Page 40 of Sniper

Doc jumps into action.

The clubhouse becomes manic as Vi doubles over in pain, screaming, “I feel pressure!” and Tats rushes over to her, quickly picking her up bridal style and heading to Doc’s medical room. I smile, knowing they’re finally becoming a family, pranks and all.

An hour later, after being questioned by my flipping mother about my whereabouts, I walk into the apartment and smile.

Autumn is still passed out on the couch where I left her. I walk to the kitchen and notice my girl baking Autumn's penguin cake, and I have to admit, she’s done fucking well.

When she mentioned it, I told her I could get someone to bake the cake for her, you know, Olivia, who owns a bakery, or heck, even my fucking brother, who’s the best chef I know, but she was adamant she wanted to do it.

She let slip that she hadn’t been able to properly celebrate Autumn’s first or second birthday, but she wouldn’t explain more.

I know I don’t want to break her trust any more than I already have, but my patience is running thin.

I’m going to end up speaking to Tech soon, I know it.

“Are you going just to stand there and stare?” she asks, a smile lacing her voice.

I grin, leaning my shoulder against the door frame, and tilting my head.

She’s put her hair up in a messy bun, her light blue, strappy dress—I begged her to wear after buying it for her, hugging her figure lovingly.

She’s fucking magnificent.

I hum and admit, “I quite like the view.”

She looks at me, her cheeks are a little red but her smile is wide, making me smile back.

“Did you sort out the emergency?” she asks, and I swallow hard.

I fucking hate lying to her.

Clearing my throat, I admit, “I had to go to the clubhouse.” She stills, her whole body tensing. I continue, “Tats, a brother I grew up with and went to school with,” not a lie, “his woman played a prank on him.” Aurora turns toward me, furrowing her brows, and I continue, “She pretended to go into labor, and the fucker ended up tripping over a chair in panic, slid across the table, and landed with a very heavy thud on the floor before she started laughing.”

I know she doesn’t want to, but her grin breaks out.

I nod. “She ended up actually going into labor a few minutes later.” Her eyes widen, and I smile. “They had a very beautiful and very healthy baby boy, Freddie Anton Rodriguez.”

Aurora’s eyes soften, and she whispers, “That’s good.”

I nod and comment, “This is the first time you’ve not cut me off when I’ve spoken about the MC.” I tilt my head. “Talk to me, Rory….”

She flinches, wrings her hands together, opens her mouth, and hope builds. She’s about to tell me her past when we hear, “Momma, Daddy,” and I sigh.

Dammit….

I smile at my girl and say, “I’ve got her. You finish the cake.”

She nods, looking way too relieved for my liking, and I walk into the living room, my heart in my throat, questions running around my mind, and one of them, the one killing me….

Did a brother hurt her?

13

Sniper

I walk into the living room and grin when Autumn’s sleepy green eyes find me, her smile bigger than mine. I can’t even think to be mad at her for waking at the wrong time.

She runs over to me, and I pick her up and ask, “Did you have a good nap, birthday princess?”

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