“I talked to Toni and Chrissy, too. They’re chomping at the bit to see the babies.”
“I want to see the babies.” Dani pouts.
“Me, too,” I tell her, “but they’ll be here soon.”
“Mommy says I’m an auntie!” she exclaims, the prospect making her giddy.
“That’s right,” I agree. “You have a niece and a nephew. You’ll have to come babysit soon.”
From the look on her little face, I can tell some smartass comment is coming. Even when I met her at age six, she behaved older than she was. Age eight is much worse.
“I mean, I can play with them, but I won’t be changing any diapers.” She shakes her head, her brunette hair whipping side to side.
Laughing, I set her down on the bed next to Raven. At her confused frown, I laugh even harder.
“What’s so funny?” she asks.
No one gets the chance to answer because the door opens and a nurse wheels in the twins. Resisting the urge to rush over and snatch them up, I move closer to my wife. Laurelyn picks up Hailey, while Daniel reaches for Chaos. As Laurelyn moves closer to me, I notice her hair isn’t up in that fancy bun she always has it in; it’s down, and she looks so much like Raven, it’s uncanny. It’s even worse when she smiles up at me, her blue eyes—Raven’s eyes—twinkling. The only difference is Raven’s hair is black, but both of Laurelyn’s daughters look just like her.
“I can’t get over how much she looks like Raven when she was born,” she gushes.
“I’m going to have to keep a loaded shotgun around for this one.”
Daniel chuckles, his gaze shifting to his daughter. “I know what you mean.”
“Can I hold one?” Dani asks.
Laurelyn steps up to the bed, carefully setting Hailey in Dani’s arms and explaining how to hold her. She doesn’t move, keeping her hands under the baby.
“Hi, baby,” Dani coos. “I can’t wait for you to get big so we can play.”
Hailey yawns, stretching her tiny hand in the air.
Fuck, I’m gone.
So far gone over a little girl who’s only two days old.
As if reminding me he exists, Chaos lets out a series of sharp cries. Smiling, I take him from Daniel, cradling him close to my chest. He calms down, lids fluttering open. My own eyes stare back at me, and it’s like being hit by a second bolt of lightning. The first was when I cut Hailey’s umbilical cord. I look over to the bed, to Raven and Hailey, wondering how they could all fit in my heart. Only two years ago, I thought I was incapable of love. I thought I didn’t know what the word meant. Now I’m in love with three people.
Three people I need to keep safe.
Gritting my teeth in determination, I reluctantly hand Chaos to Raven.
“I have to go to the clubhouse for a bit, babe.”
The smile fades from her lips. Her gaze flicks to her mother, who’s all wrapped up in Hailey.
“We need to talk about that thing. I don’t want you to do anything rash,” she says in a lowered voice.
“I won’t. I’ll wait until you come home.”
“Okay.”
I kiss her forehead, take one last look at my babies, and then head out.
“I’ll see you guys later.”
I chuckle at the mumbled goodbyes because no one’s really paying attention to me.
Hurrying out of the hospital, I head to my bike. Before riding to the clubhouse, I stop to check on Scythe and 12 Gage Security, trying to clear my mind. I also put in calls to the Pretty Kitty, Patch, and Chopper’s Custom Cars. I have a family to not only protect but also to provide for. I need to make sure our businesses are on point.
On the ride to the clubhouse, I think about the two women waiting there for me. They were both Hounds. This shit makes me want to get rid of the ones we have now, even though they haven’t done anything wrong. These girls actually respect the boundaries. Now that another brother’s got an old lady, they’ll probably be doing more housework than anything else—cleaning, taking care of the bar, cooking. Razor and Booker might be single forever, and Tek… well, Tek is practically married to his computer. The prospect is fresh meat, but we don’t really give him much free time. Do we really need the Hounds around? As soon as the thought surfaces, I push it back. The men love those women, and they’d probably give me hell for getting rid of them.
