Morning light filled the bedroom softly.
Quiet.
Warm against the sheets.
The mansion was still mostly asleep.
Only distant footsteps downstairs occasionally disturbed the silence.
Leah sat against the headboard.
Barely awake.
Zarek rested against her chest while she tried to keep her eyes open.
One hand supported him carefully.
The other held his bottle.
Slowly.
Weakly.
Her eyes kept slipping shut for a second at a time before opening again.
Trying.
Failing.
Izana noticed immediately.
He had been standing near the wardrobe adjusting his cuffs when his eyes shifted toward her again.
Stayed there.
Leah blinked slowly.
Then her head dipped forward slightly before she caught herself.
A pause.
Then—
Izana crossed the room.
Quiet.
Controlled.
He stopped beside the bed and gently took the bottle from her hand first.
Then carefully lifted Zarek from her arms.
Leah frowned faintly.
"…I was holding him."
"…You were falling asleep."
"I wasn't."
Izana looked at her for a moment.
Silent.
Leah sighed softly.
"…Maybe a little."
Zarek shifted slightly against Izana's chest.
Still half asleep.
Izana adjusted him automatically.
One hand steady against his back.
"…Rest today."
Leah leaned back against the pillows slowly.
"…You have work."
"…Yes."
"…Then what about him?"
A pause.
Then quietly—
"…I'll take him with me."
Leah blinked once.
"…What."
"…The meeting is in the office building."
"That doesn't explain why you're bringing a baby."
Izana looked down at Zarek briefly.
Then back at her.
"…You need sleep."
Leah stared at him.
Still tired enough that she wasn't entirely sure she heard him correctly.
"…You're serious."
"…Yes."
"…Iz."
His expression didn't change.
"…You haven't rested properly since he was born."
Leah opened her mouth to argue.
Then stopped.
Because he was right.
Again.
She exhaled softly and leaned further into the pillows.
"…Poor Dante."
That earned the faintest shift in Izana's expression.
Almost amusement.
Almost.
He looked down at Zarek again.
"…He'll survive."
Leah smiled tiredly.
"…I don't know. This might finally break him."
Izana ignored that.
Instead, he leaned down slightly and pressed a soft kiss against her forehead.
"…Sleep."
Leah's hand lightly caught the sleeve of his shirt before he could step away.
"…Be careful."
Izana's eyes lifted back to hers immediately.
Softened.
"…Always."
Then he turned and quietly left the bedroom.
The nursery beside it was dim and warm.
Soft morning light filtered through the curtains.
Izana laid Zarek carefully onto the changing table.
The teddy bear with the red ribbon was still trapped tightly in his small hands.
Izana looked at it.
Then at Zarek.
"…Let go."
Zarek immediately tightened his grip.
A small unhappy sound followed right after.
Izana stared at him for a second.
Then sighed quietly.
"…Fine."
Again.
He changed him around the bear instead.
Careful.
Precise.
Zarek blinked up at him sleepily the entire time.
Izana finished adjusting his clothes before leaning down slightly.
Pressed a soft kiss against his stomach.
Zarek laughed immediately.
Bright.
Warm.
The sound filled the nursery instantly.
Another kiss followed.
Another laugh.
Izana smiled faintly without realizing it.
"…You laugh too easily."
Zarek kicked slightly beneath his hands.
Still smiling.
Izana watched him for another second longer than necessary.
Just listening.
Then his attention shifted toward the chair near the wall.
A black baby carrier rested there neatly folded.
New.
Unused until now.
Izana picked it up carefully.
Studied the straps.
Adjusted them once.
Then again.
Only after that did he pull it over his shoulders and chest.
Dark suit beneath it.
Black tie still perfectly straight.
Completely at odds with the carrier.
Izana checked the straps one final time before lifting Zarek carefully again.
"…Stay still."
Zarek made a soft sound in response.
Izana lowered him slowly into the carrier against his chest.
One hand always supporting his head.
Careful.
Controlled.
Once Zarek was secure, Izana adjusted the straps again.
Then checked them.
Then checked them again.
