by Erin Osborne
I take Hollie in my room and gently lay her on the bed, she stirs for a minute as I cover her up and settles back in. Gunner lays my daughter in her bassinet and follows me back out to the hall where Celia is still standing.
“Gunner is an officer in this club and I’m the Vice President. You’ve had warnin’ after warnin’ about stayin’ away from me. You’ve been creepin’ by my room and all that shit. I never once said a word. Now, with my woman in my arms, you’re goin’ to play grab ass? You can get your shit and get the fuck out of here,” I tell the bitch, keeping my voice low and deadly.
“I don’t have to say a damn word to you,” she says defiantly.
“Never asked you to. We’re tellin’ you to get the fuck out. Don’t make me wake Raine up in the middle of the night. You won’t be allowed to take anythin’, get dressed, and you’ll have an ass whoopin’ on top of it,” I tell her, getting in her face. “Get your shit. Now!”
Celia walks into the room and begins to fling her shit all over the place. I’m not sure what she’s trying to accomplish right now, but she won’t be delaying her stay here. Telling her to hurry the fuck up, I leave the room while Gunner stays. We’re not going to trust this bitch with a Prospect now, not when she’s yelling and causing a scene in the clubhouse in the middle of the damn night.
When I enter my room, I softly close the door and turn around, I see Hollie sitting up in my bed. Her hair is a mess and the shirt she’s wearing is one of mine. She’s never looked better in my eyes.
“Are you okay?” she asks, looking up at me.
“Yeah. I was scared when I got up and Amber wasn’t here. But, I just took care of a problem with somethin’ I helped Gunner with,” he says.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t want her to wake you up when she started crying,” Hollie tells me.
“It’s okay. I didn’t know you were home,” I tell her, sitting on the bed next to her and pulling her into my lap.
“Raine called and told me what’s been going on. I packed my clothes and computers and headed home. I’m done running away and trying to prove something to myself. I can accomplish everything I need to do here. With you and Amber,” she answers, giving me a kiss.
I deepen the kiss because I need Hollie. She’s the one woman who owns my entire being and I’ll never give it to anyone else. If I could marry her today, I would. But, I want to do right by my woman and I’m going to take this as slow as it needs to be. For her and only her.
“Need to talk about somethin’,” I say when I finally pull from her embrace.
“What’s that?” she asks, still dazed.
“Gonna move into the house as soon as we wake up,” I tell her. “Been waitin’ on you to get home to make the move.”
“You haven’t stayed there a single day?” she asks, shock on her face.
“Nope. Told you the house was for the baby and you. Can’t make a home when half the couple isn’t there,” I tell her honestly.
“Will there be room for my stuff when it gets here?” she asks.
“Yep. I haven’t gotten anythin’ for it yet. The only furniture in the place is our bed and the crib in the nursery,” I tell her.
“Okay. I guess Raven and the guys are gonna bring it here when they get it all packed up,” Hollie tells me, laying down in my arms as we get comfortable.
“Okay. I’ll give him a call tomorrow with the address. I’m happy you had them while you were down there,” I tell her, meaning every word. “I didn’t like the thought of you bein’ alone.”
“I know. Capone, I need to talk to you about something too,” she says, turning on her side so she can face me. “When I was in Steel Mills, I felt like someone was watching and following me. The only person I can think of is Clay. I felt it on my way here too.”
“And no one else knows?” I ask, trying to figure out what to do.
“Nope. I didn’t say anything down there to anyone. No one ever approached me and I didn’t ever see anything out of the ordinary,” she says.
“Okay. We’ll get it figured out. We haven’t been able to find Clay and NeNe’s gone so we can’t ask her where he is. I haven’t heard of any of the guys seein’ him in town when they’ve been out either. We’ve been lookin’ for him, Holls and we’ll get him,” I tell her. “No one is gonna hurt you.”
“I know. I just don’t want to take any chances with Amber,” she says. “I want you to trust me with her and know I’ll never let anyone hurt her.”
