Page 9 of Viper

I have to win. I need to know my son is safe.

Finally, after another long fifteen minutes, the Judge and our attorneys re-enter the room, sans Archer. I stand, and Maggie quickly takes her place behind her table and looks at Gail expectantly. I take in the unhappy glint in the lawyer’s eyes, and a small swell of hope starts to stir. Hunter stands beside me and gives me a very subtle nod that tells me everything is fine.

Judge Brown takes his seat and looks at me, then Maggie, and finally to the bailiff. “Any problems?” he asks the man.

The bailiff gives him a run down, and I see the Judge’s mouth turn down into a frown of annoyance. Once the bailiff finishes his recounting, Judge Brown looks at Maggie and scolds, “Clearly, Ms. Bell, you seem to have a problem with following my rules.” Maggie tries to look apologetic but doesn’t quite pull it off. Then Judge Brown looks at Tony and gives him a hard glare. “And you, sir, are a grown ass man and know better than to put hands on someone else. If you can’t behave yourself, you will leave my courtroom.” Tony gives a clipped nod, but doesn’t reply, his eyes bright and angry for being told off. “Now, I have spoken with the younger Mr. MacKenzie, and I have to say, you have a brilliant young man. And he has made it clear his preference is to spend more time with his father.”

“Your Honor,” Gail tries to say.

“Enough, Counselor,” Judge Brown barks at her. “You had your chance, and now I’m going to give my ruling. And I’d like to add, Counselor, that you had better have a chat with your client about her behavior because next time I will not be so lenient.” He looks at Hunter and I. “You, Mr. MacKenzie, have a very devoted son, and he spoke highly of your friends. I do know the Devil’s Soldiers MC, and I know your MC has been responsible for a lot of good and charitable events in the city, so I don’t think your son spending time with them is overly concerning. So it is my decision that effective immediately, Mr. MacKenzie be awarded joint custody of Mr. Archer MacKenzie, and his child support payments will be reduced accordingly. However, Mr. MacKenzie and Ms. Bell, you will both submit to random drug tests over the next six months, and either of you test positive, then custody will be revisited immediately. ”

“No!” Maggie screams, furious. Gail tries to quiet her, but Maggie is pissed and raging at the judge, as relief fills me. Hunter looks at me with a cool expression, but the triumph in his eyes tells me all I need to know.

“Order!” Judge Brown yells, banging the gavel, as a couple of bailiffs head for Maggie, who must finally realize what’s about to happen as she stops her screeching and stands quietly by a scowling Gail. Judge Brown scolds her harshly and then turns to me and says, “Mr. MacKenzie, your attorney can show you where to find your son. Seeing as this is Monday, you will have your son until Sunday evening, when he is expected to be returned to his mother’s house. The court will send you documentation on your new child support payments in the mail. Until you receive those, you are expected to pay the same amount and you will be credited for it once it goes into full effect. Is that clear?”

“Yes, Your Honor.” I want to pump my fist in the air, but restrain myself. Barely.

“Good. Ms. Bell, you and your attorney will remain here until Mr. MacKenzie and his lawyer have left the room. And I will warn you only once more if you don’t conduct yourself properly, I will hold you in contempt, and you can spend the rest of the night in jail.” There’s a hard edge to his voice, but I don’t look at him or at Maggie and her group. I’m too anxious to get to Archer. To let him know that things are going to change.

I gather my things and then Hunter and I head out of the courtroom. As soon we clear the doors, I turn to see Hunter grinning up at me. “Fucking finally,” Hunter laughed. “Damn, man, that was a long haul, but we got it.” The two of us shake hands and he says, “I’ll take you to Archer, and then I’ll go to the office to start the paperwork so we can cut those payments down as soon as possible. Hopefully it will only be a month or so, but just plan for at least two.”

“I’m all good,” I assure him. We head down the hall to another area and Hunter indicates the door to go in. “Thanks again, man,” I say, clapping him on the shoulder, before I turn to the door, anxious to get to my son and let him know the good news.

When I open it, I’m greeted by the sight of my son sitting beside a large wooden desk, smiling and laughing, clearly fine. When he hears the door open, he turns and looks at me and beams. “Dad!” he cries, running toward me as I smile at him. But then I turn my head when I hear a noise and see the woman sitting there.

