by Forgy, M. N.
A finger slides under my tear-stained face. Fierce forest burning eyes digging into mine.
“I already love you, and this little girl may not be my blood but let me tell you something about bloodlines. The heart decides what it need and wants, not blood. My brotherhood, that is my family. You and this baby, are my future and my now, none of which are my DNA. Doesn’t stop me from loving all of you.”
My wet eyelashes flutter. “You love me?”
He grins. “I do. What I know of love anyway, it’s all for you. You’re the most beautiful thing in my heart, Simone.”
I laugh like an idiot. “I love you too. Since you’ve been around, I smile more than I used to, ya know?”
His boyish charm that only I’ve gotten to see, lifts his face.
“I know,” he replies arrogantly.
Looking down at what I made, the first thing I’ve ever done right.
“You and her, you’re my salvation.” I roll my lips onto one another. I’ve run from hell and felt the heat of the flames on my neck, but it was worth it in the end. I’ve found my peace with a man that is the sexiest geek I know and would do anything for me. I have the most beautiful little girl anyone could ask for. It doesn’t get much better than this.
Mac rests his head against mine, his hand on my back.
“Mine too. Mine too.”
We sit in silence, watching our little one coo and play with her fingers.
“I need to name her,” I sniffle, remembering I haven’t found the perfect name yet.
“Catori,” Mac suggests. It’s cute, really cute actually.
Wrinkles form on my face. “Catori?” Why didn’t I think of that one?
“It’s Native American and means spirit.” I know it means spirit, but how does he know that?
“Did you look it up or something?”
“I might’ve been looking at names ever since you found out she was a girl.” He glances up at me with a boyish grin.
“I love it.” I knew he’d have the perfect name. “Catori it is.”
“You can give her my last name you know.” His suggestion nearly whispered.
My head snaps up, my eyes watering all over again. He wants to be her dad, like really be her dad.
“You want to give her your last name?”
His shoulders rise with an inhale.
“I do. I want to be her dad.” His voice firm and concise. He takes Catori from my arms and holds her close to his chest. The look in both of their eyes makes me sob. He’s so tough, but with her he appears to be a big softy.
“You do?”
“I need to be in her life just as much as I need you in my life, Pocahontas.” He glances at me, but briefly before looking back at Catori.
“I don’t even know your last name.” I silently laugh, my fingers playing with the fabric of the sheets. I know his first name is Rhett, and his nickname is Mac, but as far as I know… he’s never told anyone his last name.
“Lockhart.” I glance at him, but he doesn’t break eye contact with Catori. “My name is Rhett Lockhart.”
“Catori Lockhart,” I whisper, petting her chubby little arm. “I love it.”
And just like that, we became a family. Mac rebuilt the woman I am. Took the broken bricks and remolded them into something that resembled a strong independent building.
Chapter 22
Simone
I stayed in ICU for a night and then was moved to the maternity ward for two more days before we were released. I slept most of the time as I was recovering from my surgery, and Mac took care of Catori the whole time. He refused to let her out of his sight and wouldn’t let the nurses take her back to the nurse’s station. They had to weigh her and observe everything with him by their side. He aggravated every doctor and nurse that came in to check on us both. Hovering over them, making sure they were doing everything that was needed for me and Catori. I loved it though. I never had someone hover so much over my care, and it was nice.
Zeek and Jillian come to visit, and Jillian ran straight to Catori. Mac frowns at her, holding her tighter.
“Really? You’re not going to let me hold her?” Jillian pouts.
“Let her hold her, she’s fine!” I snap.
“She’s pre-term, she can’t get sick!” He narrows his eyes at me.
“I know she’s pre-term, I had her!”
“Guys!” Zeek steps in between us, his brows raised.
Jillian steps to the wall and squirts some hand sanitizer the hospital offers into her palm.
“Look, germ-free!” She holds up both hands and smiles.
Mac glares at me, and I scowl in return.
“Fine,” Mac groans. Turning, he places Catori in her arms, but not before he makes sure she holds her perfectly right.
“Oh my, she’s beautiful!” Jillian gasps. “Oh Zeek, we need another!”
Zeek’s face pales before he scoffs.
“Heard you had a rough delivery,” Jillian whispers, standing next to my bed. I shrug, looking at Catori.
“We’re alive, that’s all that matters.”
Jillian smiles. “Damn straight.”
Zeek steps up to my bed, crossing his arms. Something obviously on the tip of his tongue. Crossing his arms, his shoulders rise.
“Anybody been in here to ask you questions?”
Mac’s head snaps in my direction.
“What do you mean?” Mac asks defensively.
“The Devil’s Dust, Kane’s club, they want Veer badly, so I was just curious if they’ve sent anyone here to ask her questions yet,” Zeek informs, his rough tone making Catori upset.
I shake my head. “No, nobody has asked or said anything.”
Zeek gives a curt nod. “Good, don’t.” The warning in his voice is not missed, Jillian eyeing me and silently conveying for me to agree.
“Why?” I can’t help but need more than just that before I agree.
Zeek rubs his chin, looking Jillian and Catori over.