When I ride through the gates, I stop and give Tyler a chin lift. Even with all the cameras around, we always have a man out here to monitor the gates and the street, especially after what happened to Emily a couple months ago.
“Everything’s been quiet, Prez,” he reports.
“Britney?”
“Razor’s watching both women.”
I have to admit, I like the kid. He’s still a few months shy of his minimum year as a prospect, but if he keeps going the way he is, he’ll have no problem with the vote. Razor did well bringing him in.
Chopper and I almost collide at the clubhouse doors, and his expression sours the moment our eyes meet.
“Why aren’t you at the hospital?”
“I got some stuff I need to take care of before Raven and the babies come home.”
“You mean the two whores you got in there?” he sneers, jerking his head toward the clubhouse.
The look in his eyes breaks whatever spirit I had on my way here. I’m at the center of everything that happened to Raven and my sister. No one can make me feel worse than I already do.
“Pop, please….” I shake my head, exhausted from all the bullshit.
“I’m going to see my daughter-in-law and grandbabies.” He walks away, not giving me a backward glance.
Pushing the doors, I slink inside. These last few years, my life has been a series of ups and downs. It never fails; when I think the storm has passed, it turns out to be the eye of the hurricane… the momentary reprieve before the rain and wind start lashing us again.
When will it all end? Is it too much to ask for a quiet life? I guess it is. After everything I’ve done, all the people I’ve killed, this is my payback. It seems I’m destined for this life—an endless cycle of getting a glimpse of happiness, then having it yanked brutally away.
And I’ve dragged Raven and my kids into it.
“Boss?” I glance up at Tek as he approaches. “You okay?”
“Not really,” I admit, not giving a fuck about looking weak. These men all look to me for strength and direction, but for once I feel too battered to even think of leading anyone.
“Is it First Lady? The babies?”
“No, they’re good.” He breathes a sigh of relief. “They’re the only things keeping me going right now.”
“What can I do?”
“You find out anything about that chick?”
“Nothing that could help. As far as I can see, she’s clean.”
“Okay. Thanks, Tek.”
“You mind if I go and see the babies?”
“Of course not. Tell Raven I’ll be back later.”
“Sure thing, Boss.”
Shaking off my self-pity, I move over to the couch where both Britney and Lonnie are sitting. It’s time to put on the only cap that matters now—the one of husband and father.
The woman who came with Britney is on the floor playing with the kid. When she spots me, her eyes narrow.
“Who the fuck are you?” I ask.
She opens her mouth to either answer or sass me, but Britney pipes up before she gets a word out.
“She’s my friend.”
“Friend, huh? Well, friend, I suggest you watch how you look at me and what you say. You’re in my territory. In case you haven’t heard, I run shit around here.”
“What I heard is how you ran off the woman who was pregnant with your child.”
Instead of going down that rabbit hole with a woman I don’t even know, I turn to Britney. “You ready to tell the truth yet?”
“Look, I’m sorry I even came here. If you let us leave, I promise I won’t bother you again.�
��
“I just want to know why. What’s going on in that fucked-up mind of yours that made you think this was a good idea?”
“Can we go somewhere private and talk?” She throws a nervous glance her friend’s way.
What the hell is going on between these two? Obviously, the woman believes I’m the kid’s father, but there seems to be more to this than Britney’s letting on.
“Anything you want to say, you can say right here.”
“Just forget it.” She crosses her arms over her chest, sulking.
“Fine by me.”
I turn my gaze to Lonnie, my anger renewed. I should have known. I should have fucking known it was her. I don’t know how I could have been so blind. Now I actually feel sorry for hassling Chris about it; the kid was as clueless as I was. Why didn’t Raven tell me it was her? I could have put a stop to that shit with a snap of my fingers.
“Gage, please,” she begs, slinking back into the couch. “I’ve tried to make amends with my sister. I’m not the same person—”
“Shut up.”