Recognition hits me, and a range of emotions move through me. Right behind it is a deep desire, and a flash of the images in my head from our night together; of her calling me Daddy and making me come so damn hard I blacked out. Then it’s annoyance, because this is also the woman that snuck out on me, without the courtesy of waking me up to say goodbye. And finally, determination, because I want some answers. I haven’t stopped thinking about that night, or her, and I want more. Though from the slight panic look in her eyes, she’s not feeling the same.

So I tell myself she won’t be able to hide from me again.

“Hey, buddy. You and I are going to be spending some more time together,” I tell him with a warm smile and a tight hug.

Archer’s face lights up, and I don’t think I’ve ever been happier than this moment. “Really?” he practically screams, hugging me again. But then he stops and pulls back. “But what about Mom?” he asks worriedly.

This is why I love my kid. He’s always thinking of others, including the woman I know he’s struggling to understand right now. “Mom is fine,” I lie smoothly. I rarely lie to my son, but sometimes, when it comes to his mom, I need to be okay with that because otherwise I’d have to tell him something that would make him see her negatively. Well, more than he already does, and I won’t be responsible for that, no matter how much she pisses me off. “So how about we get going, huh?”

“Okay,” Archer says excitedly, before looking over at Eden, who is watching us with a small smile on her face. “Thanks for letting me talk with you, Ms. Eden,” he says. “And thank you for sharing your secret stash.”

“Secret stash?” I repeat, giving Eden a slow smile as her gaze moves back to mine. There’s a flash in her eyes as they connect with mine, but it’s quickly gone.

“Yep. Unfortunately for you, Mr. MacKenzie, you’re a little too late to know about it, and only a certain amount of people get to know what it is and it’s location.” She gives Archer a wink, and he grins back and nods. Clearly, he’s okay with being in on this secret.

It gives me an odd feeling seeing her here with my son. Especially considering the circumstances and our night together. Not a terrible one where I’m panicking thinking that a one-night stand is trying to hone in on my life by getting close to my son, but one that seeing her with him isn’t causing me much panic. Still, today has been a fucking emotional day, so I probably shouldn’t be thinking about any of this anyway.

“Well, since I’m not allowed to know the secret, I guess we’ll get going,” I say with a grin at Archer. “Thank you, Ms. Eden, for spending time with him.” I enunciate her name pointedly, and she holds my stare, her lips pulled up in a slight smirk. She might have been shocked at seeing me, but clearly she’s not embarrassed, nor should she be. But this won’t be the last time I see her if I have anything to say about it.

“My pleasure,” Eden responds. “You have a very smart kid here, Mr. MacKenzie. See you later, Archer.” Then she sits back down at her desk, and that’s as clear a signal as any that she’s done and it’s time for us to go.

Archer heads out of the room ahead of me, and I stop in the doorway and look back at Eden, who is already typing away on her computer. “I’ll see you around, spitfire,” I tell her with a wicked grin, making her head whip around to stare at me in shock. I give her a wink, and then walk out, shutting the door behind me. A little something to leave behind, and I’ll catch up with her later.

Archer and I head out of the courthouse to my bike, and I quickly get him geared up for the ride, while I also put my cut back on over my shoulders. My shoulders relax, and I finally feel like myself again. My cut has been a part of who I am for so long, that being without it makes me feel exposed.

I drive Archer and I back to my office, where he quickly climbs off the bike and rushes inside, clearly excited to tell my brothers the good news. I follow a bit slower, and I’m met with the sight of Archer already announcing the good news to all the men in the room. Namely Shadow, Hulk, and Crypt, the club’s newest Prospect and employee. All three of them are smiling at Archer, even Crypt, who rarely does more than stare blankly at most, the creepy fucker. He could give Shadow a run for his money some days.

“Dude, that’s awesome,” Shadow says, high-fiving Archer and then looking at me. “Congrats, brother.”

I smile and stop just behind Archer. “Thanks. Figured we’d come back here to share the good news. Archer, are you okay to hang out with Crypt and Hulk for a bit while Shadow and I do some interviews? Then we’ll go out and get something special to eat to celebrate?”

“Yep!” Archer says excitedly and looks up at Hulk with a beaming smile. “Do you have time to do some moves with me?”

---