Mom gives Spike a glare. “You touch him, Spike, and I’ll open a can of whoop-ass on you that not even that pretty dress can protect you from.”
He flips her the bird. She grins at him.
I roll my eyes and walk to my dad’s bedside. It’s been a week since everything went down, and Dad gets to come home sometime in the next two days. He’s still in a fair bit of pain and has been told he needs a lot of rest, which makes him seriously unhappy. Mom, however, is relishing in it. That’s not surprising; she probably thinks it’s damned hilarious she has the upper hand for once.
Spike is going home today, but he too has restrictions. Tyke went home yesterday, and so did all the Jokers guys.
“Come on,” Danny says. “Let’s leave these lovely ladies to it.”
“Careful, boy. I’ll be fit again soon,” Spike warns him.
“Hearin’ you, old man.” Danny grins.
“Where are you two off to anyway?”
“Goin’ to move my shit into Skye’s apartment.”
All their eyes get big.
“Wait, since when are you two movin’ in together?” Dad demands.
I grab Danny’s hand. “Later, you guys.”
“Skye!” Mom calls. “Oh no you don’t.”
Danny hurries me out the door.
“Danny, you little shit!” Spike bellows.
Danny and I jog down the hall, laughing our asses off.
“Fuck, that was worth every second.”
I chuckle. “Hell yes it was.”
“You ready to go baby shopping?”
I take his hand. “You’re far more excited about this than I am.”
“Course I am; my son needs the best.”
I thump his arm. “It’s a girl, and yes she does.”
“Baby, it’s a boy. My balls only produce the toughest.”
I snort. “Well, considering most of the time girls are tougher than boys, I’d say you’re wrong about that.”
“Dream on.”
“Either way, he or she is definitely going to be as good-looking as me.”
He rolls his eyes. “Whatever you say, baby.”
“Come on, tough guy. Let’s go and fight over putting a crib together.”
“So long as we can fuck after it, I’m more than okay with that.”
I take his hand and tug him down the hall, smiling the entire time.
I think this is finally the start to a safe, happy life.
And I couldn’t be more ready.
~*~*~*~
FOUR MONTHS LATER
“Oh my God, Danny,” I cry out from my spot on the sofa. “Seriously, this is the best ice cream ever.”
Danny appears in the doorway. “Considering it’s the eighth tub you’ve eaten this week, I don’t think you are overly picky about your ice cream.”
I scowl at him. “It’s not the eighth tub.”
He raises his brows.
I put a hand to my belly. “Whatever. The baby wants it.”
“Not complainin’, babe. It’s makin’ your booty nice and round. I like that.”
I gasp. I quickly stand and stare down at my bum. “It is not round!”
“It’s round.”
“It’s not.” I plop back down onto the couch and hide my butt.
“Baby, it is.”
He turns and walks out. “You get back here, mister.”
“Why don’t you get up and chase me?” He chuckles from the kitchen.
“You’re an awful man, Danny. Your momma would be ashamed.”
“My momma taught me to be awful.”
I laugh. “You make a valid point.”
“Gotta go into work. Do not call me asking for chocolate pancakes again today—that shit ain’t happening.”
“I only called you once,” I point out.
“Five times, and I had to hunt around tryin’ to find what you needed. It wasn’t pretty.”
“You could have just made them for me,” I point out, waving a spoon at him when he comes back in.
“Or you could make them yourself; you’re not a cripple.”
“They taste better when someone else does it.”
“No callin’ me, baby,” he warns playfully.
“Even if it’s a booty call?”
His eyes flick to my ass. “That booty I’d come home for.”
“Animal.”
“You started it. Call Addi if you need anything, or my mom. They’d both be happy to feed you endless supplies of sugar and shit.”
“Your daughter is the one demanding I eat it.”
“My son is not; it’s all you.”
I grin at him.
He winks at me. “Later baby.”
“Later Danny.”
