Chapter Thirteen
Footsteps on the stairs drew Smokey’s attention. He looked up to find Tania headed down wearing black leggings and a brownish pink sweater. Her gaze skimmed the room, stopping when she spotted him. She glanced down as she continued down the stairs then came to him.
“Here, you don’t need to be carrying all that.” He took the diaper bag from over her shoulder and slung it over his before he reached for the baby. But she didn’t let him take Carter. Instead, she seemed to cling to him. Smokey paused, wondering what was wrong.
“We need to make sure he’s safe.” Her voice shook. “We need to be sure that if something happens to me, if I’m hurt or killed, then the courts don’t give him back to Rod.”
“You think he’d hurt him?” Smokey couldn’t help but scowl.
“I don’t know. I didn’t think he would hurt me, but,” she waved a hand in the direction of her face, “I don’t want to risk it. After the last twenty-four hours I don’t know what to think. I don’t want to risk Rod hurting him to get back at me or you. I don’t want our son to become a weapon.”
Smokey stared at her for a moment as her words took a moment to register. Then, rather than lead her to the door and out to the SUV he’d borrowed, he turned and took her back to Raven’s office, where he knocked on the open door.
“Enter,” the president said without looking up.
“Hey, I wanted to check and see if you’ve reached out to the attorney yet?” Smokey asked. He didn’t use Fletch’s name because Tania wouldn’t have known what he was talking about.
“Taylynn sent the photos to him but I haven’t talked to him yet. I figured he was busy, probably with Spider, and would call when he got time.”
“Can we give him a call now? Tania’s brought up something and I think it’s got some merit, especially after what happened with David and Hunter today.”
Raven’s gaze flicked to Tania and Carter, then back to Smokey.
“Tell me.”
Smokey explained Tania’s concerns, with her only speaking up a couple of times to add details, and when they were done, Raven stared back at them for a long moment.
“You’re right. Let me give him a call and see what he recommends. You go on to your folks, you’ll have enough brothers with you to make sure that even if something happens, they can get your kid and woman out. Hopefully, I’ll have some kind of answer by the time you get back.”
Smokey stared at the president for a couple of seconds, then nodded and turned back to Tania. “Nothing with the legal system is instant, but we’re on it, Shell. Come on, Mom is going to be so happy.” He held out his arms. “Can I take him now?”
Tania looked at Raven for a moment and then at Smokey before turning back to their son. “Want to let Daddy carry you?”
Smokey felt like the air had been sucked out of the room.
Sure, he knew Carter was his, but that was the first time someone had called him Daddy, or well, in relation to a child.
There were a couple of mamas who liked to call whoever they were with Daddy.
It made it easier for them not to call out the wrong name, but Smokey had always thought it was a little weird.
Still, he was Carter’s daddy. He liked the idea and as soon as he could breathe normally again he grinned, reaching for his son.
“Come see Daddy, little man.” He lifted Carter out of Tania’s arms and settled him against his chest, marveling that he was responsible for this tiny human.
That it was his job to keep him safe, to be there for him, to teach him how to be a good man.
One that knew who to protect and when. And when to let them make their own decisions, even when he wanted to scream at them not to do it.
Carter wiggled, as if impatient with his father’s standing still.
He wanted to get moving, not contemplate a life he’d barely begun.
“Come on, Shell. The guys are waiting on us.” He followed her out to the common room, then to the door.
She took Carter’s coat from the hook first and managed to get him into it with little fuss, while Smokey still held the boy.
He wanted to help but was afraid a third hand would just get in the way and that the best thing he could do was just hold the baby for her.
When Carter had his jacket on, she reached for her own, which only took a few seconds to don.
She snagged her scarf and wound it around her neck as Smokey opened the door.
The SUV sat right outside the door, rear door open.
Smokey reached inside and set the baby in his seat then backed out and went around so Tania could get in.
It took him a few moments to get Carter buckled in, and finally Tania had taken mercy on him, showing him how once again, then they were on the road. Twenty minutes after stepping into Raven’s office, Tiny pulled the SUV into the driveway at his parents' house.
Smokey stared at the house for a moment, wishing he knew how this would go. By the time Tania had Carter out of his seat and ready to go, he’d pulled himself together.
“You want to carry him or you want me to?” Smokey asked.
“I’ll take him, but I’d appreciate it if you’d bring his bag.” She waved at the bag he’d tucked into the floorboard in front of the baby’s seat.
“No problem.”
She opened the door and started to slide out.
He met Chain’s gaze in the rearview. “I’d like to say you can stay in the truck, but it’s too cold for that shit.
Come on in. Mom won’t mind, then you’re close enough to stop something, should something happen.
” He didn’t wait for the others but got out, taking the bag with him and meeting Tania at the base of the stairs.
Looking up at the traditional two-story house he’d grown up in and took a deep breath.
When his exhaled breath fogged he was reminded yet again that this was too cold to keep the baby out and headed up the stairs.