Dice (Blackwings MC: Croftridge #3)

Chapter 13 – Dice

13

DICE

I t was after midnight when I finally made it home. I was mentally and physically exhausted, but the sense of accomplishment I felt was worth it.

I quietly let myself into my house, surprised that Diablo didn’t bark or meet me at the door.

“Welcome home,” Ink said sleepily from the couch.

“Is she asleep?”

He yawned and got to his feet. “Yeah. She went to bed about two hours ago. I think she was trying to wait up for you, but she gave up after she fell asleep on the couch, twice.”

“But she’s okay?”

“She’s fine. Worried about you, but fine.”

“What did you tell her?”

“I told her you had something come up, so she was stuck with me for the evening. She asked if everything was okay, and I told her everything was fine. We had dinner and watched a movie. Then she went to bed.”

“She made dinner?” I asked hopefully.

“Yes. Leftovers are in the fridge.”

“I haven’t eaten anything since breakfast,” I said. “I haven’t been able to.”

“How is she?”

“Not good. I barely recognized her,” I said and sat down to eat. “She’s lost so much weight. I bet she doesn’t weigh more than a hundred pounds. She’s got those dark, sickly looking circles under her eyes, and her cheeks are sunken in. Oh, and she’s pregnant.”

“She’s what?” Ink blurted in surprise.

“Shhh! I don’t want to wake Daphne.”

“Sorry,” he said quietly. “She’s pregnant? You’re sure?”

“Yes, the doctor confirmed it.”

“Is that why she agreed to go to rehab?”

I swallowed the food in my mouth and didn’t hesitate to tell my best friend the truth. He’d support me no matter what, and I knew he’d keep it to himself until I was ready to tell other people. “It is, but it’s not what you think.”

“What did you do?” he asked knowingly.

“Other than their vice of choice, what’s the one thing addicts want?”

“Money,” he answered immediately, and inhaled sharply. “Did you bribe her?”

“No,” I said slowly. “I don’t think it’d be considered a bribe. I told her if she went to rehab and stayed there for the duration of her pregnancy, I’d buy her baby for twenty-five thousand dollars.”

“Bloody hell,” Ink said, causing me to chuckle.

“You know you’re not British, right?”

“Sometimes, like in this instance, there is nothing more perfect than bloody hell.”

“You have a point.”

“I take it she agreed.”

“She did, but she refused to be admitted to the rehab facility until we had a signed contract in place. That’s part of the reason I was gone so long. I had to drive to Cedar Valley and meet with Tina, who graciously worked me into her schedule and drew up a contract in record time.”

“Hold on. You have a contract to purchase a child, and it’s legal?”

“It’s not worded that way. I don’t remember the exact term she used. Maybe a pre-adoption agreement? That part’s not important. It’s basically set up like a private adoption. According to the contract, the money is to help her get started after completing rehab, not for the baby. But it’s worded in such a way that she doesn’t get the money if I don’t get the baby.”

“Have you thought this through?”

“Not at all,” I admitted. “But I couldn’t let her go back out on the streets. It was the only way I could think of to get her into rehab. And I know it probably won’t work because I forced her into it, but at least her body will have a chance to get stronger and healthier before the next overdose. She almost died this time. Technically, she did die, but they got her back. I just … I didn’t know what else to do.”

“You did what you had to do. Honestly, it was pretty damn clever.”

“Rationally, I know I can’t save her. I haven’t fully accepted that yet, but I do know it.”

“Dice, Tawny’s problems aren’t your fault.”

“I know, and I know there’s no guarantee with the baby. She could have a miscarriage, or the baby could grow up and struggle with addiction, too. There’s no way to know, but I want him or her to have a chance. Just like Tawny did.”

“What happens if she leaves rehab or changes her mind?”

“Nothing. She’s free to leave at any time. I’m not trying to force her to do anything. I just presented her with an option she didn’t have, and she took it.”

“You know you won’t have to buy shit for this kid, right?”

“What do you mean?”

“This story of yours is going to melt the heart of every Blackwings old lady. You’ll probably have the biggest baby shower in history.”

I grinned. “I bet I won’t have a shortage of babysitters either.”

“Full honesty, brother. I’m totally going to use your kid as chick bait. The ladies go crazy over a tattooed man with a tiny baby.”

“I’m happy my good deed will help you get laid.”

“I don’t need help getting laid. I’m looking for wife material.”

“I honestly can’t tell if you’re serious right now.”

“I’ll forgive you since I know you’re tired. I’m totally serious, by the way. But we’re not talking about me. Tell me about the rest of your day. You got the contract, then what?”

“Then I took it back to the hospital and managed to get it signed and notarized without Badger and Macy finding out.”

“Wait,” he interrupted. “They don’t know?”

“No one does, except me, you, and Tawny. And it’s in the contract that Tawny can’t tell anyone.”

“You don’t have to worry about me. My lips are sealed, but can I ask why?”

“I told you I hadn’t thought it through. I have no idea what I’m doing, man.”

“Gotcha. We’ll figure it out later. Go on.”

“After she signed it, we got her admitted to the rehab facility. It’s two hours away, and she refused to ride with any of us. So, we had to drive there separately, fill out all the papers, secure payment, and drive back without talking to her. And it was just as well. After listening to Macy quietly cry most of the way there, I didn’t have anything good to say to her anyway. I wish you could’ve seen her. She was so nasty and mean, downright hateful. It was unsettling, to say the least.”

“Did she know she was pregnant before today?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. Macy said she freaked out when the doctor told her she was pregnant and told everyone to get out of her room. So, if I had to guess, I’d say no, but that’s just a guess.”

“What are you going to tell Daphne?” he asked.

“I’m not going to tell her anything right now. She doesn’t even know about Tawny. Besides, I need to tell Badger and Macy before I tell anyone else.”

Ink leaned back in his chair and looked at me like he had something to say. “What?” I asked.

“Brother, you know I’ll support you no matter what, but it seems like there might be something going on between you and Daphne. If that’s the case, you need to tell her before things progress.”

“You’re right. I just need a little time.”