He was too shocked to notice. 'No way! You were smoking yesterday!' 'I've decided to quit since then.'

"But why?"

Austyn inhaled the familiar scent of nicotine and felt slightly irritated.

'Smoking kills, haven't you heard? Did Isabel ever ask you to quit?'

'No, she just asks me not to smoke in the house. And she's bought me a boatload of mouthwash and breath spray.' Luca patted his head. 'Wait, does this mean Kira asked you to quit?" Austyn neither denied nor confirmed Luca's speculation.

'Why? She doesn't like the smell? But you've been smoking for a long time. Why would she suddenly... Oh, I know!'

"What do you know?"

'Are you guys planning for pregnancy? That's why you quit smoking? You want to have a baby

with Kira?"

A baby?

Austyn was thrown.

A Bunn Th

The idea had never crossed his mind till Luca brought it up.

A baby that was his and Kira's...

Wait, it might not be such an outlandish idea after all.

He'd gotten carried away last night.

He used a condom during the first round but forgot all about it during round two.

Maybe there was already a bun in the oven.

He shook his head.

Fertilisation should take a few days.

But if it did happen, did this mean there would be a mini Austyn or a mini Kira in ten months?

Austyn hoped it was a girl.

She would look like Kira, and he could spoil her rotten.

No, wait, it was best to have a son first.

So that their daughter, who would be born later, would have a big brother to look after her and protect her.

What names should he give them?

The more Austyn thought about it, the more he warmed up to the idea.

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Time To Start A Fandy With Kira

Time To Start A Family With Kira

A strange feeling welled up inside Austyn's chest.

A yearning stronger than the craving for cigarettes took hold of him.

He stared into space, lost in his reverie.

"Hello?" Luca waved a hand in front of his face. 'Earth to Austyn, what are you thinking so hard about?"

'Nothing.' Austyn cleared his throat, suddenly feeling thirsty. Just wondering when Liam will get here.'

Luca checked his watch. 'I hope he moves fast. I'd really like to get this whole thing wrapped up today. I have dinner plans. Speaking of, have you tried the new restaurant on Sixteenth Avenue? They've got this chef who cooks everything on an open flame. Isabel has been bugging me for weeks to book a table..."

Austyn listened to Luca ramble on, but his mind was miles away.

He was already thirty years old, two months shy of turning thirty-one.

Maybe this was the right time to start a family.

Usually decisive, Austyn was suddenly filled with a feeling of uncertainty.

He was still trying to learn how to be a good husband.

There were no manuals for him to follow, and his father set a lousy example.

Austyn asked himself, was he ready to be a father?

He was confident that he had the financial resources to give his children a comfortable life, at least in the material aspect.

But was that all it took to be a good father?

What about the nonmaterial stuff?

Should he be a stern father or a doting one?

Would he have the heart to discipline his kids if they misbehaved?

Wait, maybe he shouldn't worry too much about this.

His kids would be little angels, not little monsters.

Not because he would discipline them.

But because they would have Kira as their mother.

Time To Start A Family With Kra

She was kind, generous and sometimes trusting to a fault.

She would be the perfect role model for them.

They would grow up to be just as honest and big-hearted as their mother, while he would teach them how to protect themselves.

Austyn felt the yearning grow stronger by the minute.

He suddenly couldn't wait to start a family with Kira.

Now he had the same hope as Luca.

He wanted this whole thing to be wrapped up by the end of today so he could go home and start making babies with her.

Luca gawked at the man standing next to him, staring vacantly ahead with a dreamy smile on

his face.

"What the hell's gotten into him?' the captain wondered. 'He's grinning like an idiot."

Austyn's smile was so tender, it gave Luca goosebumps.

He inched away from his daydreaming friend.

'Captain!'

An officer's voice roused Austyn out of his reverie.

"What is it?' Luca turned around.

'David called from the main gate. Says someone's coming.'

'Name?'Text content © .

'Liam Cane."

Luca checked his watch. "Twenty-three minutes.

He looked at Austyn. 'You're right."

Then he turned to the officer. "Tell David to bring him in."

'Yes, Cap'n.'

Luca ground out his half-finished cigarette with the heel of his leather shoe. 'Come on. Let's see what he can do."

He returned to the living room with Austyn.

Five minutes later, Liam's voice was heard before his face was seen. 'You've got half a dozen armed officers here, yet you can't take care of one old man. Tsk, the taxpayers will be so disappointed.' Tune Yo Start & Family With Kira

EX

Luca rolled his eyes. 'As if you pay taxes."

Luca had to grovel to the chief of police for a warrant to be approved so quickly.

Austyn had lent his help.

Still, it was a warrant for a search, not an arrest.