“Veer killed Gatz, and we called that Veer’s blood way before the Devils, that’s why.” Giving me a once over, he heads to Jillian, looking Catori over. The Outlaws want Veer for what he did to Gatz.
“I’m not standing in anyone’s way… just as long as Veer fucking pays for what he’s done.”
Whoever gets him first, gets him.
* * *
The day of release, Mac brought a frilly dark green dress with him and dressed Catori in it.
“That’s my favorite color,” I smiled.
“I know, that’s why I got it.” He grinned. That’s right, I did tell him that was my favorite color.
“You don’t think she should wear pink?”
He gives me an awkward eye.
“She’ll have enough pink crap her whole life, this dress is perfect for her first day in the real world.”
I laugh, looking Catori over in her dress. She’s so cute in green.
“One more thing,” Mac mutters, placing the purple dragon Gatz got her, next to her.
I gasp, tears filling my eyes.
“I may not be able to fill your daddy’s shoes, but I’ll be the second best,” he tells Catori, and I can’t control the sob that trembles from my mouth. God, when will these hormones go away?
“You’re all set, we just need to make sure you have a car seat, and she’s buckled in correctly before leaving,” A nurse enters the room handing us some papers.
“I- I don’t have a car seat.” Panic sets in, they’re going to take Catori, find me as an unfit mother.
“No, I got one,” Mac casually informs the nurse.
“You did?” My eyes dart to his. “When did you do that?”
He opens up a large cabinet next to the bed and pulls out a blue and pink car seat by Eddie Bower.
He places it on the bed next to me, and I rub my finger along the suede material.
“This morning.”
“This looks expensive,” I mutter.
“It has the best crash ratings and
is most compatible with any vehicle.” Mac gently places Catori in her car seat, and his lecture on the specifications on the car seat make me go deaf. He’s going to be the most protective, annoying dad; I can see it. I love him and want to slap him.
A male nurse enters the room with a wheelchair, and Mac helps me out of the bed. The weight on my stomach causes it to sting and feels like it’s ripping apart. Sitting in the chair, I can’t help but sigh with relief.
I’m wheelchaired out, and Raven and Machete await outside the front doors of the hospital with Raven’s car. Motorcycles on each side of the car to escort us back to the club.
Mac buckles Catori in, and I swear he checks it five times to make sure it’s buckled in right.
Slowly climbing in next to Catori, Mac on the other side we pull away from the hospital.
“Slow down Raven, fuck!” Mac yells at Raven.
“I’m like going three over, chill out!”
They get into a full argument about how fast the car should be going with the amount of weight inside the vehicle. Even Machete jumps in on the argument.
I feel camouflaged in the moment. Catori and I, blending in with our new life. As two bikers covered in tattoos hash out what the speed limit should be when driving a baby back to a clubhouse.
I feel safe and comfortable for the first time in a long time. I’m laughing, and an amazing man is holding my hand that truly loves me and isn’t bound as a family obligation to care about me. It’s his choice to want to be with me, he wants to be in mine and Catori’s life.
A mansion filled with the most expensive things and people who are blood-related wasn’t a home.
This is home.
I know without a doubt every person in this car will protect me and Catori, even if it means taking a bullet to do it.
Chapter 23
Simone
Arriving at the clubhouse, Jillian is outside with Alessandra, big smiles on their faces. I can tell by the look on their face they’re up to something.
“Mac?” Shifting in my seat, I poke him in the arm before pointing at the two women smiling like they have planned a party or something inside. I’m in no shape for a welcome home party.
Mac opens his mouth and then shuts it. “I told them no,” he breathes heavily.
“You mean you knew about this?” I hush-whisper.
“They texted me about it, but I told them you’d probably be tired.”
“Girl, you better get used to Jillian doing what she wants.” Raven laughs from behind the wheel. I sigh, knowing she’s right. Jillian is a strong-willed woman, all of the ol’ ladies are actually, but their care for one another is not lost between the lines of being independent. I learned that the day all three of them came to my room when I was at my lowest.
Forcing a smile, I lift my chin. I might as well accept my fate. We’re all ol’ ladies after all. I’ll just make an appearance and then head up to the hotel room. I’m exhausted, and not sure I can stand very long with the incision on my lower stomach.
Raven stops the car, and Mac helps me out of the car. Every move tears and pulls at my stomach and I wince. I should have taken a pain reliever before I left the hospital.
“Take it slow.” He rests his hand on my back, easing me out of the leather seat.
“I’m good,” I exhale through the pain, and stand up straight. Mac bends into the car and unlatches the car seat from the belt. His bicep flexes, his shoulders rising when holding the weight of the seat with one arm. A biker holding a baby car seat does things to a woman that are unfair.
Biting my bottom lip, I force myself to look away. Four weeks. Four weeks until we can have sex again and it’s going to be the hardest four weeks of my life.
Mac
With the car seat gripped in my palm, Jillian and the girls come running at me to see the baby.
Jesus Christ. I hold Catori up high, nervous they’re going to smother her to death.
