CHAOS (Beneath The Secrets Book 1)

I fiddle with the rings on my finger as I jog down the stairs back to Maeve’s second birthday party. Our home is filled with familiar faces. Nikolai has Elena on his shoulders trying to get the balloons on the ceiling. Lara is chasing Alexei round the room, trying to snatch back her phone.

Even Mikhail is here, petrifying the kids with his mask. Jax’s New York family are all here too and their kids are running wild. He was right. There are so many of them. They’re cute though, and Maeve loves playing with them.

Elena eagerly grabs a balloon, it pops when she squeezes it too tightly, right as I stop in front of Nikolai. She jumps and bursts out into tears.

“It’s okay, princess. Daddy can get you another,” Nikolai says softly, lifting her into his arms.

“Do you know where Jax is?” I ask, looking at the bouncy castle in the yard, but I still can’t spot either of them.

“Went to the garage,” he says while soothing his daughter.

“When are we doing the food?” Alexei calls out behind me. I spin to find him holding the two-tier princess castle cake in his hands.

“I’m not telling you again. Put the damn thing back,” Lara hisses, slapping his arm.

He grumbles, but does as she says.

I can’t help but laugh. “Soon, let me go get the birthday girl.”

I stop by the door and lean on the frame. Tears of joy threaten to erupt. Jax has Maeve on his bike, with her facing him and sporting a brand new pink helmet.

“When you’re old enough, you can have a motorcycle to match. Well, we might have to ask Mommy.” He turns to face me with a grin on his lips. “Isn’t that right, Mommy?”

With his arm outstretched and palm facing upward, he signals for me to approach. I gently take his hand, caressing his wedding ring.

Anxiety creeps in, but it’s mixed with excitement.

“Is there room for one more on there?” I ask quietly.

Jax’s brow furrows as he nudges himself back, signaling for me to take a seat by tapping the chair.

“Here, put Maeve on your lap, maybe?”

I laugh. He’s just so cute sometimes.

Shaking my head, I raise my eyebrows, trying to get the message across. “I don’t mean me, Jax.”

His mouth just drops open. His eyes dart to my fingers splayed out on my belly.

“You’re pregnant? We’re having a baby? Is it really happening?” The exuberance in his voice has me on the verge of crying.

I grin as he wraps his arms around me.

He bends down and places a kiss on my stomach. When he leans back I grab his face and press my lips over his. I wanted to give him this. A chance to not miss a single second of their life. Just like he deserves.

“I can’t believe this. This is amazing,”

His smile is so bright as he picks up Maeve.

“You’re going to be the best big sister. What do you think? Is there a little brother in there?”

I kinda hope so. I’d love to see Jax be a daddy to a little boy. He would be completely in his element.

“Baby!” Maeve shouts, and we both laugh.

“Are you ready for more chaos, Mr. Carter?”

His tongue glides over his lip as he clasps my hand.

“Always, sweetheart. I am the king of it, remember?”

“I do, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”