Page 24 of Baby Me

“There was a silver Mercedes parked outside when I answered the door.” Star informed him.

“Son of a bitch,” he growled.

“Vina?” Star called out my name as if it was a question.

“It’s Davina. Davina Perrish.”

“Davina, I know that woman probably put shit in your head, and made you a bunch of promises, but the likelihood of Jared being the father is slim, you have to know that.”

“It’s still a possibility and I need to know now.”

“Why? Why do you need to know now?”

I guess there was no getting around it. “She has cancer.” A wave of sheer sadness and terror swept over me and there was no way I could hold it all in anymore. The lead bricks in my stomach were too much to bear on top of this whole shitty situation. That bitch sent me here to cause havoc for a club brother. Her ex-boyfriend, according to Bagger. Shit. Shit. Shit. At this rate, no one from the club would help me or my daughter.

“That’s some more shit that Missy probably fed her!”

“No,” I cried out to Bagger.

“What can we do to help?”

I shrugged my shoulders and watched through teary eyes as Jared paced across the room from us. Star came over and put her arm around me and pulled me into her body in a comforting gesture.

“Obviously, a DNA test has to happen. Considering you worked for the club, we will go over there and ask the men that you slept with around the last two weeks of October and first two weeks of November to take a test. We can’t force them to, but it’s the best I can offer you.”

I cried into Star’s shoulder even harder. “W-w-why would you help me?”

“Sweetheart?” She waited until our eyes met to continue. “Were you with my dad or brother around that time?” I nodded, slightly embarrassed that I had to admit to that while crying in this woman’s arms. “Okay, so that means three of the men in my life could possibly have fathered your child. If it’s Jared, that might be my stepdaughter one day. If it’s Kip or Tripp, it could be my niece or my sister. If you’re looking for the father, I’m assuming you’re looking for a match for a donation?”

“Bone marrow.” My answer was almost whisper quiet because it felt like admitting that made it more real than our situation already was.

“Okay, well, I will go in and get tested right away. You tell me when and where. If I’m a match, I’ll gladly donate.”

“Why are you being so nice?” I sniffled and hated that I sounded so whiny. I just had no more energy to fake being okay.

“Honey, if I’m a match, she’s most likely my kin.”

“Sorry, Vina. Missy’s been causing problems lately. I shouldn’t have taken it out on you. We’ll get the tests done. If she’s my daughter, you know I’ll take care of her, and see if I’m a match. I have to ask that you don’t try to bring her around until we know something though.” Bagger was nicer to me now that he knew his ex must have painted a different picture for me before dropping me off on his doorstep.

“I understand. I don’t want her to know until it’s confirmed anyway.”

Jared nodded. “You know that you’re going to have to answer to the club for keeping her a secret, right?”

“I know.” I stared down at the ground, unable to meet either of their eyes. Technically, the club could take my baby from me and if they saw fit, eliminate me altogether for the breach of trust. Coral was undoubtedly a club kid. Most of the men treasured their children when they had them and the rest of the club doted on them.

“Let’s get you a ride home since the one that brought you here took off.” Jared told me. “Word of advice, stay far the fuck away from Missy. She’s interfered one too many times now, and things aren’t going to go very well for her from here on out.”

“Okay, thanks. I’m sorry about her. I really didn’t know. She made it sound like you were still together and that she was giving me a chance to talk to you alone.” I turned my attention to Star then. “That’s why I had attitude with you when you opened the door. It’s one thing for the guys to be with the club girls, but to openly cheat on their women…” I let that hang in the air.

“Honey, there is not a difference to me. If this idiot gets caught with a club girl here, on the road, or wherever he won’t be my man anymore.”

I smiled at her boldness. It was nice to know she was strong and secure enough in who she was to take that stance. “I wish I had been like that. Might have saved me some heartache along the way.”

Chapter 11

Tripp

“I want you so bad right now,” June admitted to me.

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