“Mac.” Jillian scowls, raising her brows, and I raise mine in return. She has it in her head I should just give her the baby whenever she wants, and that’s not fucking happening.
A hand claps down on my shoulder and I take my eyes off Jillian to find Zeek staring back at me with questioning eyes. He needs to talk, shit. Leaning into Simone, I tell her, “Go inside, check out whatever they did, and I’ll come rescue you in five.” I kiss her on the cheek and point at Jillian. “Jillian, do not take your eyes off her.” My tone of voice threatening. She gives me the bitch eye before helping Simone inside.
I Follow Zeek away from the crowd, and he glances down at Catori, rubbing the scruff on his cheeks.
“So you claimed Simone as your ol’ lady, huh?” He doesn’t sound surprised, or the least bit worried.
Switching the car seat into the other palm, I nod. I claimed Simone before I knew it was Gatz’s child, and I regret nothing.
“You need to keep her up in that suite until we find Veer, brother. Especially now that there’s documentation of her giving birth here in the state,” he says, watching the women go inside the club.
“Well, get me a good fucking prospect to keep guard at the door,” my tone dry.
Zeek’s eyes snap to mine. “I’m trying.”
“What about Bishop? He’s ready!” I encourage. The kid is bred for this kinda shit.
Zeek rubs at his chin, annoyed with my persistence. “You know the women want him to get his GED. Not many of us Outlaws can say we’ve finished high school.”
I give Zeek a knowing look. It would be good for Bishop, the best gift we can give a brother.
“Go get your chick and go rest,” Zeek nods. “I’ll take care of the giddy fucking women with their ovaries about to combust.” He shakes his head, and I can’t help but laugh.
Stepping into the club, it looks like a fucking she-shed. There’s pink ribbon, and pink balloons, and just fucking pink everywhere. I find Simone, sitting on a stool and unwrapping a stroller. I can tell she’s in pain but trying to mask it for everyone else’s sake.
“You guys, this is too much. Thank you!” She smiles up at everyone, her face glowing. She’s unwrapped a few gifts since I’ve been outside. A crib, some clothes, diapers, and formula.
The club really came together for her, for us.
Simone’s face creases and her hand rests on her stomach. She’s really starting to hurt. I shove through the group of women, and to her side.
“Okay, Simone needs to rest you guys. We can bring up whatever you want later, but she needs her pain meds, and Catori needs a diaper change I’m sure,” I interrupt.
Raven rolls her eyes, resting her elbow on the back of the bar.
“You going from changing oil to changing diapers there, Mac?” She busts my balls. I flip her off and help Simone up from the stool.
“Oh, I’m fine.” Simone acts coy, but the way she’s gripping my hand, I can tell she’s grateful I intervened.
Machete and Zeek following us up, but Simone starts to slow down, her pain level escalating. With hesitation, I hand Catori to Machete. “Don’t you dare hand her to anyone else!” I demand.
“You better watch your threats, brother,” Machete scowls. Glancing down at Catori, his face softens, eyes widening as he takes the car seat, fear dilating his pupils. He has a kid, but not this small, he missed out on the newborn state with his son.
Positioning my arms carefully behind Simone, I pick her up. She doesn’t even resist, she wraps her arms around my neck and rests her head on my shoulder. She’s exhausted, and in pain. I wish I could take it all away so she could enjoy Catori.
“I got you,” I whisper, kissing her forehead.
Finally, in the suite, I take her to my room. Fuck that sleeping in separate bedrooms shit. I place her pain pills on the side table and fill a glass with tap water.
Grabbing the bottle, she takes a pill out and takes it quickly.
“Rest, I got Catori,” I tell her.
“Mac, no. You’ve done too much.” She tries to sit up to a
rgue, but it’s not up for debate.
“I got this, sleep now. ‘Cause we might have to take shifts if she wakes up tonight,” I explain. I’m tired as fuck and will be needing to crash at some point. Seeming satisfied with taking turns, she lays back down. Pulling the blankets over her, I leave the room and shut the door.
I feel different. Caring so much for her and the baby comes so natural but how? Looking at the floor, I bite my lip.
“You all right, brother?” Zeek asks, breaking my dissecting of this emotion rolling through me.
“Why did you give me the job to protect Simone?” I can’t help but ask. He knows my back history, he knows how my mother died.
He fucking smirks, resting his hand on the counter. “’Cause, we all broke to a woman better than us, it was your turn.”
My eyes widen, so many questions and words on the tip of my tongue. Machete laughs like a fucking idiot and hands Catori to me before he follows Zeek out of the suite.
Sighing, I look to the baby, who’s looking up at me with doe eyes.
“Do you like sandwiches? I feel like I need a sandwich, or I might kill a brother,” I tell her.
Chapter 24
Simone
Waking up groggy as hell, I find Mac beside me spread out on the bed passed out. Rolling over on my side, I find his hand gripping a white baby monitor tightly. He’s lying on his back his bare tattooed chest facing upward, and his dark-colored sweats hung down low outlining his cock. He must not be wearing any underwear the way the material outlines it so perfectly.