The dim glow of the bedside lamp cast an eerie warmth over the room. Daniel lay back against the pillows, his face pale but still retaining that fierce, unyielding expression you had come to fear. His hand rested protectively on his pregnant belly, rising and falling gently with each labored breath.

You hesitated, standing at the foot of the bed, the silence between you thick and oppressive. This was the man who had dragged you to the altar, his gun pressed to your back, his sharp commands leaving no room for defiance. Now, the same man looked vulnerable yet no less dangerous, his swollen belly a stark contrast to the cold steel of the pistol resting within arm’s reach.

"You think this changes anything?" he said, his voice rough but steady, his piercing gaze locking onto yours. His other hand moved to his belly, fingers splaying over the taut surface as if shielding the life inside. "This child is everything. I’ll do whatever it takes to protect them... and you’re part of that now."