15. Bones
BONES
“There’s something I need to tell you,” I say the next morning.
After five rounds of sex during the night, Doc woke up and made me breakfast. She brought it to bed, and we ate together before getting into the shower.
Now we’re dressed and sitting on her bed, making a plan for the day.
I want to take her to the clubhouse, show her a little of my world, but before I do that, I need to tell her about Natalia.
“What?” she asks, leaning back on her elbows on the bed. “If you tell me you’re married, I’m going to kick your ass.”
I shake my head, laughing. “No, not married, never been married. But I do have a daughter. Her name is Natalia. She’s six months old now.”
Something flickers in her eyes before she masks it. She’s impossible to read, and I have no idea what’s running through her mind right now. “Who is her mother?”
“It’s a long story, but she passed away,” I say, clearing my throat. Ghost actually killed her, but that’s another story. “She didn’t want Natalia anyway. She left her at the hospital after she gave birth. That’s how Skull met Isla, his old lady. She was a nurse at the hospital.”
“You have a… baby. Okay, that’s definitely not what I thought you were going to say. I feel like this is something you should have told me over the weekend, don’t you think?” she asks, frowning.
Yes, probably, but I wanted her to get to know me and not give her any reason to push me away.
“I wanted to ease you into… everything.” I wince, rubbing the back of my neck. “Do you not like kids?”
I don’t know what I’d do if she didn’t, because I want more kids someday.
“Of course, I like children. I just didn’t expect you to have any, especially not a baby. She’s so young,” she mutters, standing up and starting to pace. “Who is looking after her right now?”
“Skull and Isla,” I say, then take a deep breath. “We kind of just raise her all together.”
I want to add that we don’t actually know who the father is, not that we care, but then I’ll have to explain that we both fucked Daisy.
“I need to process this,” she whispers, crossing her arms over her chest.
“Can you process it with me here? Because I don’t want to leave you yet,” I ask, flashing her a charming smile. “I want to take you to the clubhouse, but only when you’re ready, okay?”
She’s studying me closely now, but shielding her emotions. “It doesn’t change anything, Doc. It just means sometimes I’ll have my daughter with us when we hang out. Do you want kids one day?”
She nods. “Yeah, I do. Three.”
“Three? And you wouldn’t treat Natalia any differently, would you? I know it’s early to be talking about these things, but I have to ask.”
She scowls and then throws a pillow at my head. “I was adopted and treated differently my whole life. I’d never do that to another child.”
I know she wouldn’t. She’s a good person and has a kind heart, but I know this is a shock to her. I don’t know how I’d feel if the roles were reversed.
Pulling her onto my lap, I lift her chin to make her look at me. “Things are new with us, but I just wanted to tell you about her. She’s the cutest little baby… you will love her.”
“It’s way too early for me to be around your daughter, Nate,” she says softly, while I run my hands through her hair.
She’s still here, not running away and telling me to get out, so that’s a good thing, right?
I decide to change the subject and keep it light. “What do you want to do today? Go for another ride? We can take a longer one if you like.”
“I took a long ride last night,” she replies in a dry tone, making me laugh.
“You sore, Doc? I can kiss it better.”
“If you do that, we’ll never leave this room.”
Standing up with her in my arms, I kiss her neck. “Ride. Food. And then I’ll come with you to help you at the shelter.”
She lifts her head, perking up. “Really?”
“Yeah, of course. I want to be wherever you are, baby. Even if that means picking up dog shit.”
She laughs and peppers kisses all over my face. “You can walk Saint, the hundred-kilo XL American Bully. He’s so sweet, but damn, he’s strong.”
Her face lights up when she’s talking about the animals. It’s so cute.
“Why don’t you have a dog of your own?”
“I don’t really have the yard for it. And sometimes I foster, so…” She shrugs, then flashes me a smile.
I have a yard in my new house… a big one. Pushing that thought away, I put her down and lead her outside to my bike.
Time to spend some time with my woman.
Janet is on her knees in the pole room, deep throating Suit’s dick. I’m sitting back with a drink in my hand. Brandy and Rose are dancing on the pole, but I’m not really paying attention. I’m glad I didn’t bring Doc here tonight. I can’t imagine what she’d do if she walked in on this.
My mind is on my phone.
After spending the weekend with Meredith, it’s now Tuesday, and I haven’t heard from her since Sunday.
I know that she’s okay. In fact, right now she’s making herself some dinner in her kitchen, but she’s left me on read, and now I’m fucking wondering what she’s thinking.
If she doesn’t message me back soon, I might have to kidnap her again.
It went well last time, so it must be a communication strategy that works for us.
Is it even kidnapping when she’s mine?
“Why do you look like someone has told you that you knocked up another club girl?” Haze asks, sitting next to me.
“Where’s Lu?” I ask, frowning. He’s normally never in here. Haze might have fucked around in the past, but he’s been nothing but loyal to his old lady since they got together.
“Wanted to have a drink to celebrate, but the bar was empty. All you fuckers are in here.” He smirks, lifting his glass to click with mine.
“What are we celebrating?” I ask.
He smiles wider than I’ve ever seen him smile. “Lu is pregnant. We’re having a baby!”
“Fuck, man.” I grin, clapping him on his shoulder. “Congratulations!”
“Yeah, it took us a little time. I was worried because I knew she wanted one more than anything. And then this morning the test was finally positive.”
“Everyone needs to be here for this.”
I pull out my phone and send a message to the Serpents group chat.
Bones
Come down to the bar for a drink. Haze has some good news.
“Come on, let’s actually go to the bar before Lu finds out I’m around these half-naked women and Suit getting head in the corner,” he murmurs, standing up and heading out of the room.
Prez
Be there in five. Prospect’s at the gate.
War
Fuck yeah.
Lore
On the way
Skull
Coming, brother.
Angel
Be there.
Danger
Hell yeah.
Rune
Still at the tattoo shop, but be there soon.
Curse
Same.
About twenty minutes later, all of the patched-in members of the Serpents of Chaos MC are at the bar, congratulating Haze.
Skull and I share a look.
This right here is why we joined the MC in the first place.
For the family that was taken away from us.