34. June

Chapter thirty-four

June

T he iron tang of blood floods my mouth as I spit onto the cold concrete. My ribs scream with each breath, but the pain's a lifeline. I'm still here. Still fighting.

Elaine's goons worked me over good, but they couldn't break me. Nothing can, not when Cara and our baby are out there waiting.

I drag myself up, leaning on the piss-stained wall of this glorified coffin they call a cell. "You hear me, you sadistic bitch?" I snarl at the hidden cameras. "I'm coming for you. And I'm gonna make you wish you'd never been born."

Silence answers, but I can almost taste Elaine's smug satisfaction. She thinks she's won.

She has no fucking idea what I'm capable of.

I close my eyes, letting memories of Cara wash over me. The silk of her skin. The breathy moans when I hit that spot deep inside her. The way she looks at me like I'm her whole goddamn world.

My cock hardens, despite the pain and exhaustion. Even here, in this hellhole, just thinking about her gets me going. I don't push it away. I let the arousal fuel me, stoking the rage in my gut.

I'm gonna get out. I'm gonna find Cara. And then I'm gonna fuck her until she can't walk straight, until she's so full of my cum there's no doubt who she belongs to.

A sound snaps me back. Footsteps. I tense, ready for another beating. But when the door opens, it's Sarah standing there, looking like hell but determined.

"We don't have much time," she whispers, working the lock. "Dante's men are hitting the compound. We need to move."

Relief floods me, but I shove it down. "Cara," I rasp. "Where is she?"

Sarah's eyes flick to mine. "Elaine has her. In the main house. But June, you need to know-"

"Tell me on the way," I cut her off, pushing past the moment the door swings open. "We need to move. Now."

We make it to the end of the cellblock before all hell breaks loose. An explosion rocks the building. Alarms blare, bathing everything in hellish red.

"Fuck," Sarah curses, pulling a gun from her scrubs. "So much for stealth."

I eye the weapon hungrily. "Got a spare?"

She hesitates, then hands it over. "Try not to shoot me, yeah?"

A grim smile tugs at my lips. "No promises."

We move faster now. I gun down two guards before they even realize we're there. The familiar weight of the gun, the acrid smell of cordite - it's like slipping into an old, comfortable skin.

This is what I was made for. A killer. A monster. The man Elaine always wanted me to be.

But as we fight through the compound, as the body count rises, I realize something. I'm not doing this for her. I'm not doing it for the family name or some bullshit legacy.

I'm doing it for Cara. For our baby. For the future we deserve.

We burst out into the cool night air. The manicured lawns are dotted with pockets of fighting. Dante's men against Elaine's security, locked in a deadly dance.

"This way," Sarah urges, tugging me towards some trees. "There's a secret entrance to the main house."

Luck isn't on our side. We're halfway across when a bullet whizzes past my ear. I dive for cover, pulling Sarah down with me.

"Well, well," a silky voice purrs. "Look who decided to join the party."

Elaine steps into view, backlit by flames consuming the east wing. She looks like an avenging angel, all sharp edges and cruel beauty. The gun in her hand is trained on my chest.

"Hello, Mother," I spit, rising slowly. "Fancy meeting you here."

Her lips curl into a sneer. "Oh, Juniper. Always so dramatic. Did you really think you could just waltz in here and take what's mine?"

Rage boils in my veins. "Cara isn't yours," I snarl. "The baby isn't yours. They're mine. And I'm taking them home."

Elaine's laugh is like broken glass. "Home? You don't have a home, darling. You never did. But don't worry, I'll make sure your child knows all about their brave, foolish father. How he died trying to save them from a fate far greater than he could ever imagine."

She raises the gun, finger tightening on the trigger. I tense, ready to dive. But before she can fire, a scream rips through the air.

"June!"

Cara's voice, high and terrified. My head whips around, and there she is, stumbling across the lawn. Her face is pale, eyes wide with fear, but God, she's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.

"Cara," I breathe, heart threatening to burst. "Baby, stay back. It's not safe."

But she doesn't listen. Of course she doesn't. My stubborn, beautiful girl keeps coming, one hand cradling her swollen belly protectively.

"How sweet," Elaine coos, gun swinging to aim at Cara. "The whole family, together at last. It's almost a shame to end it like this. Almost."

Time slows. I see Elaine's finger tighten. The flash of the muzzle. The deafening roar. And I'm moving before I can think, throwing myself in front of Cara.

Pain explodes in my shoulder as the bullet tears through. I stumble, nearly falling, but Cara's there, holding me up with strength I didn't know she possessed.

"June," she sobs, hands fluttering over me. "Oh God, June."

I grip her arms, forcing her to meet my gaze. "Run," I rasp, feeling warm blood trickle down my chest. "Get out of here. Now."

