.

“Thank goodness. I thought you were going to drive us all crazy trying to find the perfect fit,” I teased. “Well, let’s hear it. What will we be calling our baby girl?”

“Justice,” she said, lifting her chin as if daring anyone to argue with her choice. “Justice Nova.”

My heart melted, and I quickly had to blink back my tears. “You’re giving her my name too?”

“How could I not? If it weren’t for you, neither one of us would have made it this far.” She held out her hand, and I grasped it, entwining our fingers.

“I think it’s a beautiful name,” Mom murmured, still rubbing Cali’s belly. I couldn’t blame her. Even as small as the baby bump was, it was addictive to touch. I spent hours almost every night doing just that.

Cali released a tiny laugh. “Well, it’s definitely ironic. I mean, it’s pure justice that my daughter will be the one to rule everything that Manuel was so desperate to have full control over.”

“I like it. It’s both beautiful and badass. Just like our little Justice will be,” I vowed.

“With you as her auntie, I don’t doubt it.” Cali yawned. “Sorry. Apparently it’s exhausting lying around doing nothing except growing another person inside you.”

“Been there, done that,” Mom laughed dryly. “With Nova, I was on bed rest from the beginning of the third trimester. I still went into preterm labor. It was one of the most terrifying experiences of my life. I thought we were going to lose her.” She shuddered. “And then, we actually lost her… Or at least, we thought we did. When they told me she was dead, a part of me died inside.”

“Mom,” I whispered, hating the pain in her voice.

She swallowed hard. “It’s over now. I have you back. And Cali too. That’s something to celebrate. Plus, now we have baby Justice to plan for. We need to get the nursery ready and start stocking up on everything.”

Cali’s face lit up with excitement. “Yes, yes, and yes. Let’s get started now. Let’s use my iPad and start ordering baby furniture.”

I stood and stretched. “You two have fun with that. I have some work to get caught up on.”

“I’ll text you pictures of things we like,” Cali promised.

I couldn’t resist touching her exposed belly before shooting Mom a look, reminding her to get busy convincing Cali about being admitted into the hospital. She gave me a wink Cali didn’t see, and I let myself relax a little, knowing Mom wouldn’t let me down.

44

Ryan

I wiped the blood off my face with the towel Garret tossed me. My jaw was throbbing from the left uppercut I’d taken, but that was the only hit my opponent had landed before I’d knocked him flat on his ass. The fight had lasted all of three minutes before I’d gotten bored and just wanted it over.