Chapter 31
Chapter Thirty-One
Lola
I squeeze Gunther’s hand as he complains, “You’re going to break my fingers.”
“If you don’t call an ambulance or get me to the hospital, I’ll break your fucking dick.”
I ignore the laughing, focusing on my breathing as another band of pain tightens around my stomach.
How the hell did annoying backache turn into this?
“Hannibal's on his way,” Byte calls out.
“Jesus, they’re only two minutes apart,” Jolene, one of the old ladies, says as she walks over to me. She bends down so we’re at eye level. Jolene has twenty years or so on me, but she has that timeless beauty that reminds me of old Hollywood. I’d give my left boob to have her poise and grace.
“First babies usually take their time, but your boy seems eager to meet you. Let’s go get you freshened up and ready for the hospital.”
“Finally, someone who knows what they’re talking about,” I huff, making her laugh. I let go of Gunther’s hand and grab ahold of Jolene’s when she offers it to me. “I thought the old ladies hated me,” I whisper.
“We were told you hated us. We were idiots. Ironic, really, that it took a couple of club girls to point that out.”
“May and Tracey.” I sigh as she helps me to my feet.
“They’ve become your biggest supporters, behind Hannibal and his daughter, of course.”
The sound of splashing has me looking down with a frown.
“Ah, shit. Alright, let’s get you a change of those wet clothes, sweetheart. Germ,” she calls over her shoulder at her old man. “Get Redox or another prospect to clean this up. Byte, tell Hannibal to hurry the hell up,” she orders, taking control from the shell-shocked men. Her take-zero-fucks attitude calms something inside me.
I’ve barely taken a few steps when pain ripples across my body again. “Ahhh.” I scrunch my eyes shut and try to breathe through the pain, but Jesus Christ, I think this baby is trying to rip me in two.
The backdoor slams open, distracting me from the pain, and there he is. As soon as I see him, I burst into tears. He’s on me in seconds, wrapping his arms around me as the pain intensifies.
“Is it supposed to be this bad?” I hear someone ask, but his reply gets lost in the chaos.
“Contractions are right on top of each other, Hannibal, and her water just broke,” Jolene tells him as he scoops me up and hurries us down the hall to the bedrooms.
“Jolene, come with me. Byte, call a fucking ambulance,” he yells out as he kicks open the door to one of the spare rooms and carries me inside, laying me down on the bed.
“I’m gonna check you over, doll, then get you cleaned up. Okay?”
“Just hurry,” I beg, feeling a burning sensation between my legs.
He reaches under my dress and slips my wet panties off before opening my legs and positioning himself between them. His eyes widen comically before he turns to Jolene.
“I can see his head. Get me some towels, some scissors, and one of those clips we use for the chips,” he orders her.
She leaves without hesitation as I look at him, fear flooding my veins.
“We’re not gonna make it to the hospital, doll. Our boy’s ready now.”
“No. No, I can’t have him here. What if he needs help, Hannibal? What if he’s sick or?—
“He’s gonna be fine, Lola. But he’s coming whether you’re ready or not, so I need you to take a deep breath for me. And when I tell you to, I want you to push for me, okay?”
“I can’t. I can’t do this.”
“Yes, you fucking can,” he tells me, his voice leaving no room for arguing.
I pant and close my eyes, focusing only on meeting my boy.
I jolt when the door opens and Jolene rushes in with Snoopy right behind her. He takes one look at me and kneels on the floor next to the bed. Gripping my hand, he smiles wildly. “Come on darlin’, let’s show everyone what a badass you really are.”
I swallow down a sob just as Hannibal yells, “Push, Lola.”
I squeeze Snoopy’s hand and push as hard as I can. I collapse against the pillows as Jolene moves around the other side of the bed and dabs at my head with a towel.
“You’re doing awesome, Lola. Soon, you’ll get to hold your baby in your arms, and all this will be nothing but a memory.”
“That’s it, doll. That’s a nice big push for me.”
I grit my teeth and push with everything I have. This goes on for what feels like hours, and I’m ready to cry from exhaustion until Hannibal locks his eyes on mine, tethering me to him.
“One more, baby. You can do it.”
I take a deep breath, keep my eyes on him, and push until I have nothing left to give. And then I hear it, the most beautiful sound in the world. I feel tears running down my face as I cry right along with him.
I watch as Hannibal lifts my baby onto a towel Jolene lays down for him. He checks him over as he squalls, snipping the cord and clipping it.
“Is he okay?”
Hannibal wraps the towel around him and lifts him to his chest before he looks at me. “He’s perfect.”
“You did great, Lola. Fucking proud of you,” Snoopy adds, sounding a little choked up himself.
“He’s beautiful Lola,” Jolene murmurs as she moves aside.
She says something else, but I miss it as Hannibal sits on the bed beside me and lays my son on my chest. Hannibal places a kiss on my temple as he reaches out and strokes the baby’s tiny hand. His fingers open and latch onto Hannibal’s pinky. I tear my eyes away from the sight, look up at my man, and watch him fall completely in love with my boy.
“Look what you did, doll,” he whispers just as the door opens and two paramedics walk in.
“Looks like you already did the hard part,” the younger of the two women grins.
Jolene and Snoopy slip out the door as the paramedics take over. They check the baby and help me deliver the afterbirth. All the while, Hannibal keeps a protective watch over both of us.
