Page 23 of Menace

I bit my bottom lip. I had hoped he wouldn’t ask, but I should have known he would. He was an overprotective biker and obviously expected Lucky to be the same.

I tried to make it seem as if I was okay when I really wasn’t.

“When he left he made me swear I wouldn’t contact him. We had two nights, that’s it. He didn’t want more and I agreed to his rules. Uhm…I suppose if I wanted to reach out I could, through his club or through Remy. But I…I’m scared. He was very insistent, didn’t want any contact with me once we were done. Told me that if he was ever in the country he wouldn’t look me up. I’m scared to tell him I got pregnant. It was an accident. I swear I was on birth control, Rider. I didn’t trick him or any of that sick shit some bitches pull. It just happened.”

I watched as the crazy slowly receded out of his eyes, becoming the soft brown I was used to seeing.

“Fuck, sweetheart, this is so damned fucked up. This entire situation is fucked up and you being pregnant just makes it so much worse.” He was silent for a minute or two.

Looking down at his hands then at something that was out of the camera’s view.

When he looked back his face was set in hard lines and there was determination in his eyes.

“I’ll do it. I’ll look after you. You and the baby. Don’t go to the States where you have no one. Stay here, stay with us, with Delene and me. We’ll be a family, your family.”

Sadness filled my heart along with so much love for one of the best humans in the world.

“You’re the best man I’ve ever had the honour to meet. I wish I had fallen in love with you instead of…”

He didn’t let me finish.

“Bullshit. I’m not a good man, but what I am is a man who cares about you and your baby. You’ll be safe here with us. The club will protect…”

This time I was the one who didn’t let him finish.

“No. I’m not bringing my troubles to your door or to the club’s door. I need to know you and Delene are safe, that my brother can’t get to either of you. If I stayed with you he will come for me, and you or Delene could get hurt. I can’t let that happen. I’m leaving the country but I won’t be gone for ever. There are things going on with Asa that I can’t talk about. All I can say is that when it’s safe to do so I’ll come back home.”

He watched me while frowning heavily then slowly nodded. His eyes were intense as he laid it out for me.

“Okay. I get it. I need you to understand something though. Nothing is going to stop me from being with you when Junior arrives. You won’t be alone because I’ll be there holding your hand. Do you get me, Joney?”

I nodded, because I did, get him that is, but I also felt relief that I would have him with me when the time came. I’ve been dreading doing it alone.

“Uhm…there’s something else I need to tell you.”

“What the fuck now.” He snapped in obvious exasperation.

“I had to get a new name. It’s Harper Delaney.”

His head tilted to the side and then he smiled. Such a beautiful warm smile.

Damn, I really wish I loved him the way a woman loved a man, but I didn’t. I loved him the way a sister loved a brother. He was that for me, my best friend and my brother.

“It suits you. Harper Delaney, I like it.” He said, drawing my attention back to him.

“Me too, it sort of feels right, as if it should have been my name all along.”

“It’s a cool name, sweetheart. Don’t worry about your squirrel and the new name. I’ll sort it this side. Now that I know you better keep me in the loop every step of the way. How far along are you?”

Dropping my hand to my little bump I grinned.

“I’ll be six months on the first of July.”

Instantly his eyes narrowed, he gritted his teeth and dropped his head. I waited, holding my breath.

“Okay, okay, fuck, I can handle this.” He muttered before drawing in a deep breath and lifting his head to look at me. He tried to hide it but there were demons in his eyes. I knew where they came from and my heart ached for him.

“I want an update after every single one your doctor’s visits. And I want a copy of the ultrasound pics. Send them to my phone the minute we’re done here. Do you know if it’s a boy or a girl?”

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