The first night home destroyed every illusion Reid Sterling had ever possessed about control.
At exactly 2:13 a.m., Elena woke the entire penthouse with a scream powerful enough to rival a national emergency siren.
Reid was upright before the second cry even finished.
Not awake.
Activated.
One second he had been asleep beside Maya, dark hair falling across his forehead, one arm wrapped possessively around her waist beneath the blankets.
The next—
he was standing beside the cradle barefoot and wild-eyed like an elite soldier responding to incoming fire.
"What happened?" he demanded immediately.
Maya, still half unconscious against the pillows, blinked at him slowly.
"She's crying."
"I can hear that."
"She's a baby, Reid."
Elena cried harder.
Reid looked personally betrayed by the sound.
