Page 42 of Raptor

Christ, she really thinks badly about me. "That could never happen."

"When did you arrive in Dublin?" she asks once she's gotten her tears under control.

"I told you I was comin', didn't I?" I ask and she nods. "What I hadn't let you in on was that the club voted and now I'm the vice president of the Fury Vipers MC: Dublin chapter."

Silence spreads between us. "Wait... does that mean you live here now?"

I grin at the happiness in her voice. "Yeah, darlin', that's exactly what it means."

"Oh," she breathes. "But what about your family and the club in New York?"

"Darlin', I knew the moment I met you that you were somethin' special. Bein' apart was fuckin' torture. Pyro is my best friend and has been since he joined the club. He lives here and so do you. There was only one place I was comin'."

"Shane," she cries. "God, you gave up everything."

"Trust me, Mal, it's not everything. You and Shay are."

Her shoulders begin to shake as she sobs. "God, you're killing me. I don't deserve you, I really don't."

Her low self-esteem is something we're going to work on. I fucking hate how she puts herself down. That shit is stopping now.

"We're here," she tells me. "And I'm pretty sure Shay needs a nappy change."

I chuckle as the smell hits me. Damn, how can something so little make such a nasty smell?

"Let's get you inside," I say. Now that we have the secrecy about the pregnancy out of the way, we're going to unpack everything else.

No more fucking secrets.

Chapter 17

Mallory

I've thought about this day for a long time and I always wondered what would happen. Shane has been beyond amazing. I thought he'd hate me, despise me for keeping his son from him. Instead, he's helped me and been so damn sweet. I don't know how the hell I got so lucky, but I'm so glad he gave me a chance to explain everything. I know my decision was selfish and I'll always regret it. I'm just very grateful that Shane hasn't pushed me aside. Instead, he's made it clear that he wants me, wants Shay. That's more than I could have ever thought possible.

"Where am I puttin' him, babe?" he asks as we walk into the house. Shay's babbling away to himself as he looks up at Shane. He's absolutely besotted with his da. I'm so happy they're together.

"I need to change him first," I say as I reach for the changing bag Ma left beside the door. No doubt she was in a rush when she left today when Denis called her. I know she was scared. She hates whenever I leave the house as she's scared what'll happen to me. We've been dealing with Micah's beatings together andshe's seen what he's done to me each and every time he shows up. She's frightened that one day he'll kill me. We both are.

“You point me in the right direction and I'll do it. You need to rest," he tells me.

My heart warms at his words. God, I really did luck out with him.

I hand him the changing bag and tell him there's a changing table in the nursery. A place I haven't used much yet as I wasn't planning on moving him from my room until he was six months old. That's what my midwife told me was the best time, at least six months old. I love having him beside me and I feel a comfort knowing he's safe in his crib next to my bed.

While he's upstairs, I quickly make Shay a bottle. He'll be hungry any minute. My boy's like clockwork.

I sink down on the sofa. I'm in so much pain, but I can't take any pain medication. I need to be alert in case Micah breaks in. He hasn't broken into our house since the night I came home from the hospital with Shay, but that doesn't mean he won't ever do that. I need to be level-headed and have a clear mind to ensure that if something happens, I'm ready for it. Beside my bed I have a baseball bat, not to mention a knife under my pillow. If he turns up, I'm ready to protect my mam and son with everything that I am.

I can hear Shane talking to Shay and it brings a smile to my face. Shay will grow up with his father at his side, and it's what should have been from the get-go.

"There's mommy," he says a while later as he comes to sit down beside me. "You doin' okay, babe?"

I nod. "Yeah, just tired." I hand him the bottle as Shay starts to fuss.

His gaze is unwavering as he studies me. "You not been sleepin'?" he asks and settles Shay into his arm to feed him. He's a natural. I know from what Chloe has told me that Shane'sbrothers have a slew of kids, and it's pretty clear he's a good uncle to them.

"Not really. I guess I'm used to it. When Micah does his shit, I tend to sleep for a bit. My body needs it. When that happens, Ma doesn't sleep."

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