He disappears out the door and I don’t lose my smile. He looks so happy, so at ease. Granddad decided he wanted to further take the club out of any business that was illegal or dangerous; everyone agreed that enough was enough. They weren’t going to involve themselves anymore—it was too risky. They were just going to let the club run its natural course and eventually shut down. Which means no one is stepping up for the role of president.
Granddad decided to buy a garage and start his own repair business. He also does custom painting and builds. He employs most of the club members, including Danny, to do the work. They’ve been quite successful and for the past few months, there has been no violence, no danger, and no death. They still run the club like normal—they just stay out of trouble.
They go on rides, have meetings, cookouts and parties, and deal with any business that isn’t going to get them hurt. All the old ladies are more than relieved. Danny earns good money and he loves working with his hands. He still plays a big part in club life, which makes him happy, but there was no way anyone could convince him to step up and keep the club going after the latest incident.
Nobody argued with him.
Life is finally good again.
I’m over six months pregnant and more than ready to burst. Danny is everything I knew he’d be. He’s strong, loyal, caring, and sexy. He looks after me and the baby. He even painted and decorated the nursery. Not to mention he purchased the apartment so we no longer rent it and has redone the bathrooms, kitchen, and flooring himself. Well, with the help of the club.
He’s happy. I’m happy.
Everything is going exactly how it’s meant to and it feels amazing.
Now we just have to get through the birth of our first child.
That shit could get ugly.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
TWO AND A BIT MONTHS LATER
“She needs water!” Mom cries, rushing around my apartment. “Hydration is key.”
“She doesn’t need fuckin’ water, Addison,” Spike barks. “She needs drugs.”
“She’s doing this drug-free,” Ciara calls. “Don’t you dare.”
“Fuck drug-free,” Dad mutters. “I’ve seen those things come out; give her drugs.”
“How about you all shut the fuck up,” Danny growls, “and let me get her to the car so we can have this baby?”
I clutch his arm, whining in pain. My waters broke two hours ago and since then the contractions have come hard and fast, seeming to cripple me with every step.
“Where’s her hospital bag?” Mom shouts. “She can’t leave without it.”
“Jesus, woman,” Dad yells. “Just move along.”
“Oh God,” I groan, my knees buckling. “It’s hurting.”
“It does hurt, honey. Come on, you’re nearly to the front door.”
Pain unlike anything I’ve ever felt grips my stomach and the urge to push is so intense I stop, grabbing Danny’s arm and screaming in agony, bending over, my entire body heaving.
“That doesn’t look normal,” Spike says, his voice tight.
“Oh God,” I scream. “I think it’s coming out.”
“Say what?” Dad yells. “Fuck. Someone call an ambulance.”
I scream again. It feels like big hands are wrapped around my s
tomach, squeezing the life out of me. Tight, gripping pain spreads across my abdomen and the heaviness between my legs is too intense. I can’t walk.
“I can’t walk,” I scream. “Danny, I think the baby is coming.”
“Jesus Christ,” he yells. “What the fuck do we do?”
“Oh God,” Mom says, her voice panicked. “Oh God.”
“Jesus,” Ciara mutters, shoving past everyone. “Addison, get towels, lots of them. Cade, Spike, you need to get some warm water and washers, and call the ambulance. Danny, lay her down.”
I scream as another overwhelming contraction hits me. “I need to push!” I wail. “I need to push.”
“Fuck. Can’t watch this,” Dad says. “Not my daughter. Not my baby.”
“Then get out,” Spike says. “I’m watchin’.”
“You are not!” Mom cries. “You two stay where you can’t see. Give her some space.”
The two men move to the opposite end of where my lady bits are about to be exposed, and Ciara lays a towel over me when Danny lowers me to the floor. My body curls forward as another agonizing contraction hits. I can’t stop the pushing; this baby is coming now whether I like it or not.
“I think,” I scream. “Oh God. The baby is coming.”
“Pants off, Danny, go,” Mom yells. “Hurry.”
Danny pulls my shorts off and curses loudly. “I can see a head, fuck. Has someone called an ambulance?”