“I already know that babe. Especially knowin’ you rushed here because you heard I was havin’ a rough time,” I say.
Before we can talk anymore, Amber begins to stir. Hollie jumps from the bed to grab her a bottle while I pick my princess up and change her diaper. I’m a damn pro at changing her now. Even when she’s shit all the way up her back and needs a bath. Yeah, Amber’s gotten me with that more than once so far. It’s disgusting as hell, but it’s all a part of being a parent. So, I roll with the punches and make sure she’s clean and taken care of.
Hollie rushes back into the room and I watch her pick Amber up in her arms. She cradles her against her chest and holds the bottle up for our girl. Amber greedily sucks the nipple in her mouth and begins eating. Her little eyes are closed and she’s got her tiny fingers wrapped around one of Hollie’s. I pull my phone out and capture the moment. Hollie is looking down at Amber while her eyes remain close and just her little fingers are seen wrapped around my woman’s. This moment is what I want to be a part of every single day for the rest of my life.
Chapter Thirty
Hollie
LAST NIGHT, LYING in Capone’s arms, was better than I remember. Granted, we were up and down with Amber getting up, but I wouldn’t change it for anything in the world. Especially when Capone wrapped his arms around me and pulled me to him so half my body was laying on top of his.
When we were up with Amber, we’d talk and laugh together like we’ve lost no time at all. Capone fell asleep with her on his chest and I paid him back by taking a picture of them. It’s adorable and I can’t help but want to capture more moments like this with the man who owns my entire being.
I was honestly worried about being around Amber, wondering if I’d feel some type of way because she’s not my child. I don’t. She’s Capone’s daughter and I’ll love her as if she were my very own. Amber will never know what it feels like to be pushed aside or made to feel different just because I didn’t carry her in me. She has already wrapped herself around my heart and I don’t see her every letting go of me. Or Capone.
When I got back to Willow Creek, I walked in the clubhouse and had Gunner open the door for me. Amber was fussing but Capone hadn’t heard her yet. I picked her up from the bassinet and she immediately calmed down in my arms. Gunner helped me get some diapers, wipes, bottles, her formula, and a pacifier to bring out to the common room with me.
The guys were still up, but I wasn’t about to go in some random room with Amber. Not even Satan’s. Gunner, Venom, Wrath, and Grinder kept me company for a while. Then they slowly started disappearing with the house bunnies. Wrath was the last one with me and he watched me intently as I took care of Amber. She’s already wrapping everyone around her little finger and I’m no different than the rest of them here.
Once I got Amber back to sleep, I guess I drifted off. I didn’t wake up until Capone came running into the room, scared and almost out of breath. It was horrible to see him looking like that because I caused it. I’m the one who took Amber from his room so he could sleep and he didn’t even know I was back. I don’t ever want to see that look on his face again.
Today is another thing entirely. We’re moving into the house he had built for us. He wants to get Amber out of the clubhouse and move things back to his regular room, away from the house bunnies. So, the guys are going to help him move everything in while I sit there with Amber. I mean, he’s already got some stuff in the house, but he says it’s not done.
Raven and a few guys from Steel Mills will
be here later today with my things. They got my house taken care of in a matter of hours and now are delivering it all to me. I can’t wait to see Raven again and see how Capone and he interact. Because Raven will be in my life now that I know him. I want to make sure he’s doing good and finally finds his happy ending.
So, I grab almost all of Amber’s things while the Prospects move Capone’s stuff back up to his room. We’re going to leave a few things here so we’re not constantly carrying everything back and forth. When her diapers and things get low, we can bring more here. Or just buy them for here. At least that’s what I anticipate us doing.
Once we have everything we need to take with us, I put Amber in her car seat in the SUV and we head over to the house. It’s less than a mile from Satan and Raine’s house so I’ll be close to my sister. While Satan cleared the trees from his property, I guess Capone has left most of the trees surrounding his house. He keeps calling it our house, but I won’t feel that way in the beginning. Who knows if I’ll ever feel that way about a house?
