Chapter 26
“What you doin’ here?” Greaser looks pissed when I turn up at his garage.
“I’m here to pick up your books. Ruckus asked me to go through everything; check to see if there’s anything that might help us figure out where Raze is.”
“Since when do we take orders from Ruckus?” He slams down the hood of the car he’s workin’ on and heads into the office.
“We’re all just doin' whatever we can to help find him,” I point out as I follow him through.
“Yeah, well, you ain’t gonna find much in here.” He pulls down a box from the top shelf and shoves it hard into my chest.
“Looks like business is going well.” I decide to try and make the effort; I promised Alicia I’d be civil to this asshole, and I guess I have to start somewhere.
“It’s been steady,” he answers back coldly.
“Steady? Grease, the lot outside is rammed; you should speak to Wrath about getting some help around here.”
“I don’t need no help, I prefer to work alone.” He turns his back on me and starts busying himself with a car part from the counter.
“Siddy, it’s lunchtime,” Iris calls down from the top of the stairs; appearing at the bottom a few seconds later, carrying a sandwich on a plate for him.
“I didn’t realize you had company.” She gives me one of those frosty looks she reserves only for me. “How is Alicia?” she asks, handing her son the plate.
“She’s great, and rest assured, I’m making sure she gets lots of rest.” I smile, remembering again what I’ve promised.
“As you should. This stage of pregnancy is crucial.”
“Well, like with everything she does, Alicia’s coping well. I should get back to the club, I gotta lot of work to do.” I glance down at the box in my hand and go to leave.
“It’s a big responsibility, taking on another man's child. Are you up to it, Viking?” she calls out to me before I get out the door.
“It’s just Vike,” I correct her. “And yeah, I’m more than ready.”
“I hope so, because as soon as that baby comes, it will become her priority,” she explains, her left eye twitching ever so slightly as she waits for me to react.
“As it should be,” I remain calm.
“I think we both know which man Seggy would prefer to be helping raise his daughter.” She looks behind her to Greaser, who’s now halfway through eating the sandwich she made him.
“I’d guess he’d rather be raising her himself, but since he ain’t here to do that, I’ll do what I can to make him proud. He was my club brother,” I remind her.
“You’ll soon tire; having children puts strain on a relationship. You’ll get fed up with being her second best,” she warns me.
“Sorry to disappoint you, Iris, but that ain’t gonna happen.
I love Alicia, and I’m gonna love her child, too.
Alicia wants us all working together to make that child's life the best it can be, so it’s time we all start having a little faith in each other.
” I know what I’m saying is meaningless; I don’t have an ounce of faith in either of the people standing in front of me, but that don’t mean I won’t allow them to think I do.
“Thanks for this,” I tell Greaser, lifting up the box before making my way back to the club.
“You found anything?” Ruck looks eagerly over my shoulder.
“Nothin’. We ain’t waitin’ on nothing major to come in, and everything we owed is paid up.” I have to admit, I’m impressed with the way everything's been handled while I’ve been away.
“Vike, we gotta start thinkin—”
“I know.” I scrub my hand over my face, still not sure what to believe. I get where Wrath is coming from with his theory, but would Raze really leave Peyton and Eden to worry about him this way? It all seems too selfish for a man like him.
“You speak to Burlusconi?” I check.
“Yep, he’s heard nothing.”
“I got a bad feelin’ about this, Vike.” Ruck looks scared as he paces the desk in front of me.
“You notice how busy Greaser’s garage has been?” I ask, curiously. “I stopped by to pick up these books, and the parking lot was full.”
“I know Greaser’s been busy; too fuckin’ busy to notice you steal his girl right from under his nose.” Ruck proves he hasn’t lost his sense of humour entirely when he sniggers at me. “But what’s that gotta do with Raze being gone?”
“I don’t know, somethin’ just ain’t adding up; all the paperwork fits but...you don’t think he’s pulling anything shady, do ya?”
“Look, Vike, I know you and Greaser have got issues, and that you never wanted him back here, but you have to get past all this. We can’t have any weakness in the pack,” he warns, and I nod my head, deciding not to press him anymore on it; I’ll just keep an eye on things a little more closely myself.
“Freya tells me his mother’s sticking around. How does Alicia feel about that?” he checks; I guess he saw for himself when we visited her place how crazy the woman can be.
“A little suffocated, but she’s got me to make sure no one oversteps. Alicia wants them both involved, but there's a difference between involvement and control.”