Hours later, after I’ve fed the baby, napped, and fed him again, I get up with Hannibal’s help and take a shower. Jolene comes in, strips the bed, and helps get the baby dressed while Hannibal slips out to let everyone know we’re both okay. I’m just sliding my feet into a pair of flip-flops when there's a knock at the door, and Millie pokes her head round.
“Come in.
” I smile tiredly when I see her.
“I came to see you earlier, but you were asleep. How are you feeling?”
“Tired but happy. Never thought for a second I’d be giving birth at the clubhouse, though,” I joke, making her laugh.
“There we go. All snug as a bug,” Jolene coos as she hands him over to me.
“Thanks, Jolene. I couldn’t have done it without you. You were wonderful.”
“Think nothing of it, Lola. Us old ladies gotta stick together.” She winks, and I take the olive branch for what it is.
A fresh start.
When she leaves, I sit on the end of the bed as Millie sits beside me.
“Wow, he’s tiny.”
“My vagina begs to differ.”
“Ew, TMI, Lola.”
I chuckle.
“Wanna hold him?”
“Can I? I don’t want to hurt him.”
“You won’t. Here, make sure you support his head.” I lay him in her arms and watch the smile take over her face.
“Hey, little man, I’m your big sister.”
I feel myself getting emotional again.
I blow out a shaky breath just as the door opens and Hannibal walks in.
He freezes, seeing the baby in Millie’s arms. I watch him watching them before he pulls out his phone and snaps a picture.
My lip wobbles as I fall even harder for the man who so recklessly came in and stole my heart when I least expected it.
“He needs a name. Lil’ man is cute and all, but people will think he’s a rapper,” Millie teases.
I look at Hannibal as he watches me.
“I think I’m going to name him after his grandfather and father.”
Hannibal’s expression goes blank for a moment.
“Welcome to the world, Evan James Shaw.”
Hannibal’s whole body starts to vibrate.
“Is that okay?” I whisper, unnerved by his reaction.
“Marry me.”
I jolt at his words.
“What?”
“I want us all to have the same last name. Marry me, Lola.”
“So we can share the same last name?”
“So we can share everything,” he growls.
“Okay.”
“Okay?” He looks surprised by my answer, so I smile, even though it feels wobbly.
He dives for me, swinging me around and making Millie laugh.
“Thank fuck for that.”
“Were you worried I’d say no?”
“I wasn’t worried.”
“Is that right?” I laugh.
“Damn straight. No wasn’t an option.” He kisses me hard until Millie clears her throat.
“Please, god, not in front of the children.”
“My daughter’s a comedian,” he huffs, turning to face her.
“You want me to take him?”
She nods.
“I don’t want to drop him.”
He releases me to take Evan, tucking him under the crook of his neck before he takes my hand with his free one.
“Millie, you ready?”
“Yep.”
“Oh good, I’m ready to go home,” I admit.
They both turn to look at me with the same eerie expression.
Hannibal smirks at me.
“Yeah, about that…”
“I can’t believe you guys moved us in while I was in labor.”
“Technically, you were asleep when we started, and then…” Hannibal says, tossing a piece of popcorn into his mouth.
The four of us are sprawled out on the huge sectional, watching Ninja Warrior.
“Actually, I moved us, with help from Tracey, May, and a couple of brothers. Hannibal was with you. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear he planned it that way.”
Hannibal grins, tossing another kernel of corn into his mouth.
I unlatch Evan from my boob and rest him over my shoulder and rub his back.
“So I moved house, had a baby, and got a wedding proposal all in one day? Maybe I should buy a lottery ticket for tomorrow, too.”
“If you win, we should get a pool,” Millie throws out, making me shake my head.
“What do you think of the house anyway? Anything you want to be changed?” Hannibal asks as he sits up.
I look around the room.
Though we don’t have a lot of things to fill it, over the years, it will overflow with memories.
“I love it,” I admit.
When he first told me he’d moved us out of my old house, I burst into tears.
Millie panicked, thinking I was upset.
But I was so fucking relieved that I’d never have to see that hallway again.
Every time I walked in the door, I was transported back in time.
Now, for the first time in five years, I feel like I can breathe.
“I’m gonna go up to bed. Night, guys.” Millie stands up and stretches before walking over to me and kissing Evan on the head.
“Night, honey. Thank you for all this. It has been the best day of my life.”
She smiles shyly before waving at Hannibal and heading upstairs.
“How you feeling, doll?” Hannibal asks as he reaches over and steals Evan from my shoulder.
“I feel good. A little sore, but I’m okay, all things considered. I didn’t expect things to go that fast.”
“First labors usually don’t. I guess our boy was just impatient.”
Evan lets out a little burp in response, making Hannibal grin.
He stands up and lays him in the bassinet before sitting back down and tugging me into his lap.
“It was a great fucking day.” He kisses my neck as I snuggle into him.
“Well, mostly.”
I lift my head to look at him.
“Why? What did I miss?”
“Havoc called. He’s coming down with Nevaeh next week.”
“Okay. Any particular reason why?”
He slides his hand into my hair and kisses the tip of my nose.
“Yeah, he wants to talk to you.”
Why?
The man hates me. “To me? What could he possibly want to talk to me about?”
“Driller.”
And just like that, reality comes crashing back.