Page 13 of Death's Devotion
“I can’t do it, Talon. I’m also not gonna step in her way and force her to stay here. She doesn’t want to force me into anythin’ and I’m not gonna do it to her.”
“What did Judge say about things?”
“He’s pissed as fuck at me. Told me flat out he’s gonna be there for her and the baby. I’m not gonna stand in his way either. Hell, maybe the two of them will make somethin’ work out between them,” I say, jealousy filling me at the thought of Kelsey with anyone else. Even if it’s my oldest brother.
Talon doesn’t say a word. He just laughs his ass off like I told the funniest joke ever. There’s nothing fucking funny about this situation. Brent looks up at my brother and doesn’t know what to do. I’m not sure if he’s about to start laughing because Talon is or start crying.
“What the fuck is so damn funny?” I finally bark out when Talon shows no signs of stopping any time soon.
“If you could have seen your face at the thought of Judge takin’ Kelsey away from you, you’d be laughin’ your ass off too,” he says, wiping the tears from laughing so hard from his face. “Man, keep tellin’ yourself you don’t want that woman. That you’re not ready to settle down with her and make her yours so no one else can claim her. I don’t see this playin’ out in your favor, brother.”
“There’s only one way for it to play out. Accept it, Talon. Now, I’m here so Kels can see Brent. I’ll call Boxer’s phone and you can talk to her while holdin’ Brent,” I bark out, pulling my phone out to place the call.
I listen on as Kelsey talks to her son and my brother. When she thanks him for everything, I hang up the phone. I’m not saying it was on purpose, but it wasn’t exactly an accident either. Something about hearing her be nice and caring toward another man pulls at something deep in my chest. The fact that she’s not a woman who would steal another woman’s man doesn’t matter to me. Bronwan is the only other person Kelsey trusts besides Jae with her son and she wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize their friendship. Plus, if she knows a man isn’t single, I see Kelsey walking away without a look back. After everything Vince has done to her, she wouldn’t do that to another woman.
Instead of hanging around, I take off. Talon tries to get me to stay for dinner and to just hang out, but I refuse. I’ve seen Brent is in their capable hands, let Kelsey talk to him and see him, and now it’s time for me to head out. I don’t want, or need, to be lectured any further by my brother and sister-in-law.
After riding around and looking for Vince for a while, I realize I don’t want to go back to the clubhouse. There’s nothing for me there other than a bunch of Rebels I don’t want anything to do with and alcohol to stop the thoughts from spinning out of control in my head. Right now, the last thing any of us need to be doing is drinking. We need to be sober and in control at all times as we look for Vince. There’s nothing to say he’s not going to come after one of us because we’re keeping Kelsey and his son from him. He seems like the kind of douche canoe to try and take us on. It’s not gonna work out in his favor, but I welcome his challenge.
With nowhere else to go, I head to my Gramps’ house. It’s been a while since I visited with the old fucker. He should probably hear it from me about Kelsey and the baby too. The last thing I need is for Judge or Talon to run their fucking mouths to him about the situation. None of us ever like being on his bad side. For me, it’s even worse because when we were younger, I spent more time with him than my older brothers. That’s why this needs to come from me and only me. I’m sure he’ll be disappointed in me. I can deal with that shit. No, I don’t like it, but I can handle it better than him being pissed as fuck at me. My Pops is an angry asshole who treats everyone like shit. Not his blood or the club, but if he’s pissed who you are to him flies out the window and you’re on his shitty side for as long as he makes you remain there. Not good times.
Parking my bike, I get off to find him already sitting on his porch. His ever present shotgun is at his side for anyone who comes out here and animals he doesn’t want hanging around. Gramps lives in the woods and all sorts of critters run around his house. He doesn’t want them getting in his garden or trash. And, he doesn’t want people he doesn’t know hanging out too long. So, he sits outside when it’s nice out with his shotgun at his side. People in town already know what an absolute ass he is so no one ventures out here to bother him. I can’t say I blame them either.
“Nolan. What are you doin’ out here?” my Gramps asks me, as he sits back in his rocking chair.
“Was ridin’ around and thought I’d stop out to see how you’re doin’,” I tell him, making my way up the porch steps to sit down with him.
“That’s a fuckin’ lie. Nolan, you don’t just randomly come out here. The only time you do is when you got somethin’ on your mind or don’t wanna be at the clubhouse. So, which is it this time?” he questions, knowing me better than I know myself most days.
“Little bit of both, I guess you could say. I don’t wanna be at the clubhouse right now. Been ridin’ around lookin’ for a stupid fuck who likes to beat on women. She’s been on the run for a long time, never stayin’ in one spot too long. Braedon is the longest she’s ever stayed in one spot since leavin’ his pussy ass. He found her. Beat the fuck outta her, threatened her and her son, and now she’s in the hospital. Totally trashed Jae’s new shop. She’s Jae’s business partner and keepin’ the shop open until Jae can come back to work,” I tell him as I look out at the trees before me instead of my Gramps.
“I know who you’re talkin’ about. Pretty little thing she is,” he tells me as I look over to find a knowing smirk on his face.
“She is. Gramps, that’s not all,” I tell him, taking another deep breath before I drop the bomb on my Gramps and hope he doesn’t have a damn heart attack. “She’s pregnant with my baby, Gramps. Only got a few months left before the due date. You know I can’t be a dad to that little one. Hell, I can’t even have anythin’ to do with the boy she’s got now. I don’t know what to do.”
