Page 39 of Raptor

"We good, Gra?" Mallory asks once the doctor finishes.

"Yeah. Just be careful of your arm and wound. Though judging by the scars and bruises you have, I don't need to tell you that."

"I'll be careful," Mallory promises her. "Thanks so much, Gráinne. I appreciate it."

The doc pulls Mallory in for a hug and holds her tight. "I'll be back in a few days to check in on you. If you need anything, call me, okay? Maverick and Connor both have my number if you need it."

Maverick helps the doc pack up her shit and I move back to Mallory. I can't hold back any longer. I pull her into my arms and she comes willingly, her body shuddering against me. "I've missed you," she whispers.

"Ah, darlin', I've missed you too."

She glances up at me. "Please don't hate me. I'm so sorry for not telling you about Shay."

"We'll talk about it later," I promise her. Right now, I don't want to have this discussion in front of everyone.

At the sound of car tires crunching against gravel, Mallory straightens, her gaze on the door.

Fuck, I'm about to meet my son.

Chapter 16

Raptor

Mallory's face is pale and she looks exhausted. Her body is tense and her gaze is focused solely on the door.

"Darlin'," I say softly. "You need to breathe."

She lets out a harsh breath and laughs. "I've been waiting for this day. I just didn't expected it to be this way. Me battered and with everyone watching."

"Why Shay?" I ask, wondering where the name came from.

She gives me that soft smile I love. "Your name's Shane. I wanted him to be a part of you too, even if I was a bitch and kept my pregnancy a secret. I didn't ever want you or him to think you're not important. I got scared and I fucked up. For what it's worth, I truly am sorry."

The sincerity in her voice is real. She knows she's fucked up and I'm glad she's taking accountability. I have so many questions, but right now, they're all on the back burner. I help her off the table and she grips a hold of my hand tightly. She sinks down onto a seat and I take the one to her left. Fuck, with all the shit that's gone down, I'm glad she's here. I could have fucking lost her. I'm numb. Angry but numb. I know once I get the full story from her, my anger is going to need to beunleashed, and I fucking pray that the cunt who harmed her is the recipient.

"Just to warn you, Ma’s going to be really overprotective," she says, her voice louder than it had been.

"Can't blame her," Pyro says as he takes the seat to her right. "You were bleeding and beaten. How long ago did it happen?"

She glances at me before her gaze moves to her clasped hands. "Around one a.m. last night."

Acid burns in my gut. Christ. What the fuck?

"What happened?" Pyro asks, but before she's able to answer, the door opens and a woman with short black hair rushes into the building, a kid on her hip, her gaze moving around the room. Recognition hits her when she sees Maverick, but she doesn't speak. She continues to scan the room. I know the exact moment she finds Mallory. Her knees buckle, her eyes fill with tears, and she looks as though she's about to pass out.

"Fuck," Maverick hisses as he steps forward. "Jayne, she's okay. She's okay."

Jayne nods, pulling in a deep breath. "What did he do to her this time?" she asks, her voice filled with rage.

It pisses me off that it's happened more than once.

"Ma, I'm okay Gráinne patched me up," Mallory says as she rises to her feet.

"You need to sit your ass down," I snap. "You've just been fucking stitched up."

"Raptor," she sighs as she moves away from the seats and toward her mom. "I'm fine, trust me."

"Oh, that's Raptor?" Jayne asks with a raised brow.

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