I walk away from her before I do something I’ll regret. I promised Raven we would work this out together and we will. Taking a seat at the bar, I ask for a whiskey when the brunette shows up. I knock it back, grateful for the burn going down. It gives me something else to focus on.
“Tough day, Prez?”
I look over my shoulder to find the redhead standing behind me. It’s shitty that I don’t even know their names, but I don’t need to. They’re of no interest to me.
“That’s an understatement.”
She places her hands on my shoulders, rubbing in slow circles. All the Hounds know better than to try anything with me, so I allow her to continue. Besides, it feels fucking good.
“How’s Raven? The babies?”
“Good. They’re okay.” My head falls forward as her thumbs find the spot at the back of my neck.
“You’re so tense.” She moves to my right. “I’m a licensed therapist, you know. I could give you a massage.”
“Really?” I raise a brow. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“The guys are cool, we’re taken care of, and we don’t have to do anything we don’t want to.”
The brunette nods in agreement.
“Yeah, but how did you get here?”
“I got to Stony View a few months ago. I was moving to Atlanta and took a wrong turn on my way there. I stopped at Millie’s for lunch and met Venom there. The rest, as they say, is history.”
“Fucking Venom.” I chuckle, shaking my head. “Don’t you miss it?”
“I guess, but there aren’t any massage parlors around here, and I don’t exactly have the resources to open my own.”
The businessman in me perks up and I turn to face her. “Listen, I’d like to continue this conversation when things around here aren’t so hectic. What do you say?”
“You mean”—her brows draw together in confusion—“you’re going to help me?”
“I’d like to explore the possibility.”
“Oh God, I… I don’t know what to say!” She turns to the brunette in shock.
“Say yes!” the other Hound encourages.
“Okay.” She smiles, extending her hand. “Thank you, Gage.”
“You’re welcome….” Shit. What’s her name?
She giggles. “Trixie.”
“Sorry, Trixie. I promise I’ll remember it from now on.”
“Did you forget it, or is it that you didn’t know it in the first place?”
Shrugging, I apologize again.
“It’s okay. I love how you only have eyes for Raven.”
“We all do,” the brunette chimes in. “Who doesn’t want a man like that?”
I spin the shot glass on the counter, staring down at it, my baby doll overtaking my thoughts. Curling my fingers into a fist, I shift my gaze to the letters tatted on my knuckles—R-A-V-E-N.
“Raven and I have been through a lot. Our love was forged in fire.”
“That’s—” She pauses. “—so sweet.”
I don’t know which one of them said it, but I look up to find them both staring at me with stars twinkling in their eyes.
“Sweet? That’s my cue to go. Thanks for the conversation, ladies.”
It’s weird, but I do feel better after talking to them. Maybe that’s why the guys love having them around.
I leave them and head to my room, wanting some alone time. The boxes in the corner are the first things that catch my eye and I make a beeline for them. In no time, I have crib parts scattered all over the floor. I go through the instructions, organize the parts, and get to work. I can’t wait to bring my babies home. They’ll be keeping us up through the night, but I don’t think I’d be able to sleep anyway. Every second my eyes are closed is a moment I’m missing with them. As soon as I get done here, it’s back to the hospital. Hopefully, I can have my family home with me by tomorrow. We might have to stay here for a while so we’ll have some help, and some time to finish the nursery at our house.
I’m putting the final touches on the crib and contemplating going home to assemble the ones there when Razor knocks on the door.
“Prez, you’re needed out here.”
“Jesus. What is it now?”
“Maybe you should come see for yourself.”
“Fucking hell,” I growl in irritation, walking ahead of him back to the bar.
There, I find one of the last fucking people I want to see right now. Fuck!
“Reaper,” he greets me, his face grim.
I approach him, knowing he won’t come to me. It’s also just like him to show up and not fucking call. I nod in greeting to the two men with him.
“You should’ve called.” I extend my hand to him and he takes it in a firm grip. “We would’ve prepared for your visit.”