“I know you been through some shit, Nolan. Your past is filled with pain and that bitch only made it worse. I don’t really know this girl. So, I’m gonna ask you a question or two. Is she wantin’ anythin’ from you? Tryin’ to trap you to give into her demands of money or anythin’ else?”
“No. It’s nothin’ like that. I told her I’d support her and the baby financially but that was all I could give her. She told me she wasn’t gonna take the money. It wasn’t even necessarily in her words. Her body language told me all I needed to know from her. She’s raisin’ her boy on her own and is a good mother. Her first thought is always him. She does what she can to keep him safe, happy, and healthy. Kelsey doesn’t want anythin’ from me. The only reason I know for sure she’s pregnant is because I was there when she found out. Not that I believe she’d keep the baby from me. I also know she’s gonna leave once Jae’s back to work. Doesn’t wanna force me into anythin’ I don’t want. Includin’ seein’ a baby I don’t want in my life,” I answer my Gramps with a small smile on my face.
“So she’s nothin’ like that bitch from your past. That’s a good start. I say just do what you can for her until you get your shit sorted. I’m gonna tell you now Iwillbe a part of my great grandbabies’ life. You’ll introduce me to her so I can have my own talk with her. Do your brothers know?”
“They do. Judge kind of guessed on his own and I just told Talon and Bronwan. I guess Judge already told her he’d be there for her and the baby. I know he means it too. So, it’s not like she won’t have support. It just can’t be from me.”
Gramps and I sit on his porch without saying another word. We let the peaceful calm of nature wash over us and just sit together. I don’t leave for several hours. Yeah, I could be out searching for Vince. It’s more than likely what I should be doing right now. Instead, I remain with my Gramps in one of the few places I don’t have to be alert or make conversation when I don’t want to. There aren’t any women pawing all over me either. It’s relaxing and just what I need. We have dinner together before I finally leave.
Before heading back to the clubhouse, I make my way through town once again and search for Vince. For any sign of the blacked out SUV or another car I don’t recognize in the area. There’s no sign of him though. I’m not sure where he’s hiding out at this point. I haven’t heard about anyone seeing him around either. There’s only so many places he could be. Vince is going to fuck up sooner rather than later and we’ll catch his ass. Then, I’ll make sure he can never again get near Kelsey, her son, or our baby. She won’t live the rest of her life looking over her shoulder or moving constantly because of that slimy bitch.
Chapter Ten
TALON AND BRONWAN came to visit me yesterday with their kids and Brent. I held my son close to my body for their entire visit. I’m not about to let him out of my sight for any length of time until I know Vince is no longer a threat. At least once I get out of the hospital. There’s really nothing I can do while I’m stuck in here. It’s one thing to come for me and threaten me with abuse, pain, and taking me out permanently. There is no reason for him to take out his anger at me on an innocent baby. Brent is sweet and doesn’t know what’s going on around him. He won’t understand how sadistic and horrendous his father is until he’s older. Personally, I don’t want him to ever have anything to do with Vince. He doesn’t belong anywhere near a baby or other people. I’ve learned that lesson the hard way multiple times over the years. Now, I’ll do everything in my power to make sure Brent doesn’t ever get left in the hands of Vince if something happens to me.
While they were visiting, Bronwan let me know she went off on Death about everything. I’m not sure if she knows I’m pregnant with his baby, but I do know Talon now knows. When his wife went to get a drink and something to snack on for the kids, he told me Death let him know what was going on. Talon also told me he’d be there for us no matter what we needed. While I appreciate the gesture and won’t ever keep them away from their niece or nephew, I can’t remain in Braedon once Jae comes back to work. There is nothing here for me and I refuse to make Death see a child he doesn’t want on a daily basis. It will be easier for everyone involved if I leave town and move somewhere in between Talon and Judge. Talon’s not happy with my decision, but he can’t really stop me.
Brent cuddled into my body the entire time he was here. The sweet smell of baby and the lavender baby wash Bronwan used on him filled the room. It’s a scent I love and will never get enough of. They’ve got him dressed in his clothes after heading to the apartment to gather some things until I get out of here. I honestly don’t know what I’d do if it weren’t for these two. Brent is happy and being taken care of while I wait in the hospital. He’s safe and I know they’ll do everything in their power to ensure Vince doesn’t get close to him for any reason. I can’t really ask for anything else in this situation.
Once they left, I let myself work on the plans I need to have in place. There’s still plenty of time to put them in motion and have everything ready for when I go. I’d rather be prepared in advance though. The only thing I can’t do from the hospital is look for a place to live that’s somewhere between here and Briar Glen, where Judge lives now. They’re a few hours apart from one another and it gives me plenty of small towns to choose from. Yes, I’ve looked at a map and found several places that aren’t too far from either town. It will still be a drive no matter how I look at it to each town, but still closer than moving farther away.
I’ve worked out how much money I can put away from each week’s paycheck in order to have a nest egg once I leave here. It will be more than enough for me to get two babies and myself to another town and have the money I’ll need to rent a place and get what’s needed to fill it for my children. I can go without things until there’s more money coming in. I’ve done it before and will always put my children’s needs and wants before my own. Anything I have for clothes and other stuff is all I need right now.
