Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
STAR
“What happened?” I press as Ghost steps into the shower, admiring his powerfully scarred and tattooed body on display under the hot cascading water. I could just stand here all day and watch him. I will never get enough of this man.
He lathers up some shower gel in his hands and begins to wash his body, my eyes following the movement. “I told you it’s club business. What was that exchange earlier between you and Queenie?” he counters.
My eyes snap up to his. “It’s not for me to say,” I state, staring back at him and standing my ground.
He grits his jaw. “You ain’t going to tell me, and I ain’t going to tell you. We got the tree, didn’t we, and we are back in time for Christmas with the kids. That’s all that matters,” he adds as he glides his hands down his body. “You going to join me?” he asks.
I run my tongue along my lower lip, but just as I open my mouth to answer, Enzo and Storm come running in. Ghost quickly turns his back so they don’t see his very hard dick.
“Hey guys! Why the panic?”
“We are getting a new member!” Storm jumps up and down excitedly.
“Huh?” I ask, confused.
Enzo rolls his eyes and folds his arms over his chest. “Uncle Scar said to tell you they got a call from the adaption agency,” Enzo states.
“You mean the adoption agency,” I correct him.
“That’s what I said.” Enzo huffs.
“Okay.” I turn around to tell Ghost to get out, but he’s already wrapping the towel around his waist. I smile.
“Kids, go get in the truck. We’ve got a new member to welcome,” he orders. The kids cheer and run off.
I reach up on my toes and lovingly press my lips to his. I blink open my eyes as I break the kiss. “I love you,” I whisper softly.
“Love you more, darlin’.”
We all jump in our truck. Scar and Elsie went on ahead, saying for us not to worry about making the journey, but of course we are. They are our family. “Santa brought Uncle Scar and Auntie Elsie a baby!” Storm yells excitedly from the back seat.
“He sure did, honey.” I smile.
Thankfully, the hospital is only an hour’s drive. We park up, and as we all file in, the usual looks come our way. “I don’t get why people have to look at us like that all the time,” I mutter to Ghost as we make our way through the hospital.
“I’d say it was more the fact that you are in a tight red Christmas-patterned all-in-one jumpsuit that looks like it’s painted on,” Ghost points out.
I look down at my red jumpsuit with little candy canes decorated on it. “It’s cute!” I exclaim.
“I think you look bootiful, Momma,” Storm compliments me from Ghost’s arms.
“Yeah, Mommy. You look cool,” Enzo adds from my side.
I squeeze his hand in mine. “Thank you, babies.” I grin.
“Just saying, Storm, if you wear an outfit like that, baby girl, you won’t ever be leaving the fucking house.”
“Daddy, stop saying ‘funkin’,” Storm chastises him.
We walk down the hall and into the family room, where Scar and Elsie are sat looking anxious as they await the news of the birth of their baby. Both of them look up surprised to see us all.
“What the hell?” Scar grins.
“There ain’t one baby that hasn’t come into this family that we haven’t been there for,” Cash states.
We all nod.
“Apart from me. I was born before my mom came here.” Oliver shrugs, looking like he wanted to be anywhere but here. The kid was in full-on teenage mode, which was hilarious but also frightening at what was to come.
“Kids, go play with the toys over there,” Queenie points.
Enzo, Hendrix, Storm, Maisy, River, and Phoenix all rush over to the toys in the corner.
Oliver just goes and sits down with his phone, while Beast and Belle keep hold of the twins, Raine and Ripley.
Mabel, Acid and Rhea’s youngest, tries to join in but is too small.
“Move. Let Mabel play, too,” Enzo orders.
“Jesus, he’s bossy. Just like his dad.” Acid smirks.
We all sit around and wait, drinking shitty coffee and feeding the kids vending machine crap, which has them bouncing off the walls. After waiting two hours, a woman with a clipboard enters, her eyes going wide when she sees us all there.
“Oh,” she breathes. Scar and Elsie stand up and walk over to her, his arm wrapped tight around Elsie, as if to hold her up. “Congratulations, you have a baby boy.” The woman grins.
Elsie lets out a sob, and Scar wraps both his arms tightly around her, stroking and kissing her head and whispering words only for her. I sniff and wipe away a tear.
“Don’t tell me my badass wife is crying,” Ghost teases.
I smile. “Just look how much it means to them. It’s just fucking beautiful.”
Ghost’s eyes go soft as he leans forward and places a gentle kiss on my temple.
“Checks are being made on the baby, but he will be with you soon.” She gives Elsie’s arm a gentle squeeze before she turns and leaves.
We surround them, hugging and cheering our congrats.
Less than an hour later, the woman walks in holding the beautiful baby boy. She hands him to Elsie, who is smiling so brightly with tears coating her cheeks. She places a tender kiss on his little head, and Scar strokes his huge hand over his little head.
“Welcome to the family, little man,” he rasps.
“Name?” the woman asks.
“Lincoln,” they both answer.
“Linc, for short,” Scar clarifies.
“Okay, well. He’s good to go home with you. We will keep in touch over the next few months, just to make sure he’s settled in and all is well,” the woman states. “Other than that, congratulations on your new family.” She smiles warmly before leaving.
I look at the time. “Woah, guys, it’s after ten. We need to get these kids to bed ready for Santa,” I state as realisation hits. “Do you guys have baby stuff for Linc?” I ask.
Scar smiles and nods. “We kept a bag in the truck just in case, including a car seat and a bassinet.”
“Excellent. Let’s roll, people.” I clap excitedly.
Acid bends down and picks up a sleeping Mabel. The rest of the kids are hanging on, barely, and Storm is cuddled into Ghost, her heavy eyes drooping.
“What about Santa?” Alina asks quietly.
“I guess we will just have to think of a plan B. These kids are far too sleepy for it now,” I sigh.
“I think I have an idea,” Belle adds.