“On their way,” Spike yells from the corner.
“This baby will be here before then,” Ciara says. “Danny, you need to get a towel in your hands and prepare yourself. You’re about to deliver your baby.”
“Oh God,” I wail. “Oh . . . oh God!”
Another push takes over and I throw my body forward, clenching my teeth and screaming as my body attempts to expel the baby, heaving and clenching.
“All right, honey,” Ciara says, standing next to a frantic Danny. “Another push and you’re home free. I can see the baby’s head very clearly. Are you ready, Danny?”
“No, fuck no,” he says, his voice rattled.
“Don’t you drop that baby! That’s my grandbaby,” Spike yells.
“Spike!” Mom calls. “Shut the hell up.”
Mom sits beside me, holding my hand. “It hurts,” I bellow. “Get it out, get it out.”
“One more push, honey. Give it everything you’ve got,” Ciara urges.
A contraction takes me, and I suck in a breath before pushing with everything I’ve got. Pain rips through my body and then just like that, it’s gone. Danny moves, his hands going down between my legs, and then the room is filled with the crackling cries of a newborn baby.
“It’s a boy!” Ciara sobs. “It’s a beautiful baby boy.”
“Oh fuck,” Danny says, his voice flooded with emotion. “He’s perfect.”
“You need to clear his mouth, make sure there’s nothing stuck in there.”
They fiddle around for a few seconds, and then Danny comes up from the floor with a tiny baby wrapped in a towel. He moves next to me and places the baby in my arms. He has the darkest hair, and so much of it. I stare down at the most precious little face, chubby cheeks and tiny pink lips. I hiccup and tears roll down my cheeks.
“Oh God,” Mom sobs. “Oh God, he’s beautiful.”
“Looks just like me,” Dad says, his voice thick as he kneels down beside us.
Spike snorts, but it’s full of emotion. “He might have your hair, Cade, but the boy is like me. Look at those strong hands.”
I laugh through my tears. I can see Danny in his little face, even at this early age.
“You just delivered your baby,” Ciara says, taking Danny’s hand. “Congratulations, honey.”
“Hi,” I whisper to the tiny baby. “Hi beautiful baby.”
“I’m going to lose it,” Mom sobs. “It’s going to get ugly, really fast.”
I smile at her. “You want to hold him?”
“Oh God,” she wails, gently taking the baby from my arms. She has to stay close because he still has everything attached, but the joy on her face is more than worth it.
“Hello, beautiful boy. Your nanny is going to spoil you so bad.”
“I’m Nanny,” Ciara argues, nestling in beside Mom and taking my sons fingers. “You can be Grandma.”
“Grandma makes me sound old,” Mom protests.
“You are old,” Ciara throws back.
“Oh for Christ’s sake,” Dad mutters. “It starts.”
“I know,” Spike says. “You can both be Nanny, because who the fuck cares?”
“Don’t swear in front of my grandbaby,” Mom scoffs at him.
Danny takes my hand and I look to him. The emotion in his eyes is the best thing I’ve ever seen in my life. “We have a son,” I say softly.
“Yeah, baby, we have a son.”
And he’s perfect.
Just like us.
Just like everything.
Finally.
EPILOGUE
SIX WEEKS LATER
“I told you he was like me,” Spike says, cradling Carter, our son, in his arms. “Look at those eyes.”
“Those eyes are a standard color, Spike,” Mom argues. “Lots of people have brown eyes.”
“Not you, not Cade, not Skye, and not Danny. No, the brown eyes come from me.”
I smile and shake my head, leaning back into Danny.
“The hair is mine, though,” Dad adds.
“I got the eyes,” Spike throws at him. “You can have the damned hair.”
I roll my eyes and watch as Spike holds my son in his big arms, giving him a look of pride and love. The last month has been intense. They’ve been like a bunch of squabbling school children when it comes to Carter, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. He’s loved so much that I know that he’ll never be alone, not for a single second of his life. That warms my heart.