But it's too late. Elaine's men are closing in, forming a tight circle. We're trapped, with nowhere left to go.

Elaine steps forward, triumph gleaming in her eyes. "Oh, my dears. Did you really think it would be that easy?"

I pull Cara closer, shielding her with my body. She trembles against me, but I can feel the steel in her spine. My brave, fierce girl.

"It's okay," I murmur, pressing a kiss to her temple. "I've got you. Both of you."

Cara's fingers dig into my arm, and I feel her tense. "June," she whispers, voice tight with pain. "The baby. I think... I think it's coming."

Ice floods my veins. No. Not now. Not like this.

I look up, meeting Elaine's gaze over Cara's head. For the first time, I see uncertainty in her eyes. Good. She should be afraid.

Because I'm about to show her exactly what a cornered animal is capable of.

"Last chance, Mother," I growl, shifting to support Cara's weight. "Let us go, and maybe I won't paint these lawns with your blood."

Elaine's lips curve into a cold smile. "Oh, Juniper. When will you learn? I always win."

She raises her gun once more. I brace for the end. But before she can pull the trigger, the night explodes into chaos.

Gunfire erupts from all sides, muzzle flashes lighting up the darkness. Elaine's men drop like flies. And through the smoke and confusion, I see a familiar figure striding towards us.

Dante fucking Corleone, looking like the avenging angel of death himself.

"Sorry I'm late to the party," he drawls, eyes never leaving Elaine's face. "Traffic was a bitch."

Relief crashes over me. We're not alone. We're not done. Not yet.

I tighten my grip on Cara, feeling her sag as another contraction hits. "Hold on, baby," I murmur. "Just a little longer. We're almost home."

Elaine's face contorts with rage as her plans crumble. "You," she hisses at Dante. "You dare interfere in family business?"

Dante's smile is all teeth. "Sweetheart, you made it my business the moment you fucked with my friends."

It happens in the blink of an eye. Elaine swings her gun towards Dante, a snarl on her lips. But he's faster. His shot rings out, true and deadly.

Elaine's head snaps back, a spray of red mist erupting from the exit wound. She crumples to the ground, a puppet with cut strings. The sight of her lying there, skull shattered and brain matter painting the grass, should sicken me. Instead, all I feel is a grim satisfaction.

Silence reigns for a moment. Then Cara lets out a low moan of pain, snapping me back to reality.

"We need to get her to a hospital," I bark, already scooping her into my arms. The bullet wound screams in protest, but I ignore it. Nothing matters except getting Cara and our baby to safety.

Dante nods, barking orders into a radio. Within moments, we're surrounded by his men, a protective circle forming as we make our way to the waiting cars.

I climb into the backseat of an SUV, cradling Cara against my chest. She pants through another contraction, face buried in my neck.

"I've got you," I murmur, pressing kisses to her sweat-dampened hair. "You're doing so good, baby. So fucking brave."

She lets out a watery laugh. "Some rescue," she gasps. "Cutting it a little close, weren't you?"

I smile despite everything, heart swelling with love for this incredible woman. "You know me," I say, nuzzling her temple. "Always did have a flair for the dramatic."

As we speed towards the hospital, I feel something shift inside me. The rage, the darkness that's been my constant companion - it's still there, but tempered now. By something stronger. Something unbreakable.

Love. For Cara. For our child. For the family we're building, brick by blood-soaked brick.

I press my hand to Cara's belly, feeling powerful contractions ripple beneath my palm. Our baby is coming, ready or not. And I'll be damned if I miss a single moment of it.

"I love you," I whisper, lips brushing the shell of her ear. "Both of you. More than anything in this fucked up world."

Cara turns her head, capturing my lips in a fierce, desperate kiss. "I love you too," she breathes against my mouth. "Now let's go have this baby."

As we race through the night, leaving death and destruction in our wake, I feel a sense of peace settle over me. We made it. We're together. And nothing - not Elaine, not the ghosts of our past, not even death itself - can tear us apart now.

Let them come. Let the whole fucking world try to stand in our way. We'll face it together, Cara and me. Two halves of a whole, stronger united than we ever were apart.

This is our story. Our legacy. And we're just getting started.

The SUV tears down the road, the engine growling with every shift of the gears. The cool night air rushes in through the cracked windows, mingling with the scent of blood and sweat. I hold Cara tight, murmuring words of comfort as she clutches my shirt, her breaths coming in sharp, ragged gasps.

"It's okay, baby. We're almost there. Just hold on a little longer," I whisper, pressing a kiss to her temple.

"June," she pants, her voice strained with pain. "I can't... the baby... it's coming."

I glance at Dante, who sits in the front seat, his face a mask of grim determination. He barks into his radio, issuing rapid commands to his men. "We're not gonna make it to the hospital in time," he says, turning to look at me. "Judith and Cara's mom are at the safe house. We need to head there."

