Page 160 of Menace

“Unca Lucky, cans you hearrr? I can make da rrrrrr’s now. G’s bin teachin’ me ta say dem an’ I’ve bin pwac…prrrractising.”

“Hey baby girl, you’re lookin’ good darlin’ and well done with those r’s. Your Harpy’s right here with me and baby Ry is here too. You wanna see them?” Lucky asked.

Harper punched him in the side when he called her Harpy and he sniggered.

“Yeeeeesss!! I’se missin’ dem sooo much. We chats on de tabbet an’ den my Harrrpy wented to de hossipetal ‘cause she gotseina(hurt). Dadda sayed ma baby brrro an’ hers comin’ home soon an’ I mus’ wait. I doan like waitin’. I’se comin ta youse wif ma pass da pot.”

Rider shook his head with a sigh and turned the tablet more so Harper was in view. The smile on the little girl’s face was like a light going on. She beamed.

“Harrrpy! I see youse! I’s bin missin’ you an’ da belly. You don’t gots no belly no more ‘cause you gots ma baby brrrro. Can’s you hearrr? I can make da rrrrr’s now.”

His old lady leaned against his side and waved at the little sprite. “Hey there Ms Squirrel. I missed you too. I can hear those r’s, baby. I’m so proud of you. Baby Ry is right here, he’s sleeping over here beside me.” She reached over Lucky and Rider handed her the tablet. “See, there he is.”

There was a few seconds of silence then a little giggle.

“Aw, he’s soooo cute an’ he gots soooo beeeg! Ma baby brrro is da biggest of all da babies herrre. I’se goin’ ta tell Grrranny Suzy, my baby brrro is da biggest an’ da bestest. We gots a lotta babies now, Harrrpy. G says deys a baby makin’ club, not a bikerrr club. Unca Icee was crrross wif herrr. Whassa baby makin’ club, Dadda? Arrre youse gonna make us a baby too? I fink I wants a baby sissie.”

Rider’s shocked face had them all laughing, Harper pressed her face against Lucky’s chest as she shook with laughter, handing the tablet back to Rider.

“Baby girl, we’re not talking about making babies. Okay? That’s for when you’re older, much older.”

His voice dropped and he was suddenly very serious.

“Sweetheart, you can’t come to Savannah, not this time. I’ll bring you with me the next time I visit. I’m not going to be away for long, I’m coming home soon. I promise.”

A put out huff came over the speaker.

“I makeded a pass da pot forrr nothing.” She gave a big sigh. “Okay, Dadda, I miss youse. Lots an’ lots.” She made kissing noises.

Rider’s smile was loving and his eyes soft.

“I miss you too, sweet baby. Before you know it I’ll be home and we can read books together and have long chats. Okay?”

“Okay, Dadda, now I gots ta go, ‘cause G says I have ta baf. I’ll talk ta ya laterrr. Bye-bye Harrrpy, baby brrro and Unca Luckeee! Youse mus’ come visit me sooon. I’se waitin’.”

Harper quickly wiped tears from her eyes then waved at the screen.

“Bye-bye Ms Squirrel. Love you.”

The cutie wrinkled her nose in disgust.

“I’se notta squirrel! I’se ma Dadda’s Delly-belly. An’ I loves you too, Harrrpy. Byeeee!”

Rider got up and walked away obviously talking to his little girl’s care giver. For a second he wondered who she was but then focused on his old lady who was feeling sad.

“Baby, we’ll go visit as soon as Ry is old enough to make the flight, okay?” He said softly and she nodded against his chest.

The rest of the afternoon was spent hanging out with his family and friends. It was so peaceful after the turmoil of the recent days.

His sister and Louis were very obviously embroiled in some personal stuff and he would give Frankie time before he approached her about it. She was his little sister and if she needed him to he would step in and warn Louis to back off. The fucker broke her fuckin’ heart the first time around, he would not let it happen again.

Right now though, his little family came first. Tonight he would tell Harper everything that went down at the clubhouse. He had given her the option, know nothing or know as much as he could give her. She picked the second option. His old lady was strong, and he had known she wouldn’t pick the easier option.

Much later, when everyone was gone and the night was quiet he did a final walk through of his home before sliding into bed next to his woman. His boy was asleep in his room, the baby monitor on the nightstand beside their bed, holding his old lady in his arms he finally relaxed. But not for long, he was about to talk to her about club business.

He kept the talk about the shit that had gone down at the club short. Only telling her that the fucker who had been her brother had been taken care of and was gone, permanently.

She sagged against him and blew out a breath in relief.

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