Page 96 of Demon's Angel

As Hell yells to Mo where he’s going, I avoid other conversation and make my way down the hall.

My childhood bedroom is much as I left it before I moved into the clubhouse. At least it has a queen-size bed in it. I pause outside the door for a moment, hearing no sound, I quietly turn the knob and open it, then stand and take in the sight that I see.

Theo’s in the portable crib by the side of the bed, asleep with his thumb in his mouth. He looks so cute a wave of emotion washes over me.He’s mine.Then my eyes fall on his mother.

Violet’s sleeping. My gut clenches when I see her red sore eyes which suggest she fell asleep weeping. Christ, everything she’s been through over the past day, days, weeks—jeez, over the past year and a half. It’s no wonder she needs a minute to cope with it. As I watch, her face scrunches, her hands twitch, and a sound comes from her mouth. She’s dreaming, but it’s not a good one. Vowing nothing will ever hurt her again, wanting to keep even her nightmares at bay, I shrug off my cut and shirt, then take off my jeans and boots, and lie down beside her.

As I pull her back against my chest, she stirs. “Hush, Vi, sleep. I’m here, I’ve got you. Sleep now.”

The warmth of my body seems to soothe her. Without fully waking, she relaxes. Although last night I got no sleep either, I can’t turn off my brain. I breathe in her perfume and relish in the feeling of just holding her.My woman, my wife.Christ knows what an ass I was to even try to deny my real feelings for her.

She’s now sleeping so soundly, so when Theo stirs, I rise gently. With his changing bag slung over my shoulder, I pick him up from his crib and carry him out of the room.

“You okay, Dave? Want me to take him?”

“Nah, Mom. I got this. Can you get a bottle ready?” Knowing Vi she’s probably sorted that shit out before settling down with him.

“I’ll heat one up.”

Ignoring that I have an audience, I open the bag, spread the changing mat out on the floor, then remove and dispose of Theo’s dirty diaper in the bag I’d remembered to get ready. He wriggles and turns over, I tickle his tummy when I turn him back. “Behave,” I admonish him gently. Taking a firm hold of his legs in one hand, I proceed to clean him, put his cream on, then fasten a new diaper around him. There’s a fresh onesie in the bag which I put on him. As I fold up the mat and put it away, I realise the room has gone silent around me.

I stand, picking up my son,and take the bottle of warm milk from Mo’s outstretched hand. My focus on Theo, I note, but can’t interpret, the weird look on her face. As my intention is clearly to sit there, Titsy rises from the chair I’m heading to, and points that it’s now free with her hand. I sit, settle Theo in my arm, then hold the bottle to him. He doesn’t take a moment to suck the nipple into his mouth.

“Christ, I think my ovaries just exploded!”

Bella’s statement rings out and seems to echo, then it starts a round of conversation.

“Mine fucking, too.”

Glancing up, I see a look of longing on Breezy’s face. When she catches my eyes on her, she giggles. “You’re the prez, Demon. A rough, tough biker. I never thought I’d see the day when you changed a diaper and then sat patiently feeding a baby.”

My eyes narrow as I look at her, then note the similar expressions of astonishment on the faces of the other girls, and then my gaze falls on my mom, who’s smiling broadly. I shake my head and return my focus to Theo. His bottle empty, I put him over my shoulder to burp him.

“Here.” Mom’s handing me a cloth.

Thanking her, I lift him slightly and put it between him and my shirt. I can’t for the life of me understand why changing a diaper and feeding my son is such a big deal for the women. Like anything, it was a job that needed doing, and now, it’s done. Content, happy, burped and clean, I put Theo on my lap and start bouncing him gently. Not too much, I don’t want his feed to reappear.

“You’re a natural,” Mom tells me, the tone of her voice proud.

I shrug. I’m doing no more than she and Hell had done. My son settled, my thoughts return to Violet. “Do you mind taking him for me, Mom?”

“Oh, let me, please.” Tulia’s holding out her arms for him.

“You only want him now he’s clean,” Breezy laughs.

“True.” Tulia’s grin is unapologetic.

I’m happy to pass him over, knowing he’ll be in safe hands. But I do issue a warning. “He’s just been fed, so go easy.” Then, having handed him off, I again catch the eyes of my mom.

“What?”

She walks over and hugs me. “Proud of you, son.”

“Only doing what you taught me.” Can’t understand why everyone seems to be making such a big deal of me looking after the kid. I suddenly realise who’s missing. “Where’s Jeannie and Sindy? And Jayden?”

“Jeannie’s gone back to her house, Sindy went with her. It was getting a bit crowded her.” Makes sense. “Jayden’s gone back with Pal to the clubhouse.” She pauses and grins. “Those two don’t like being apart.” I know how they feel.

I returned to my old bedroom at exactly the right time. Violet’s sitting up, rubbing her eyes, and staring at the empty crib. Not in consternation, but with just a touch of motherly concern.

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