Page 10 of Bren

With two of the best women at my side, encouraging me and pushing me when all I wanted to do was give up, I finally gave one last push and then she was there. All the months of angst, worry, and doubt about my decisions disappeared as soon as they laid her on my chest, tears streaming down my face as I caught the first glimpse of my gorgeous girl.

“She’s beautiful, Bren,” Mum wiped at the tears rolling down her cheeks, leaning over the bed to embrace Bev. “Look at our grandbaby, Bev; have you ever seen anything so beautiful?”

“So beautiful,” Bev agreed tearfully, but she was smiling.

Later that evening, once I was cleaned up and in a private room that Bev and Gunny insisted on paying for, everyone had been to visit and meet the newest member of the MC. I hadn’t yet told them her name. I was waiting until it was just my family, Gunny, and Bev.

“So,” Sam asked from where he was sitting at the end of my bed holding his niece, “what are you calling her?”

Biting my lip, I hesitated, but I wanted her to have something of her dad, “Alexandra Abigail Crow; we’ll call her Lexi.”

The room was silent, then Dad burst out, “I swear to God, Gunny, I’m going to beat your son’s arse when he gets home.”

“No, you’re not,” I told Dad. “He doesn’t know and that is mostly on me. But you won’t say anything. I’ll speak to him when he gets home, but I won’t have him forced to be something that he doesn’t want to be. It’s not like Lexi won’t have good male role models, because she will.”

The room was quiet, and everyone was looking at each other. Dad was grinding his teeth. “Dad, promise me,” I pushed.

“Fine,” Dad grunted out. “But I’m not happy about it. I don’t care that you are more than capable of bringing up this baby by yourself. He still hurt my little girl.”

Holding up my arms, I motioned for Dad to come to me. He did as I asked, even if he was still grumbling. Enfolding me in his big arms, he pulled me to his chest, “Love you, Dad. Thank you for all you’ve given me.”

Dad sighed, kissing the top of my head, “Love you too, baby girl. I promise I won’t go after him, but if he happens to get in the ring with me, then all bets are off. I’m beating his arse.”

Laughing, I nodded, leaning my head against my dad’s chest. I met Bev, Mum, and Gunny’s gaze before replying, “That’s fair.”

*********************************

Lexi’s first month is a steep learning curve for me, and there are days when I wonder if I’m doing anything right. I’m lucky enough to have a houseful of people on hand to help me, though.

I’ve loved being home with Lexi, only popping into the office when I need to check on something. I wasn’t looking forward to going back full-time, but at least I’d be able to take Lexi with me most days. Bev and Mum would have her when I couldn’t.

Putting Lexi down for her mid-morning nap, I walk to my bedroom and sit on the bed. Picking my phone up from my bedside table, I scroll to the text message I’d received from Alec.

I wasn’t sure what to make of it. Did he know? Did someone tell him, or had he figured it out for himself? To say I was confused was an understatement. I’d never replied because, honestly, I didn’t know what to say.

Nor did I know what to think about the gifts that randomly appeared in the mail. A Snuggie for Lexi with her initials embroidered on it. A different cute outfit every week, along with a vase of my favourite flowers. I didn’t even know he knew what my favourite flowers were.

I made sure to dress Lexi in the outfits and take pictures of her in them, just in case he wanted them. I’d also started an album just for him.

Lying back on the bed, I contemplate the ceiling of my bedroom, wondering if I should read anything into it or not.

Typical Alec, when I’d made up my mind that my feelings for him were dead and buried, he sent me a text like this, reminding me of the sweet boy he’d used to be. So, bloody frustrating!

Chapter 6

ALEC

Getting back to the UK wasn’t as quick as I wanted it to be, not if I wanted my qualifications. Knowing that Lexi was mine had lit a fire under me. The first thing I’d done was reach out to my mum, and after she’d reamed me a new arsehole, she’d done what she’d always done and had my back. We came up with a game plan, although Mum warned me that it wasn’t going to be easy getting back into Bren’s good graces. Not that I expected it to be. Bren had every right to be angry with me, just as I was still a little pissed at her for not telling me, even if I did understand her reasons.

My relationship with Bren, though, was secondary to wanting to get to know my daughter.

Once Mum had finished with me, she’d handed the phone to Gunny, the one person who’d never judged me, although I had a feeling this time he would.

“You fucked up royally this time, son,” he says as soon as he takes the phone from Mum.

Sighing, I rub a hand over my face before replying, “I know, I’ll make it right, Dad.”

“Of course you will,” he answers, “but boy, you are in for a world of hurt when you get home. Her father and brothers are baying for blood. It’s only because she forbade them to go after you thatReaper hasn’t got on a plane. However, once you get in the ring with them, all bets are off. My advice… get that over with as soon as you can and then show them that you’re the man I know you to be.”

---