“Not a social call. We need to talk.”
“Sure thing. Let’s go to my office.”
I sit behind my desk, observing him and waiting for him to speak, even though I know exactly why he’s here.
“How’s the family?” he asks.
“In the hospital. Babies came but there were some complications.”
His expression changes, and it’s evident he knows that will affect my decision and the outcome of our conversation.
“How are they?”
“Okay for now.”
“I see. That’s good.” He rubs at his long gray beard, seemingly buying time to figure out how to continue. I’ve never seen him do that. He doesn’t give a rat’s ass about tact; however, he wants something from me, and I’m sure that’s what’s giving him pause. “Have you given any thought to what we discussed?”
“I have.”
“And?”
“And….” I think fast, trying to figure out what to say. With everything going on, I haven’t had the time to come up with a solution. I need to stall him. “I have a proposition for you, Krueger.”
CHAPTER 8
E SQUARED
***Ellen***
Jon arrives home when Aunt Nita is hustling Mikey out the door.
“Daddy!” he shrieks, wringing his hand from her hold and racing to Jon. His reaction is always the same, making me realize how much he was missing out on by not having a father. Gage and Daddy did their best, but it wasn’t the same. He’s so much happier now, and so am I. We both have Jon to thank for that.
“Hey, buddy!” Jon swings him into the air, grinning up at him as the boy squeals in delight.
I watch them, knowing Mikey couldn’t have a better father than if Eddie himself were here. I think Mikey loves him more than I do, if that’s even possible.
“You behave for your auntie, now.”
“Yes, Daddy.”
Jon kisses Aunt Nita’s cheek, handing Mikey back to her before approaching me, slipping his arm around my waist.
“You two have fun.” Aunt Nita winks, heading for the door once more.
“Bye, Momma. Bye, Daddy!”
>
“Bye, baby. See you tomorrow.” I blow him a kiss and then turn to Jon. “So, are you gonna tell me what you have planned?”
“It’s a surprise.” He smiles, leaning down to plant a gentle kiss on my lips. “Now go get ready. I’m gonna jump in the shower.”
“What are you up to, Dr. Emerson?” I raise a skeptical brow.
“What? I can’t take my woman on a date?”
I’m still suspicious but I turn away, heading to the bedroom. “Okay, but I’m famished. I might order everything on the menu.”
“Anything you want, beautiful.”
“I’m gonna hold you to that.” I throw him a smile over my shoulder as I make my way to the closet. Removing my dress, I admire it for a few seconds before laying it on the bed. It’s a rich chocolate brown—perfectly matching the color of my hair—with elbow-length sleeves. The bodice is lace, a satin sash wrapped around the empire waist and tied into a bow. The stretchy material of the skirt makes it comfortable and easy to maneuver.
With Jon in the bathroom, I sit at the dresser and apply my makeup. That done, I slip into my dress and walk back to the closet to fetch my brown and gold pumps with the three-inch heels. Given my short stature, I prefer a higher heel, but I’m foregoing those for the next couple of months. I have no idea how some pregnant women walk around in six-inch heels.
“Jesus.”
I turn at the sound of Jon’s voice, finding him staring at me from the doorway to the bathroom.
“What?”
His Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows. “Gorgeous” is all he says.
I blush, averting my gaze. “I’m not even ready yet.” I reach up and start removing the curlers from my hair, sitting at the dresser again.
“Doesn’t matter. You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
“There you go again, inflating my ego.”
“Just the truth, Ellen.”
The sincerity in his tone touches my heart. Maybe it’s the pregnancy hormones, but my eyes tear up. I turn on the bench, pointing my brush at him. “Get dressed before you make me start crying.”
Smiling, he walks over, dropping a kiss on the top of my head. I track his movements in the mirror as I fix my hair, wondering what I ever did to deserve this man. He’s the stuff that dream men are made of.
Paradox: A Death Dealers MC Novella (Book 5.5) Page 6