My heart skips a beat at the mention of Judith and Cara's mom. Judith – the one who always knows what to do, the rock I can rely on. And Cara's mom, once a nurse, now retired, but still possessing the skills we desperately need right now.

"Drive faster," I growl, my voice a mix of fear and determination. "We need to get there. Now."

Dante nods and floors the gas pedal, the SUV lurching forward with a burst of speed. Cara moans in pain, her grip on my shirt tightening. I stroke her hair, murmuring soothing words, trying to keep her calm.

"We're almost there, baby. Just a little longer. You're so strong. You've got this."

The minutes stretch into eternity, but finally, we pull up to the safe house. Judith and Cara's mom, Emily, rush out to meet us, their faces pale but resolute.

"Get her inside," Judith orders, her voice steady despite the tension in her eyes.

I carry Cara into the house, cradling her as gently as I can. We lay her down on a makeshift bed in the living room, and Emily immediately springs into action, her hands moving with practiced precision.

"June, stay by her head," Emily instructs, her voice calm and authoritative. "Judith, get me some towels and warm water. Now."

Judith nods and disappears into the kitchen, returning moments later with the supplies. Emily works quickly, her hands steady and sure as she checks Cara's progress.

"You're doing great, sweetie," Emily murmurs, her voice soothing. "Just keep breathing. That's it. You're almost there."

Cara cries out, her body tensing with another contraction. I hold her hand, whispering words of encouragement, my heart breaking at the sight of her in so much pain.

"I'm here, baby. I'm right here. You've got this. You're so strong."

The room is filled with the sounds of Cara's labor, the urgency and intensity of the moment pressing down on all of us. Emily works tirelessly, guiding Cara through each contraction, offering reassurance and support.

Finally, after what feels like an eternity, Emily looks up, her eyes bright with determination. "Okay, Cara. I need you to push. You're almost there. Just one big push."

Cara nods, her face twisted with pain and effort. She grips my hand, her strength surprising me as she bears down, giving it everything she has. I stroke her hair, murmuring words of love and encouragement.

"That's it, baby. You're doing so good. Just a little more. Almost there."

With a final, primal scream, Cara pushes one last time, and the room is filled with the sound of a baby's first cry. Emily catches the baby, her hands gentle but firm as she cleans and swaddles the tiny, squirming bundle.

"You did it, Cara," Emily says, her voice choked with emotion. "You did it."

Cara's eyes fill with tears as she reaches out for our baby, her exhaustion momentarily forgotten. Emily places the newborn in her arms, and Cara looks down at our child, her face radiant with love and relief.

"June," she whispers, tears streaming down her cheeks. "We have a daughter."

I lean down, pressing a kiss to Cara's forehead, my own tears blurring my vision. "She's perfect," I murmur, my voice thick with emotion. "Just like her mother."

The room is filled with a sense of profound peace and joy, the weight of our struggles and fears momentarily lifted by the miracle of new life. Judith and Emily step back, giving us a moment to ourselves, their faces soft with smiles.

I sit beside Cara, my heart swelling with love for the two most important people in my life. Our daughter nestles in Cara's arms, her tiny fingers curling around mine, her eyes blinking up at us with innocent curiosity.

"We did it," I whisper, my voice filled with awe. "We made it."

Cara looks up at me, her eyes shining with love. "Yes, we did," she says softly. "And no matter what happens next, we'll face it together. As a family."

I nod, my heart filled with a fierce determination. "Always," I vow, pressing a kiss to her lips. "Always."

As the night wears on, the adrenaline begins to fade, replaced by a bone-deep exhaustion. But it's a good kind of exhaustion, the kind that comes from knowing you've fought and won, that you've protected what matters most.

I watch as Cara drifts off to sleep, our daughter nestled in her arms, and I know that no matter what challenges lie ahead, we'll face them together. Because in the end, love is stronger than fear, stronger than pain, stronger than anything Elaine or the world can throw at us.

The early morning light filters through the curtains, casting a soft glow over the room. I sit quietly, watching over my family, my heart filled with a deep, abiding love. Judith and Emily move about the house, cleaning up and making sure everything is in order, their quiet efficiency a balm to my frayed nerves.

As the sun rises, casting its warm light over us, I know that this is just the beginning. There will be more battles to fight, more dangers to face. But as long as we have each other, as long as we stand together, nothing can tear us apart.

I lean down, pressing a gentle kiss to Cara's forehead, then to our daughter's tiny brow. "Welcome to the world, little one," I whisper, my voice filled with wonder. "We've got a lot to show you."

And with that, I settle back, content to simply be, to bask in the love and warmth of my family. For now, that's enough. For now, that's everything.