When we get close to the house, I can feel the anticipation seeping from Capone. He’s nervous about what I’m going to think of the house and what he’s done to it so far. I’m sure it will be fine. He’s tried describing the house to me and I laughed so hard at his descriptions. I don’t think I’ve laughed that hard my entire life. Capone took it in stride and laughed along with me. We talked about that when I was still in Steel Mills and we first started talking on a regular basis again.
Capone pulls into the back of the house and opens a garage door. My truck is already parked in the other side as he pulls the SUV in. One of the Prospects must have driven my baby over here when I was with Amber or sleeping still. I’ll have to find out which one drove it here.
“I brought it over earlier,” Capone says, reading my thoughts. “Knew you wouldn’t want anyone else drivin’ your baby.”
“Thank you,” I tell him. “Your bike gets its own bay in here too?”
“Yeah. Need someplace to keep it out of the rain,” he answers. “And the snow when we get it.”
I look around the garage and see his massive toolboxes sitting against the back wall. To the left of the truck sits an open door and I’m thinking it’s for storage of some sort. He leads me through a door once we get out of the truck and we walk through the laundry room and into the kitchen. It’s a massive room with a section for the dining room table. The table will sit in front of a bay window and I look forward to sitting there for our meals and doing some work when I don’t need to be in my office.
There’s a large living room past the kitchen and stairs leading down to the basement and upstairs to the second floor. Capone leads me to other side of the living room and opens the door. I walk in to find the nursery. The walls are painted a soft pink with a few pictures of the guys from the club hanging on the walls. Amber’s name is spelled out in colorful wooden letters above her crib. Looking at the crib, changing table, and rocking chair in the room, all the wood is a dark cherry color and I instantly fall in love with the space.
Amber’s bed has a bed set already on it with little bears. There’s a mobile hanging with different colored bears too. A purple blanket sits on the back of the rocking chair and Capone opens the closet doors to show me all of her little clothes already hanging up and sitting on the shelves. One side of the closet is nothing but her hanging clothes and stacks of boxes of diapers and wipes. The other side is filled with shelves and the rest of her clothes that don’t need to be hung up. It’s such a perfect room for this precious angel.
After laying her down in the crib since she’s sleeping, Capone leads me to the back of the house and shows me the master bedroom. It’s got a huge bed already sitting in the middle of the room with dark colored blankets on it. There’s a sliding door leading to a deck on the side of the house. On the one side of the door is a massive walk-in closet before you walk into the master bathroom. It’s got a large soaker tub in it and a huge shower you need to walk down into. There’s already some shower stuff in there.
A TV is mounted on the wall of the bedroom and I watch as Capone picks up the baby monitor from the nightstand. There’s even a built-in bookshelf under the TV, but it’s empty. I’ll find out what he plans on doing with that someday. For now, I just follow the man I’ve waited so long for.
Capone leads me upstairs and I see there’s another three bedrooms upstairs along with a huge game room. A storage room is off the game room. There’s already a poker table and a pool table in the game room. Along with another table for some reason.
“I thought you could work on your puzzles and stuff in here. If you want to that is,” he says, still unsure of himself and the house.
“I love it. All of it, Capone. What are the sleeping arrangements?” I ask, not sure of what he’s thinking.
“You’re in my bed, Holls. I’ve just gotten you back in my arms and I’m not gonna let you sleep alone. Besides, there’s only our bed in the master room right now,” he answers matter of factly.
“Okay. What are we gonna do with my bedroom furniture?”
“It can come up here to one of the rooms. We’ll outfit the rest later on. And you have a spot for an office down in the basement. I’ll show you,” he answers, leading me back downstairs and to the basement.
When we get to the bottom of the stairs, I see some workout equipment in the left corner of the basement. It’s even stuff I’ll be able to use when I have the time to work out. To the right is a desk with a filing cabinet already in place. It looks like Capone and I will each have office spaces down here. I love it. We’ll be able to see one another when we want to get our work done. If he’s not here, I can always sit upstairs with my laptop.
