Page 66 of Ryder

Tying my robe’s belt tightly around my waist, I entered Kaden’s room, finding him standing in his crib and crying. The noise had obviously startled him, but as soon as he saw me, he seemed to calm down. The tears were still spilling down his little cheeks, but his crying had all but ceased, his chest rapidly expanding to pull in air.

“It’s okay, baby,” I soothed, picking him up and cradling him close. He rested his head on my chest and snuggled into me. I kissed the top of his precious little head, inhaling his scent and wishing he’d stay this small forever. It was hard to believe he was already a year and a half.

“Sully. Come here,” Cole shouted, the tone of his voice urgent.

With Kaden still nuzzled close, I descended the steps and soon came face-to-face with our guest. Tripp stood beside Cole, talking quietly until he saw me. My husband’s eyes raked over my body. I knew he was displeased that another man was seeing me in only a robe, but I also knew Cole wouldn’t say anything. He didn’t have to, though, his annoyance written all over his face. If he could dress me in a potato sack, he would. He’d even admitted as much.

“What’s goin’ on?” The way Tripp’s eyes bounced back and forth between Kaden and me raised an alarm, but I wasn’t gonna freak out until he told me the reason for his visit.

“You guys know I’ve been looking for Rachel ever since she left, right?”

Cole and I both nodded at the same time, neither of us taking our eyes off Tripp. Rachel was Kaden’s mother—well, the woman who gave birth to him. I’d managed to convince my husband to allow us to care for the little one until she could be found.

It appeared the day had unfortunately arrived.

My heart picked up its beat. I tried to prepare myself for Kaden to be ripped from my arms, but no amount of planning would make it any easier. So I remained silent.

“Well, I got word.” Tripp took a few steps toward me, and when he was near he rested his hand on the top of Kaden’s head. I swore I couldn’t breathe, a tear streaking my cheek in preparation. Cole saw me start to unravel and rushed to my side, his arm circling my waist to hold me steady.

“Out with it,” my husband seethed, his patience for the entire situation rapidly unfolding. “Where is she?”

No more hesitation from Tripp. “She’s dead. An apparent overdose. I can’t say I’m shocked.”

“What? Are you sure?” I knew it was wrong to feel elation at such news, but I couldn’t help it. “Does that mean he’s ours?” I looked at Cole, then to Tripp. “Does that mean Kaden is ours?” I repeated.

A slow smile spread across Tripp’s face. “It does. He was your son the first time you held him, Sully. And now it’s final. No one will take him from you.” He glanced at Cole. “Either of you,” he confirmed.

As soon as Cole closed the door behind Tripp, he strode toward our son and me with more purpose than I’d ever seen, a huge smile on his face as he wrapped us both in his embrace.

Pride beamed from him as he affirmed my inner thoughts.

“Finally.”

Tripp

“So, how are they?” Reece asked, greeting me at the door with our son, Luke, on her hip. My boy was the spittin’ image of me, and Reece couldn’t be happier. She said it was like I was always with her, even when I wasn’t.

“Pretty damn happy.” My assessment was surely an understatement.

“I wish I could’ve been there with you when you told them,” she pouted, her attention drawn back to Luke. He was fussy, had been for a few weeks. When we took him to see his pediatrician, she’d informed us that Luke had begun teething a few weeks prior, which was right within the average timeframe for a baby of seven months.

“Where’s his teething ring?”

“I think it’s on the counter,” she answered, trying her best to calm him down. He wasn’t full-on crying—not yet, at least.

Our lives had been flipped upside down the day Luke was born, but I wouldn’t change a thing. The little boy was truly a gift, and I hated to think what my life would’ve been like without the both of them.

Even though I hated the thought of her ex-husband, Rick, and what he’d put her through, if she hadn’t run away from him, I would’ve never met her. Her tragedy brought her into my life, and thankfully she’d been able to open her heart and trust me. She had no reason to at first—I was a stranger, after all—but I’d been able to show her that I could protect her. Love her.

“I’m going to put him in his room while I shower. Unless you want to take him.”

For as much as I loved my son, I wanted to join my woman. Picturing her as she soaped her body was enough to make me explode where I stood, and even though Reece was self-conscious about the faint stretch marks she’d gained during the pregnancy, I saw her as perfect. I told her so all the time.

“I’d rather join you,” I revealed, arching a brow and stalking toward her. She handed me our son, thinking he was gonna save her delectable ass. Once I took him into my arms, she quickly kissed me, then practically ran out of the room.

Taking my time walking up the steps, I talked to Luke as if he understood me. “I’m gonna put you in your room, buddy. Daddy needs to convince Mommy to give him some.” Placing a kiss on his head, I lowered him into his crib and surrounded him with some of his favorite stuffed animals. He seemed content so I hurried toward our bedroom, stripping off my clothes and walking into the bathroom. Reece was already finished washing her hair. Fuck, she was fast. When I glanced at the clock by the bed, I understood why. Time was ticking by, and our presence at the clubhouse would be required shortly.

When I opened the door to the shower she turned to face me, flashing me a smile before glancing down at my dick. I took a step toward her, but she shook her head. I thought for a moment she wasn’t gonna let me have her. She hadn’t been in the mood for the past two weeks, between taking care of Luke and her having just gotten over a pretty nasty cold.

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