CHAPTER 181: BEST UNCLE

–David–

I stared at the mountain of gifts piled up in my room. I wasn’t throwing another party because it was my birthday—no, no, no. I was throwing a party because Laura’s twins were born on the same day as me. How convenient! Double the cake, double the chaos, and definitely double the attention. I could already imagine next year’s party—mine on one side, the kiddie corner on the other. Guess whose guests will have more fun? Hint: it’s not the one with pacifiers.

I don’t want to celebrate with my business partners—they’re about as fun as expired champagne—but the twins’ kiddie bash? That’s where the action is. I plan to be that rich uncle who spoils them rotten. You know, the cool one every kid brags about.

Also... let’s be honest, I was expecting a few ladies to show up. Unfortunately, Kai already fished Sophia out of the Single Pond, and Caine caught Deanne in his overly possessive net. That leaves me zero chances with Livana’s circle of women. Zilch. Nada. Love life: extinct.

"David!" Alyssa barged into my room, her tone somewhere between drill sergeant and excited fangirl. "Come on, get dressed!"

"I am dressed," I said, spreading my arms proudly.

She eyed me up and down. "Oh," she snapped her fingers. "I thought you were still wearing last night’s clothes."

"This is a new pair. Just the same color," I said, resisting the urge to roll my eyes.

She snorted, and I grabbed the gifts I’d prepared for the twins. I’d been ready for weeks—after all, these babies have been on the "coming soon" list forever.

Mom and Dad already left ahead of us, and our grandparents were in unusually good health and spirits. They refused to be left behind. I could already imagine how crowded the hospital room would be. Hopefully, they got a big private suite, because the Blackwells plus newborns? That’s a traffic jam waiting to happen.

On the way there, Grandma couldn’t stop cooing. "Totally a Blackwell," she chuckled.

"Those eyes are Laura’s," Grandpa added proudly.

And I had to agree. When we arrived, Deanne was outside the room, talking on her phone, while Caine was pacing nearby, doing the same. Perfect couple material—same wavelength, same phone addiction.

I grinned. Time to stir the pot.

"Deanne!" I swooped in, hugging her lightly and kissing her cheek. She patted me back politely... and then someone yanked my collar from behind.

I knew that grip. Possessive. Deadly. Caine.

"Maybe cutting each part of your body is enough," he said over the phone, his eyes narrowing at me like I was an overdue bill.

"Hey, hey!" I raised my hands defensively. "I was greeting her! She’s the one harassing me!"

Deanne just winked at me, playful as always, then smacked my butt. I froze. "What was that for?"

Caine’s growl deepened, and before I could react, he smacked my butt too.

"What the—!" I jumped, rubbing my offended cheek (the one on the lower half). "Is this a family reunion or an HR violation?!"

They laughed, but I darted inside before someone else tried to show affection through assault.

Inside, there she was—Laura, the glowing new mom in her hospital gown. Tired, yes, but still gorgeous.

"Laura!" I grinned, approaching her. "How are you? Did the twins wear you out already?"

She pouted and nodded.

"Oh, poor you," I said, patting her head dramatically. "But hey, look at the bright side! They came out on my birthday. That’s divine timing."

She blinked slowly, probably suppressing the urge to throw something at me. I could tell she wasn’t thrilled to share the spotlight, but hey—fate chooses favorites.

I handed her the gifts for the twins, who were currently being paraded around by Mom and Dad. I turned toward them, grinning like a proud co-uncle.

"Now, kids! It’s time for us to celebrate!"

"Aly!" I called to my sister, who was fiddling with her expensive camera. I took off my coat, sprayed myself with alcohol, and washed my hands like I was prepping for surgery. Then Mom placed the beautiful baby girl in my right arm and the handsome baby boy in my left.

Alyssa snapped pictures like a paparazzo on caffeine. Shots with Laura and Damien, the grandparents, the twins alone, me alone—she was relentless. Then I sat beside Livana for a photo. But there was someone lurking behind us in the background.

"Bro, can you not photo-bomb?" I said to Damon, who was glaring daggers. "What? It’s supposed to be just the five of us—me, the twins, Livana, and my other niece-slash-nephew." I nodded toward Livana’s tummy, which she was proudly showing off.

"Let the birthday boy have his way, my dear," Livana said softly, her tone so smooth and elegant it could tame lions.

Wow. So that’s how she makes Damon behave. Noted.

Damon stepped aside, and Alyssa clicked the camera. Perfect shot. I’m totally printing that and hanging it in my office—just to annoy him.

Alyssa frowned at her camera. "Now that’s weird."

Then Damon sat down next to his wife and pulled her gently onto his lap. I grimaced. "Oh, come on, man. PDA in the maternity ward?"

Flash.

I turned sharply toward Alyssa. "Delete that."

She gasped dramatically. "Oops... I had sent it to Damon instead."

"Traitor!"

Laura burst out laughing—and immediately smacked Damien on the arm.

"I think I peed," she muttered, half-laughing, half-panicking.

The twins cooed in perfect timing, like they were joining the comedy. I looked at them fondly.

"Don’t worry, kids. When your parents run off for another honeymoon, Uncle David’s got you covered."