Liam strolled into the living room, his eyes locking onto the majordomo immediately." Sebastian, how are you doing?"

Sebastian was sitting on a chair with an armed officer on either side.

He inclined his head at Liam. 'Young Master Liam, what brings you by?

Liam scanned the room.

He folded his arms. 'I'm invited here by your Young Master Austyn. It's rare for him to ask me for a favour. I wouldn't miss it for the world." Austyn's face remained inscrutable.

Sebastian knitted his brows. 'Are you sure you want to get involved in this?"

'Why not?' Liam shrugged. 'I happen to have some free time, and this looks like it could be fun.

He sat down in an armchair facing Sebastian. 'I do have a meeting this afternoon, though. So, if you don't mind getting to the point.'

'I don't know what you are talking about."

Liam shook his head. "That's not going to fly. Sebastian, you're my dear old father's second in command. When he's not around, you call the shots. Do you really expect me to believe you have nothing to do with Deborah's disappearance? Come on." Sebastian remained unmoved.

"That's how you're going to play this? Fine.' Liam took out his phone. 'I didn't want to have to use this, seeing as you've been with the family for so long. Heck, the old man treats you better

time... than me. But since you refuse to cooperate, and I don't like to waste my

He waved his phone in front of Sebastian. 'I might have to have a chat with your ex-wife and daughter.'

Sebastian shot to his feet. 'What have you done to them?"

'Oh, nothing.' Liam gave an insouciant shrug. 'I just sent a couple of guys to their apartment. They took this nice photo for me. Take a look."

Sebastian grabbed Liam's phone and stared at the photo onscreen.

Time To Start A Camile With Kea

The flesh on his lower cheeks trembled.

'It's a nice day for a stroll, Liam said breezily. My men are following the mother-daughter. duo. They're headed for the esplanade, I think.

'Are you threatening me?' Sebastian growled.

'Of course not.' Liam sniggered. 'I'm a law-abiding citizen. Kidnapping's a felony, as I'm sure you know. I was just thinking about inviting them for a cup of coffee. That's not a felony, right, Captain O'Neill?' Luca looked away and pretended he didn't hear anything.

They ve Pulled Off The Bluf

They've Pulled Off The Bluff

Luca tried to convince himself that sometimes expediency trumped legality.

Liam continued, 'You can glower at me all you want, Sebastian. My men will stay with your lovely ex-wife and even lovelier daughter as long as I don't give them the word."

"They have nothing to do with this!' Sebastian shouted.

'Like I care.' Liam's eyes grew cold. 'It's their misfortune to be associated with someone like you. If you're looking for someone to blame, look in the mirror."

Sebastian clenched his hands into fists.

His chest heaved.

He was breathing rapidly.

He could overpower Liam in less than ten seconds, but that wasn't going to help his family.

'Don't act like you're the victim here,' Liam curled his lip. 'You had a hand in my mother's death. Don't you dare deny it! You took away the only family that mattered to me. I'll be more than happy to return the favour today."

He retrieved his phone. 'So, what's it going to be? Your family's lives, or your loyalty to the old man? Choose!!

Sebastian's shoulders sagged.

He bowed his head.

The wrinkles around his e

minutes.

and mouth seemed to have multiplied in the last couple of

Liam stood up, his patience running out. 'I take it you're going with option two then.'

Sebastian said nothing.

"The old man has picked a loyal dog for himself, Liam sneered. 'Fine, I guess you should clear your schedule for next week. You're going to have a double funeral to attend."

He started dialling a number on his phone.

Luca stepped forward, ready to stop him.

It was one thing to turn a deaf ear to Liam's threats, as long as they were empty, but Luca couldn't just stand by and watch him commit a double murder.

Austyn shot out an arm, blocked the captain and gave an imperceptible shake of his head,

Luca sucked in a deep breath.

They've Pulled Off The Bluff.

He decided to give it another minute, to see how this would play out.

"Young Master Liam!' Sebastian finally moved.

He took a quick stride forward and grabbed Liam's arm. 'Please, no! Don't touch my family!'

'I gave you the opportunity to choose.' Liam shook off his hand. 'You're the one who decided to sacrifice your family."

'But this has nothing to do with you!'

Liam started walking towards the door. 'True. I don't really give a shit if Deborah lives or dies. But we used to share a bed, and I don't like to be called cold-blooded.'

Sebastian wrung his hands.

He would not have taken much stock in the threat if it came from Young Master Austyn.

He knew Austyn would never sink so low as to commit murder.

But Liam was an entirely different story.

He harboured nothing but ill will towards the entire McCarthy family and was ruthless like his

father.

He didn't care about his own life, let alone that of others.

Sebastian wouldn't put it past him to order a double homicide.

"Stop,' Sebastian said weakly.