Chapter 227: Over My Dead Body

I let out a soft, breathy chuckle against his lips, my fingers curling deeper into the front of his sweater. "I’m not sly. I just know how to take control of the narrative, rookie."

Reid’s chest rumbled with a low, reverent laugh. He didn’t care about the PR nightmare brewing on Marcus’s phone, the frantic calls about to flood our agents’ lines, or the inevitable firestorm Fidora would try to launch. Up until ten minutes ago, his mother held all the leverage, threatening to make our future a quiet, transactional secret behind closed doors.

Now? The entire world knew. The news was out in the open, unedited, raw, and completely ours. ℯℯ𝑙.

"A double wedding is definitely off the table now," Marina called out from her spot by the mantel, raising her glass toward us with a wicked, triumphant smirk. "No way in hell is my wedding getting swallowed by this circus."

"Hey! You were the one who suggested it!" I yelled back, though a wide, tear-stained grin stretched across my face.

My mother walked over, wiping her eyes with a damp tissue, my father trailing right behind her with a rare, proud warmth softening his stoic face. She reached out, carefully cupping my cheek before wrapping her arms around both Reid and me, mindful of my leg cast and his shoulder.

"A baby..." my mother whispered, her voice trembling with pure, unadulterated joy. "My sweet boy... you’re going to be a father."

"We both are, Mrs. Evans," Reid said quietly, his voice thick with emotion as he held my parents’ gaze. He gave my father a firm, respectful nod, which my father returned with a heavy, grounding squeeze to Reid’s uninjured shoulder.

Brad McCoy stepped up beside them, his eyes bright with quiet tears. "Congratulations, son. Kain." He smiled warmly, looking down at Reid’s hand still resting flat over my stomach. "You’re going to be incredible parents."

Over by the entrance, Marcus was practically hyperventilating, his thumb frantically tapping his phone as Coach Devin walked over, casually clapped him on the shoulder, and took the phone straight out of his hand, ending the stream with a single tap.

"That’s enough internet for today, boys," Devin called out over the noise, a broad, fond grin on his face as he looked over at Reid and me. "Party’s just getting started. To the Captain—and the newest Serpent on the way!"

"TO THE CAPTAIN!" the entire team roared in unison, glasses slamming together as the lodge erupted into music and laughter once again.

Reid pulled me back against his chest, his chin resting lightly on top of my head, his fingers tightly intertwined with mine over my belly. Lying against his warmth, surrounded by the loud, chaotic family we had built both on and off the ice, every single trace of fear for the future vanished into thin air.

We were done playing for the Cup. Now, it was time to focus on our family.

...

The evening melted into a warm, joyful blur of loud toasts, tearful hugs, and endless teasing from the team.

Russo and Gerald spent the next two hours fiercely debating who was going to be the baby’s godfather, while Jake kept trying to convince everyone that "Stanley" was a perfectly legitimate middle name for a boy or a girl.

"Over my dead body!" Reid’s voice boomed across the living room, cutting straight through the music and instantly silencing Jake mid-sentence.

Reid glared over at him with zero hesitation, his eyes narrowing to sharp slits. "Our child is not having the same name as that arrogant bastard from the League who tried to ruin Kain’s career and accuse him of fraud."

The entire room erupted into a fresh wave of roaring laughter.

"Fair point, Cap!" Gerald hollered, nearly choking on his drink. "Stanley the Cup is great, but Stanley the auditor can burn in hell!"

"Alright, alright, bad idea!" Jake wheezed, raising his hands in immediate surrender as he backed away toward the kitchen island. "Stanley is officially blacklisted! Erased from the baby name book forever!"

I leaned my head back against the plush armchair, a helpless, breathless laugh shaking my chest as I looked over at Reid. He was still scowling slightly, looking entirely protective and deeply offended on my behalf, his hand immediately coming back down to rest over my stomach as if to physically shield our baby from terrible naming suggestions.

"Glad we cleared that up," I teased softly, poking his ribs with my elbow. "No Stanleys in this house."

"Not a chance in hell, honey," Reid muttered, though a faint, lopsided smirk broke through his stern expression as he leaned down to press a quick, possessive kiss to my cheek. "We’re picking a name that actually deserves to be tied to our kid."

As the night wore on, the boisterous energy of the party gradually gave way to a warm, comfortable fatigue.

Russo eventually gave up his godfather debate to pass out on the large sectional sofa, still clutching a couch pillow like a hockey stick, while Gerald and Jake quietly cleared away the empty plates and glasses.

Coach Devin slipped out after giving us both a quiet, meaningful nod, leaving the lodge wrapped in the soft, rhythmic hush of the coastal waves crashing against the shore outside.

Brad stopped by my chair before taking his leave, giving Reid a long, firm hug that spoke volumes. He looked down at me with a soft, paternal smile, resting his hand briefly over my shoulder.

"I’ll handle Fidora," Brad murmured quietly, his voice laced with an unyielding resolve that proved he wasn’t about to let his wife disrupt this peace. "You two have fought enough battles. Focus on healing, and focus on that baby."

Once the front door clicked shut and the remaining family members retreated to their guest rooms, Reid stepped up beside my armchair. Without a word, he offered his right arm, helping me maneuver my forearm crutches as we made our way down the dimly lit hallway toward the master suite.

The moment the bedroom door shut behind us, locking out the rest of the world, the heavy weight of the last few weeks completely lifted.

I eased myself down onto the edge of the mattress, setting my crutches against the nightstand with a long, weary sigh. My left leg was aching from the long day, but my chest felt lighter than it had in months.

Reid sat down right beside me, taking his time to carefully shift my casted leg up onto the mattress. Once I was settled, he slid his fingers through mine, his thumb tracing the smooth, cool band of metal resting on my ring finger.

"We have nothing more to hide, Cap," Reid whispered softly, his deep voice thick with emotion as his dark grey eyes searched my face. "No more secrets, and no more pretense."

I smiled, leaning forward until my forehead rested against the warm crook of his neck, breathing in the grounding scent of frozen pine that meant safety, home, and victory.

"Yeah," I agreed, resting my hand over his where it lay flat over my lower stomach. "It’s just us."

Reid let out a soft, contented breath, leaning down to press a slow, lingering kiss against my temple before pulling me close against his side. Lying there in the quiet warmth of the room, listening to the steady beat of his heart against my cheek, I closed my eyes—finally ready for the future we were building together.