Page 48 of Viper
I sniffle before I choke, “I’ve got you, shorty, I’ve got you.”
I shouldn’t have fucking left.
***
After about ten minutes, her cries calm, but I don’t move from my position, keeping hold of her as I gently run my fingers through her hair as she holds onto my tee while her dad and Blade stay near the door. They are allowing me this time with her while also keeping the women back.
Ivy, Skylar, Luna, and Raya have all been trying to get in here to see her, but thankfully, the brothers have refused them, though Skylar has declared their family vacation/honeymoon is on hold until she does see her.
A throat being cleared catches my attention, and I look up to see Dr. Andrews looking at Lake with concern. I swallow my growl of disapproval, having his eyes on her, while Lake grips my top tighter, also noticing him.
He looks at me and nods me over, and I sigh.
I don’t want to move from my position, especially when I haven’t held her like this in five fucking months.
“I’ll just be by the door, shorty, alright?” I whisper, and she shakes her head before she nods, her tears falling on my shirt. I gently move from underneath her, helping her lay her head on the pillow and so fucking carefully, like she’s made of glass, I pull the duvet up to cover her, my eyes going to her tiny as fuck bump.
She hasn't been taking care of herself, and again, I put all the blame on myself.
Swallowing hard, I lean over her, pressing my lips to her forehead and placing a gentle kiss as I run my fingers through her hair then I walk over to the doctor, who is standing with Blade and Randy.
I look her way to see that she’s looking at her stomach, and I ask the doctor, “How is she?”
He sighs and admits, “She’s lucky,” and I wince. He continues, “She cut just a little too deep, different from the other ones, which I would say are roughly two months old.”
I flinch. When I left...
“She has depression, that is a given,” he continues, and I squeeze my eyes tight as Blade clutches my shoulder in support.
“I’d like to have five minutes with her if you all don’t mind then I’ll come and discuss the next stage from here,” he finishes and I tense but Randy grips my shoulder as well and says, “That’s fine,” and the doc nods then walks over to Lake, sitting on the chair next to her bed.
She looks at me first, and I tilt my head, and she shows me her fear.
I soften and nod towards the doctor, encouraging her to talk to him knowing this is for the best even if I don’t like it. Her eyes tear up, but she does as instructed and pays attention to him. Meanwhile, I cross my arms over my chest and watch his every move, as Randy and Blade keep hold of me.
“The baby?” Randy asks and I confirm, “Is mine,” and he sighs with relief.
I look at him and Blade and say, “It’s a girl.”
“Fuck…” Blade whispers, understanding just how far along she is, while Randy looks at his daughter with sorrow and guilt.
I look to see her talking quietly, and the doctor nods along, and Blade questions, “What will happen now with you two? Will you co-parent?”
“No,” I deny instantly; the thought of just coparenting is gut-wrenching.
“You’re not suing her for custody, Viper, I won’t let you,” Randy says quietly, and I look at him and reply, “I won’t be doing that either. I love your daughter, Randy. My head is just a little fucked up at the moment with the whole Cherri is her mama bullshit. For years, the club has been instilling in our heads that we couldn’t trust your daughter if she ever showed up, that she would trap us. I can guarantee you right now the only reason why she didn’t tell me about our daughter is because she was scared I’d accuse her of trapping me. Fuck, I fell in love with the woman she is before I knew who she was related to. We both messed up, and I’m,” I sigh, “I’m not saying it’s going to be easy, especially with this right now, but I can’t lose her and not because of the baby.”
“The brothers fucking suck,” Randy mumbles, and I agree, “They do, and I think after this, they’ll see their mistakes, but you can’t just undo years and years of shit being ingrained in you, which is why I had to leave. I was angry, Randy, I beat that fucker Joey, who she slept with after I lied and told her I never loved her, to death.”
“It’s all bullshit, Viper,” he says firmly while eyeing his daughter, “Her reason for being mad at you knowing women use the brothers, something I made sure she was aware of. It’s just all bullshit that you never should have let come between you.”
I nod because I know he’s right, and I admit, “I know, but right now I don’t know how to drag us back from it. I never have, which is why the arguments between us and the hostility grew. I’ve never been in love before her, Randy, just like she had never had a relationship before me.”
“You both need your heads banged together,” Blade mutters, and I raise a brow at him because seriously, the fucker has no leg to stand on. He rolls his eyes and snaps, “I sorted my shit out with Luna, she forgave me.”
Randy snorts while I shake my head before we hear footsteps and look as the doctor walks back to us.
“What’s the verdict with my daughter?” Randy demands to know quietly, and Dr. Andrews looks at Lake, whose eyes are back on her small stomach.