Mom chimed in sweetly, "By the way, your father and I are here to babysit the twins."

I sighed in defeat. "Of course you are."

"Why don’t you go out and date for once?" Mom teased.

"Then produce," Dad added, ever the blunt one.

I blinked at them. "Wow," I muttered, looking at Damon, who was smirking smugly. "Just... wow."

–Jane–

I couldn’t sleep. I tried. I really did. But no matter how many times I closed my eyes, my mind wouldn’t stop running laps. The intruders had been caught easily—too easily. They felt like bait, like someone sent them just to probe the outer layer of the laboratory. Someone followed us here, I’m sure of it. I hate that gut feeling. It’s rarely wrong.

And if I’m right, someone’s trying to ruin the lab.

"It’s not your fault."

A voice cut through my thoughts. I turned slightly, my shoulders stiff, eyes flicking to the man behind me.

"It wasn’t the first time, Jane," Logan said, lowering himself onto the bench beside me.

Instead of the usual tobacco cloud he carried, I caught the scent of something clean—sweet mint. He held out a stick of bubble gum. I tore open the foil, chewing slowly.

"It felt like it," I muttered.

"But you caught them easily," he said with that irritating smirk. "Even Livana was impressed."

"Shut up," I snapped, though my voice came out softer than I meant. The guilt still sat heavy in my chest. There’s a leak in the frontline—how else could those idiots have reached the foyer without tripping a single alert?

"There’s a rat in the lab," I murmured.

He nodded once. "Hmm."

Too fast.

"So you know."

"Yeah. We’re still trying to find out who it is."

I exhaled hard and pressed my palms to my eyes, the way I do when I want to erase a headache—or a name.

"I’ll go back to the villa," I said finally. "You can stay here."

He chuckled, leaning back. "No way. I’m not missing the fun at the villa."

"Oh, please." I handed him back the gum wrapper. "I’ll just check into a hotel."

"Hey, I was kidding." He grinned. "If you don’t want to hear me beating someone senseless, why don’t you—"

"Fuck off," I muttered flatly.

He laughed. Always laughing, like my irritation was some kind of entertainment. I stood, brushing invisible dust from my pants, and took three strides before my phone buzzed.

"What does this man want now?" I muttered, answering. It was a video call—of course it was. And on the screen appeared David’s overly dramatic face.

"Hey, birthday boy," I said dryly.

"Jane!" he gasped theatrically. "Did you know I’m the third wheel in this family?"

I arched my brow. "Hmm. I thought you were thrilled the twins were born on your birthday?"

"I was! But I’m still lonely. Where are you?"

"Japan."

"Wanna go on a date with me?"

"Yeah, sure," I said flatly, just to humor him.

His eyes widened. "Great! I’ll pack up and fly there. Send me your address—"

Before he could finish, my phone was snatched from my hand.

"Sorry, lover boy," Logan’s voice purred through the mic. "But we’re already dating."

David went silent. I could hear the dramatic gasp on the other end. Logan wore that smug, self-satisfied look that made my fingers itch for my gun.

"Don’t worry," he added. "Come to Japan anyway. I’ve got plenty of ladies for you."

"Fucker," I hissed.

David perked up. "Really? Well, I don’t care if Jane’s dating you—we can still go out behind your back!" His manic laugh filled the line before it disconnected.

I yanked the phone back. "Go date yourself," I snapped.

Logan only laughed harder.

He followed me all the way to the parking lot. Since my driver was gone—and I still wasn’t used to driving with the wheel on the left—he opened the passenger door for himself like it was already decided.

"I slept well, thanks to you," he said as I reached the car. "You deserve a princess treatment."

I sighed. Tired. Irritated. But if he wanted to play chauffeur, fine. I slid into the seat and buckled in. Sunglasses on. Head tilted back.

"Now, princess," he teased, starting the engine. "Any special requests?"

"Yes." I turned my head slightly toward him, my lips curving faintly. "No smoking. Be quiet. And don’t disturb me."

"Oh, that’s boring," he muttered, pulling out of the lot.

"Perfect," I whispered, reclining my seat. The hum of the engine and the low rhythm of the road started to lull me to sleep. The drive from the lab to the villa would take about two hours—long enough to rest my nerves.

"Jane," came his voice again.

I didn’t open my eyes. "What?"

"Do you snore?"

"I don’t fucking know."

He chuckled. "Why does every sentence you say to me have the word ’fuck’ in it?"

I opened one eye, brow arched. "Do you want us to fuck? I mean, I can do that."

That earned a bark of laughter from him.

I smirked faintly. "Wow. That’s the best joke you’ve told yet. But no—it means I want to kill you."

He only laughed louder, which annoyed me even more. I took a long breath, forcing my pulse to calm. He’s not worth the bullet. Not yet.

And then—

A deafening crack.

The windshield shattered. A bullet tore clean through the glass where my head had been seconds ago. If I hadn’t reclined, it would’ve gone straight through my skull.

Logan jerked the car, his long legs kicking the seat back for cover. I felt the rush of air, smelled the burn of gunpowder.

So much for sleep.