“Freya’s had the same concern. I told her you were the right man for the job. Vike, you're the most level-headed out of all of us. We need you, now more than ever.” He leaves me to keep searching for some answers, heading out into the barroom to join Wrath at the bar.
“What ya doin' in here?” I smile when I get home and find Alicia sitting by herself in the baby's room, rocking in the armchair.
“Just imagining what it’s gonna be like when she gets here.” She smiles excitedly. “I’ve been looking forward to meeting her, but since you came home and we’ve decided to do this together...I don’t know, it feels different.”
“‘Good’ different?” I check.
“‘Amazing’ different.” She beams back at me.
“Well, I’m very happy to hear that.” I lean over her and kiss her lips. It feels like too long since I left her this morning, and I’ve missed being close to her
“You find out anything useful?” she asks, knowing that I've spent all day going through club records.
“Not a damn thing.” I shake my head, disappointed.
“Peyton isn’t coping, and I’m worried about Eden. All this stress... It’s not good for her.” She starts fretting, and I stroke my hand through her hair to try to calm her down.
“Baby, I know you love ’em, and they’re your girls, but you can’t let this worry ya. You have to think of yourself, right now.”
“That’s not easy to do when two of my best friends' lives are falling apart. I feel so guilty for being this happy,” she admits.
“Well, you shouldn’t, you’ve been through a lot; if anyone in this world deserves a little happiness, it’s you.” I kiss her again, watching her face turn a little curious as I straighten back up.
“What do you say I take a shower, then we head out and get something to eat?” I suggest, sensing that she needs some distraction.
“Like a date?” she checks, with that beam back on her face.
“Yeah, like a date.” I laugh to myself. I don’t know what planet this girl’s living on, but she missed the memo that we’re way past the dating stage.
“Sounds like fun,” she nods back at me.
“Cool; you stay there lookin’ pretty, and I’ll go grab that shower, unless of course, you want to join me?” I offer.
“Now that's a ridiculous idea, I can barely fit in the shower by myself.” She giggles.
“You know how it goes. I’ll always find a way.”
“I think I’ll rain check on the shower until I’m back to my normal size again. If I ever make it back to a normal size.” I hate the way she looks down her body as if she’s ashamed of it. Does she not realize that she’s doing the most natural, incredible thing a woman can do?
“Why do you do that?” I ask her.
“Do what?” She laughs nervously.
“Put yourself down; look at yourself as if you don’t like what you see.”
“Well, you have to be honest, I’m not exactly at my finest right now.” She giggles some more, trying to hide how self-conscious she’s feeling.
“I disagree, I don’t think you’ve ever looked more beautiful,” I tell her seriously, and mean every word. “You’re growing a child, Alicia; what could be finer than that?”
“I don’t know, maybe being able to see my feet again?” She shrugs.
“Well, I can assure you that, just like the rest of you, your feet are perfect.” I step back toward her and kiss her again, still not quite used to the fact that she’s mine, and I can do it anytime I like.
“You know how to flatter a girl,” she tells me with a smile against my lips.
“It ain’t flattery, it’s honesty. I adore the way you look.” I drag myself away before I end up doing something inappropriate in the room that’s soon gonna belong to our baby.
“I told you I’d find a way.” I kiss her shoulder as I slowly thrust into her from behind.
The water is cascading over us, making her skin glisten, and there’s something very satisfying in holding her tight, round belly in my hands as she comes for me.
She raises her arms and crosses them around my neck, stretching out her body even more, and I swear it makes my cock grow another inch inside her.
Sliding my hand under her stomach, I start teasing her clit with my fingers, ensuring that she comes for me again before I unleash myself. I’m addicted to the way her body clamps around me, and those noises she makes when she loses control.
“You're gonna kill me,” she tells me breathlessly,
“You want me to stop?” I whisper in her ear.
“Don’t you dare,” she growls back at me, tugging at my hair as her body starts to tremble.
“My turn now,” I growl, holding her still by her hips as I release inside her, filling her soaked, wet pussy as it tenses around me.
“Hello.” We both freeze when we hear a voice call through the house. “It’s only me.”
“Who the fuck is that?” I quickly lean out the shower and grab a towel so I can cover her.
“It sounds like…”
“Iris.” We both say her name at the same time. With the same dread.
“Careful, the floor’s soaking wet,” I warn, maneuvering our bodies so I can get out first and help her out safely.
“I told you it was a bad idea to leave the door open,” she argues, getting all flustered and frustrated.