Chapter 35
Wrath
“ P rez?”
“Wrath, I’ve got some news. You need to meet me at Mercy General ASAP.”
“Is someone hurt?”
“No, and the rest will take too long to explain, brother. None of us are in imminent danger.”
“I’ll be right there.”
I hang up the phone and take my wife's hand. “Gambit needs us to meet him at Mercy General now. I’m going to go flag down our server and pay her. I’ll have her box up our dessert. I’m sorry, baby.”
She shakes her head. “This is not on you. I’ll text Hurl and let him know to bring the car around.”
“Thank you.”
I deposit her back on her seat and adjust her leg before heading off in search of our server. I find her near the kitchen.
“Hey, I’m sorry, but we have to leave unexpectedly. If you’ll box up our dessert, I’ll have someone pick it up later. Can you have Boomer send me the bill?”
She smiles and nods her head. “It’ll be my pleasure. I hope everything is alright.
“Me too," I say.”
Opening my wallet, I take out a C-note and hand it to her. “Thank you for serving us tonight.”
Her eyes widen when she sees the money. “Thank you, sir.”
“Wrath, and you’re welcome.”
When I return to our private dining room, I find Crab helping Millie into her wheelchair.
“Crab, can you text the prospect group chat and have one of them pick up dessert for us? I told her to bill Boomer but have whoever is picking up dessert get cash from Saber or Decker to pay for the bill. Have them include a twenty-five percent tip. I already gave her a pre-tip.”
“On it, Wrath.”
I get behind Millie's chair and maneuver her out of the room and through the restaurant. Hurl has the SUV pull around and the door open. I pick Millie up and put her in the back and help her adjust before getting in beside her and putting her leg up on my lap. Her bright pink cast looks even brighter on top of my dark dress pants.
“How are you, feeling any pain?”
She shakes her head. “No pain. I’m full as a tick on a bloodhound in August, though.”
I burst out laughing. “I love you so fucking hard, Nightingale.”
She smiles, then frowns. “I hope everyone is alright.”
“Me too.”
The ride to the hospital doesn’t take long. Hurl parks at the door and gets Millie’s chair while I lift her out of the seat. After she’s situated, we head inside, leaving Hurl to park. Crab hustles ahead of us and opens the door. I head toward the spot Gambit told me to meet him at. It looks like the administrative part of the hospital.
Gambit spots us and waves us toward a set of double doors.
“There's a private room just inside to the left for us to talk.”
What in the actual fuck is going on? I bite back my irritation. Crab opens the door before hurrying around us to open the door to the room Gambit mentioned.
“Crab, wait outside the door.”
Crab nods and takes up position outside the door. Gambit comes in and closes the door behind him.
“I’m sorry, brother, to do it like this, but there’s not much time.”
He turns to Millie. “I’m also sorry for what’s about to happen.”
“What the fuck is going on?” I demand.
Gambit looks at me. I take a deep breath.
“You had a one-night stand with a woman about ten months ago.”
I nodded my head to confirm it.
“She got pregnant.”
“What? I wrapped it up and she said she was on the pill.”
“It’s possible she was. Unfortunately, it's not the only pills she was taking. Her name is Lola Biaz. She gave birth to twins less than two weeks ago and overdosed earlier today. She listed you on the birth certificate.
“One of the nurses who worked with Doc and attended a party remembered you were a part of the club and called me. A social worker is on their way now to take the twins into custody unless you’ll take them?”
I am absofuckinglutely floored. I turn to look at Millie. Her face is a picture of calm. She reaches up and takes my hand.
“You didn’t know me ten months ago, Wrath. Take those babies. Don’t let them go in the system. We’ll raise them together.”
“There’s one more thing you need to know,” Gambit adds.
“What is it?” I ask.
“The twins are suffering from NAS.”
I hear Millie gasp. “Poor sweet babies. I haven’t changed my mind, but I’m going to have to resign from my new job before I start. I can’t work at Artemis and take care of the twins. At least not for six months to a year.”
“Your job is waiting whenever you’re ready, Millie.”
I stoop down beside her, taking both her hands. I look into her eyes.
“Are you sure?”
“Aren’t you?”
I feel heat rise to my cheeks. “I can’t lose you.”
“You’re not losing me. We’re gaining a family. I mean, everything else has been lightning fast. Why not our family?”
“But you wanted to wait.”
“I did, but there’s no way those babies aren’t coming home with us. OH MY GOD! WE NEED EVERYTHING!”
“I already sent a text to Stormy. If I know my wife. She has all the ol’ ladies and dolls immobilized and in the process of turning the spare bedroom into a nursery.”
The door opens, and a harried looking man hurries in. A worn-looking leather briefcase is in his hand.
“Which one of you is Wrath?
I step forward. “I am.”
He indicates the table in the room. “Let’s sit.”
I move Millie to the table before taking a seat. Gambit sits on her other side.
“My name is Calvin Henry and I'm a social worker. Sir, we’re going to need your legal name and identification. We’ll also run a DNA test to make sure you're the father.”
“I’m on the birth certificate.”
“The father’s name is listed as Wrath Voodoo Kings.”
“I am Wrath with the Voodoo Kings,” I point to Gambit. “That’s Gambit, he's president of the Voodoo Kings.”
“Fine, but I still need to get your information and run DNA. It's standard procedure.”
I pull out my license. “My name is Wade Jackson.”
He starts pulling out a bunch of papers.
“Mr. Jackson, I understand you were unaware of the children?”
“That’s correct. My involvement with their mother was a one-night stand. She knew how to find me, but I never heard from her.”
“The twins, a boy and girl, are as yet unnamed. They also suffer from NAS, Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome. I’m afraid it comes with a lot of complications. I’ve already found a foster family with experience. They can take the twins immediately.”
“No,” I say.
“Excuse me?”
“I’m keeping my children. Thank you for finding someone to care for them, but they’re coming home with me.”
“They need special care. I don’t think you understand.”
Millie spoke up. “I’m a nurse and his wife. I’ve done a few rotations in NICU. I’m familiar with NAS.”
Wrath threads his fingers through mine and gives my hand a gentle squeeze.
“I’m financially able to pay for any expenses they need, and my wife will care for the twins, as will I. I have excellent healthcare benefits as well.”
I take out my wallet and show him the insurance card.
“I can have the twins added immediately. They’ll pay for them retroactively under the circumstances.”
“How are you going to take care of twins with that cast?” Henry asks Millie.
“I have a village.”
“Suit yourself,” he says with a sigh. “Your name’s on the birth certificate, Mr. Jackson. Or it will be. Once the hospital adds your legal name, you can take the twins home. You can check in with the nurse’s station to see them. I’ll inform the administration.”
“How long will the test take?”
“A few days. A week maybe.”
I growl. With that, the social worker leaves.
“Let’s go get that DNA test taken,” Gambit says. “As soon as we have that, I’ll call Bug. With his contacts, we’ll have that test back in hours, not days.”
We head to the nurses' station and get directed to wait in a room. A few minutes later, someone comes in and takes blood and a cheek swab.
As soon as the tech is done, we head toward the station to check in before we can go to the NICU.
Gambit puts a hand on my shoulder.
“I’ll give you two some time alone and have a recruit bring a vehicle with two baby seats. After I call Bug.”