Kieran looked down at Genesis’s face, making sure her breathing had evened out into the slow, deep rhythm of real sleep. Her lashes were still damp from earlier tears, cheeks flushed, lips slightly parted. He brushed a stray lock of hair from her forehead with the back of his knuckles, gentle, and soft then whispered her name once more.

“Genesis.”

No answer.

“Baby.”

Nothing. Just the soft rise and fall of her chest, one hand curled protectively over her bump even in sleep.

He exhaled quietly, pressed a feather-light kiss to her temple, then eased himself out of bed. The stitches in his chest pulled, but he ignored it. He...