“I really love the house,” I tell him, meaning every word.
“Are you sure?” he asks. “We can change anythin’ you want. Includin’ the paint, because other than the nursery, I left everythin’ white for you to make this our home, Holls.”
“We’ll work on it as we can. It’s going to take us a minute to get in our own routine with Amber and me getting back to work. Both for the club and the authors I work with,” I answer him.
“How’s that goin’?” he asks me.
“It’s going good. I have one author named Keira who I do a lot of work for. I’ve done more than a few covers for her already and then I’m working on making some premade covers too. I’ve sold a few of them too,” I tell him.
“That’s great, Holls. I’m so proud of you,” he says, pulling me into his arms.
“Thank you.”
We walk back upstairs and hear a knocking on the door. I’m not sure who’s here so I hang back while Capone gets the door. I walk up only when I hear Wrath’s voice followed by Raven’s. They’re here already with my things and I can’t wait to see Raven and the guys again. It’s only been a day, but it feels like a lifetime when I hung out with them while I was there. And I want to make sure those girls are still at the restaurant with Gloria. If not, I’ll be pissed.
“Raven, it’s good to see you,” I say, going to hug him.
Capone pulls me back in his arms before I can even get close to my friend though.
“Uh huh. No huggin’ other men,” Capone says on a growl.
Raven and Wrath laugh as I look out and see Bender standing by the truck. I offer a wave and a smile as he returns it.
“Where do you want all this stuff?” Raven asks. “Hey, little one. Good to see you too. You definitely look happier than you did yesterday.”
I smile and burrow further into Capone’s arms. He holds me tight and kisses the top of my head. Yeah, living with him is going to be hard. Especially if we’re sharing a bed. Capone knows I want him and everything, but it’s going to be different if we’re living together. Before, we always had our separate places to go to if we needed it. Now, we’re in one house together and it’s going to be a whole different ball game.
“I’m gonna go check on the baby while you guys do your thing,�
� I say, leaving Capone’s arms and heading to the nursery.
Amber is just starting to stir as I get in the nursery and I pick her up to change her before feeding her. I’m sitting in the rocking chair with her when I feel eyes on me. Looking up, I find Raven standing in the doorway.
“Hey,” I murmur while Amber sleeps against my chest.
“Hey. You look good with her. You’re a natural,” he tells me.
“How’s Gloria and the waitresses?” I ask him.
“They’re still there,” he answers, walking into the room. “Gloria misses you. But, we all do and you just left yesterday. You’ve touched a lot of people while you were in Steel Mills.”
“I’m sorry. I wanted to stay there, but I’m needed here. Capone and Amber need me,” I answer.
“I know. He’s a lucky fucker,” Raven says with a sad smile on his face.
“Raven, it wouldn’t have worked between us. You don’t need or want a woman in your life. You’re happy with the house bunnies and that’s what you want right now. You’ll find your forever woman and she’ll knock you on your ass. I didn’t,” I tell my friend.
“I know, little one. We’ll stay in touch and I’ll let you know when it happens. I already know you’re gonna wanna meet her and give her the once-over,” he says on a small laugh.
“You’re damn right I do,” I tell him seriously.
“You do what?” Capone asks, walking into the room.
“I’m gonna be making sure Raven’s woman is good enough for him when he finds her,” I tell Capone.
“Oh, I see,” he says, shaking his head at me.
“We’ve only got a few boxes left,” Raven says. “Then we’ll be out of your way.”
“You’re staying for dinner,” I say, not caring what Capone thinks.
“Oh, um, well, I’m not sure about that,” Raven says, looking at Capone.
“Capone, they drove my stuff all the way here after loading it all up. I want to make them dinner. And I know you’re not heading back tonight. You’re going to the clubhouse because Satan wants to see Bender before you guys head back,” I say, glaring at Capone.