Zarek simply looked up at him quietly.
Calm.
Izana's hand rested lightly against the back of his head for a moment.
Then he leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss against Zarek's nose.
"…There."
Zarek smiled immediately.
Tiny fingers still holding the teddy bear tightly between them.
Izana's expression softened again.
Then he moved toward the nursery bag.
And packed it carefully.
Bottles.
Food.
Nappies.
Extra clothes.
Blankets.
Wipes.
Everything checked twice before being placed inside.
His eyes shifted toward the teddy bear.
Then toward Zarek already holding it.
A pause.
"…Right."
Instead, Izana packed another blanket.
A few minutes later he stepped back into the bedroom.
Leah was half asleep already.
Curled slightly beneath the blankets.
But her eyes opened slowly the second she heard him.
Then widened slightly.
Izana stood there in a black suit with Zarek secured safely against his chest.
The teddy bear visible between them.
Leah stared at him for a long moment.
Then—
"…You look ridiculous."
Izana walked closer to the bed.
"…No."
"You do."
A tired smile pulled faintly at her lips.
"…You look like someone forced a mafia boss to babysit."
"…He's my son."
"That somehow makes it worse."
Izana ignored that completely.
He leaned down and pressed another soft kiss against her forehead.
"…Sleep."
Leah's fingers brushed lightly against Zarek's cheek.
"…Be good for your father."
Zarek made a tiny sound.
Izana answered quietly—
"…He will."
Leah smiled faintly.
"…You sound very confident."
"I am."
She watched them both for another moment.
Then finally nodded slowly.
"…Okay."
Izana lingered there briefly.
Looking at her.
Then quietly left the room.
Downstairs, Dante was already waiting near the entrance with paperwork in one hand.
He looked up automatically when he heard footsteps.
Then froze completely.
Silence.
His eyes moved from Izana—
to the baby carrier—
then finally to Zarek.
"…Boss."
Izana continued walking normally.
"…What."
Dante stared another second.
"…Why is there a baby attached to you?"
"…Because he's mine."
"That isn't the issue."
Izana picked up the nursery bag from the table beside the door.
Dante watched him do it in disbelief.
"…You're bringing him?"
"…Yes."
"…To the meeting?"
"…Yes."
Dante closed his eyes briefly.
"…Absolutely not."
Izana finally looked at him.
"…The meeting is in the office."
"That does not matter."
"It's safe."
Dante looked unconvinced immediately.
"…Relatively safe."
Izana adjusted the bag over his shoulder.
"…Leah needs rest."
That stopped Dante from arguing for a moment.
Only a moment.
"…The members are going to lose their minds."
"…Not my problem."
Dante stared at him.
Then at Zarek.
Who was now calmly chewing on the corner of the teddy bear ribbon.
"…I can't believe this is real."
Izana walked toward the doors.
"…Move."
The drive into the city stayed mostly quiet afterward.
Rain slid softly across the windows.
Traffic moved slowly through the streets.
In the backseat, Izana sat with one hand resting lightly against Zarek.
Occasionally adjusting the blanket around him.
Or the carrier straps.
Or the teddy bear.
Zarek stared up at him quietly.
Then Izana moved the teddy bear slightly in front of him.
A small smile appeared instantly.
Izana moved it again.
Zarek laughed.
Bright.
Happy.
The sound filled the car softly.
Izana's expression softened immediately at the sound.
Another small movement with the bear.
Another laugh.
Dante watched the interaction silently through the mirror.
Still trying to process the image behind him.
Black suit.
Cold city outside.
Armed guards following behind them.
And Izana quietly entertaining a baby with a teddy bear.
Zarek laughed again.
Izana smiled faintly.
Dante looked away from the mirror after a second.
"…The members are definitely going to lose their minds."
Izana adjusted the blanket lightly around Zarek.
Completely calm.
"…Then they'll adapt."
Outside the office building came into view ahead.
Tall.
Dark glass reflecting the rain.
Guards already stationed near the entrance.
The car slowed.
And several men outside immediately noticed the baby carrier through the window.