The morning sun filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Montgomery estate, casting a golden glow over the gleaming marble floors. Clair sat in the nursery, her hand resting on her belly, which had become significantly rounder over the past week. The soft hum of a lullaby played in the background from a baby monitor she'd recently picked out, and as she looked around at the pastel walls and plush toys, she felt a strange mix of peace and anxiety.
Austin had left early. The cartel's first strike was imminent, and he was determined to ensure their family's safety.
The sound of her phone buzzing snapped her out of her thoughts. It was Elias.
"Security sweep completed. Perimeters tight. How are you feeling?"
Clair texted back, "Nervous but strong. How's Austin?"
A few seconds passed.
"Focused. Ready to end this. We're starting our move today."
Clair set her phone down and inhaled deeply. The air was fragrant with baby powder and lavender from a diffuser nearby. Despite the looming danger, she forced herself to continue organizing the babies' clothes. Twin sets of everything were neatly folded, but today she added a third drawer for the baby conceived during the superfetation. One pregnancy, two due dates. Her doctors still marveled at it. She just felt protective of them all.
Downstairs, security was doubling up. Bodyguards rotated in new shifts. She heard the faint bark of commands being issued outside and glanced out the window. Elias stood by a black SUV with three others, pointing to a map.
Her fingers gently rubbed her belly again. "We're safe," she whispered, more to convince herself.
Just then, her phone rang. It was Austin.
"Hi," she said softly.
"How are the babies? And how's my queen?"
His voice was gravelly but warm. Hearing it reassured her.
"We're okay. I just finished sorting the onesies."
He chuckled. "You're really in mom-mode. I love it. Listen, baby, we're moving on the cartel's outpost near Tucson. This is our first hit. It's going to weaken them."
She swallowed. "Will it be dangerous for you?"
"It always is, but Elias and I have planned this down to the second. They won't see us coming."
There was a pause, then she asked, "If something happens..."
"Nothing will happen. I will come back. And I will hold you and our babies."
Her voice cracked. "Promise me."
"I swear on everything I am."
He hung up, and Clair pressed the phone to her chest. Her heart was pounding. She turned back to the drawers and continued packing, but her mind was with Austin.
---
In a secluded ranch near Tucson, Austin and Elias watched through binoculars. The cartel outpost was heavily armed, but their intel had revealed a weak spot near the east fence. Smoke from grilling meats wafted into the sky, and music played loudly from inside. It was a party.
"Perfect distraction," Elias muttered.
Austin nodded. "Let's make this quick. No prisoners."
The strike team moved like shadows, flanking the perimeter. Silencers on their rifles hissed with precision as guards fell without alerting the others. Austin himself breached the east entrance with calculated ferocity, neutralizing two men in seconds. By the time the alarm finally sounded, half the compound was already in flames.
Inside, they found caches of weapons, drugs, and detailed plans of future strikes. Austin snatched the documents, his jaw tight.
"They were planning to take Clair."
Elias looked over his shoulder. "Then we burn this whole place to the ground."
As the first explosion rocked the compound, Austin stared into the flames. His enemy had declared war, but now he was returning it.
---
Back at the mansion, Clair felt the ground faintly tremble. It wasn't real, just her anxiety playing tricks. She reached for her prenatal vitamins and took them with a tall glass of water. The twins were 19 weeks now, and the third baby, conceived a few weeks after, was developing steadily. Her OB-GYN had reassured her that all three were healthy.
But her mind kept drifting.
She picked up a photo of Austin from the hallway table, his arm slung around her waist from their last vacation. His eyes had that deadly glint, the one that warned others not to cross him—but they softened for her. Always.
The door opened behind her. It was Maria, one of the head housekeepers.
"Mrs. Montgomery, would you like something to eat?"
"Actually, yes. I'm craving blueberry pancakes. With whipped cream. And bacon. Lots of bacon."
Maria smiled. "Coming right up."
As Clair waited, she opened her journal and began writing. She wanted to remember all of this—the fear, the love, the hope. Someday, their children would ask how they survived the storm. She wanted to have an answer.
---
Austin arrived back just after midnight, covered in sweat and dust. The compound had been leveled. Half of the enemy's firepower was gone. But more retaliation would come.
He didn't go to his war room. He climbed the stairs quietly, heart pounding—not from battle, but from wanting to see Clair.
He found her asleep in bed, her hand over her belly, her journal open beside her. A half-eaten plate of pancakes was on the tray table nearby. He smiled and gently sat beside her, brushing a curl from her cheek.
Her eyes fluttered open.
"Austin," she whispered.
"I'm home."
He kissed her forehead, then her lips.
"Did we win?" she asked.
"The first battle, yes. They'll be reeling for a while."
She placed his hand on her belly. "They missed their daddy."
He leaned closer and kissed her belly, his eyes glassy. "I missed all of you."
She looked at him seriously. "Austin, you need to stay alive. I can't do this without you."
"I won't make you. I'm going to end this war for good. And then we're going to raise these babies in peace."
He crawled into bed beside her and held her tight.
Outside, the guards patrolled in heavier numbers. But inside, in the quiet sanctuary of their room, there was only the sound of heartbeats, his, hers, and the three fluttering within her.