Carter squirms in Spike’s arms, then opens his tiny mouth and wails.
“Food time,” I say, getting up and sliding my beautiful baby boy from Spike’s arms.
“Boy’s smart. He knows good things when they’re presented to him.”
“If you’re referring to Skye’s boobs, Dad . . . don’t,” reprimands Danny.
Spike winks at him.
I chuckle and walk into the living area to feed my son privately. Danny comes in a few minutes later and sits beside me, running his big hand over Carter’s soft hair.
“Don’t matter how much I touch his hair, it’s the best thing I’ve ever felt.”
“His smell gets me; there’s nothing like it.”
“Do you enjoy the small of baby vomit, doll?” He grins.
I use my free hand to thump him.
We both stare down at Carter as he feeds, love swelling in my chest and no doubt in both of theirs as well.
“Never thought I was ready to be a dad so early, but havin’ him, fuck . . . I can’t imagine why I waited.”
“Well, that would be because your girl is a confusing person who ran you around for so many years.”
He grins. “I can’t argue that, however, you did have a point all along.”
“Do you regret not stepping up as club president?” I ask, stroking Carter’s soft cheek as he feeds.
“Not for a second. Seeing you hurt was enough, but the second this little man came into the world I knew I could never bear to see anything happen to him. The club has made the right choice; it might get another twenty years with Jacks running it, but it’ll never be what it was and everyone is okay with letting it run its course and end when Jackson ends.”
“Ugh, don’t say that.”
“It’s his club, his pride, and it should go out with him.”
“I agree with you there.”
I finish up feeding Carter and hand him over to Danny, who gently rubs his back.
“Where is my nephew? Where is he?”
Mercedes enters the room, Diesel following close behind her. She sees Carter and makes a
happy crooning sound in her throat, rushing over and putting her hands out. Danny shakes his head, muttering a curse, but hands him over. Mercedes presses her face to his hair and breathes him in.
“I told you he smells good,” I point out to Danny.
“Hello, baby,” she croons. “Hello, handsome boy.”
“Someone’s clucky,” I say to Diesel, and his eyes get big.
Danny bursts out laughing.
“Shut up,” Mercedes says to him. “Dick face.”
“Don’t swear around my baby, Sis.”
She flips him the bird. “Silent swearing.”
I laugh and stand, walking over to her. “Your turn soon.”
“Or not,” Diesel says, his voice thick and a little alarmed.
“I’ll make the cutest babies. Can you imagine?” she grins, teasing Diesel.
“You so will.” I laugh.
“So, we’ve all decided you’re coming to the cookout tonight because you didn’t come to the last one. There are enough of us to look after this handsome little man, but it’s time you and Danny got some time out.”
That would be awesome. “Okay,” I happily agree. “I’m not complaining.”
“Oh yay, now I get to spend all this extra time with you,” she says to Carter. “Lucky Aunty Mercy.”
Danny rolls his eyes. Diesel grins.
I just smile with happiness, watching my family come together.
~*~*~*~
“Truce, you asshole!” Ava cries, punching Danny in the stomach as he holds her in a headlock.
“Fuck truce. Torturing you is way too much fun.”
“You’re acting immature; you’re supposed to be a father now.”
He holds her tighter.
“Danny, you pig!”
I laugh and turn to Max, who watches them with a grin on his face.
“How’s things, Max?”
He looks to me. “Fucking great, you?”
“That was an enthusiastic great. Is there something I should know about?”
He’s smiling like . . . oh man, like a guy in love.
“Max, you speak right now and tell me where that goofy smile has come from. Wait, rephrase—who put it there.”
“Just a girl.”
“That is not a ‘just a girl’ kind of smile; that’s ‘the girl’ kind of smile. Spill.”
“It’s not a big deal, Skye.”
I shuffle closer and get in his face. “I squeezed a baby out of my vagina a month ago. I’ve been smothered in spew, poop, and tears. I have no gossip to keep me going. You’re going to tell me who is making you smile like that or I’m going to throw down.”