Chapter 25
He and Xander were busy loading up the SUVs with their gear when Val suddenly appeared.
“Before you leave, you need to check on Rochelle.”
“Is she okay?”
“She is, but I think she might be starting labor. She’s got back pain and cramps.”
Jesse nodded. “Is she still at the clubhouse? Can she walk back to her house?”
“She can, I’ll go with her.”
“Go to the cottage first and grab my kit. I’ll get Nate and meet you back at their place,” Then he turned to Xander. “You might need to head off with the rest of the guys, without me. I’ll see what’s up with Chelle and determine whether or not I can leave.”
“You do what you need to in order take of our own,” Xander replied and gave Jesse’s waist a squeeze. “Me and the rest of the guys have got the Krypt situation in hand.”
“Rochelle insisted she’s not having contractions, so I think she’s still a long way off,” Val added. “And since I’m staying here, I’ll keep a watch on her. I’ve assisted with births back home.”
“Thanks, baby,” Jesse replied and leaned over to kiss her.
Then he watched Val head off towards his cottage and turned to Xander. “We are so out of our depths here, aren’t we?”
Xander bit his lower lip and nodded. “Yep. But that woman is incredible. And so are you.”
Jesse waved him off, not comfortable with compliments. Even from his lovers.
“You are, Jess,” Xander growled and grabbed him. “So damn smart, protective, ruthless, sexy. I could go on.”
“Don’t,” Jesse leaned in and gave him a kiss. “I need to focus. And tell Nate that in no short order, he’s gonna be a dad.”
Xander stepped back and started loading up the truck again. “Things are really going to be crazy around here.”
“We could fight it but why bother? We love crazy, that’s how we roll,” Jesse quipped. “I’ll check on Chelle, then I’ll text you what’s up.”
Xander nodded.
“You’re the same, you know,” Jesse replied over his shoulder, as he walked away.
“What?” Xander asked.
“Incredible. And what we have with Val is—” Jesse paused. “I don’t know how to explain it but I’m damn glad it happened.”
Xander smiled, and Jesse’s cock jerked hard in his jeans.
“You don’t need to. It just is. And I don’t fucking care what anyone thinks or says about the three of us. It’s what I want. No, that’s not right,” Xander replied and licked his lips, staring at Jesse with those bottomless blue eyes. “It’s what I need. Nothing else.”
Jesse smirked. “Well, except our bikes, and the club.”
“Duh.”
Jesse chuckled and spotted Nate walking over with Sonny and Dante. Jesse met them halfway, his walk turning into a run as he jogged over.
“I’m gonna go check on Chelle before we leave. Seems she’s been having back pain and cramps. It might be time for the baby.”
Nate’s face went from ruddy to pale in no time. “Oh, fucking hell. My kid. It’s really happening.”
He looked like he was going to puke, and Jesse had to bite back a laugh. It took a lot to scare hardened bikers. But apparently, in this case, all it took was a baby. Then Jesse reasoned that if this were him, he’d be the same. A takedown on a rival crew? No problem. The prospect of being responsible for a tiny human? Fucking hell, that was some scary ass shit.
“Probably not for quite a while yet. Let’s go check on her, then I’ll give everyone an update. If we need to stay behind, we need to stay.”
Sonny nodded and Dante too. “We got enough guys for our hunting trip, we’ll be fine.”
Jesse and Nate took off and found Sage and Avery with Rochelle. Then Val appeared with his kit. Jesse examined Rochelle and thankfully, she wouldn’t be giving birth just yet.
“She’s still a ways off. Maybe in the next few days? Her water hasn’t broken yet and she’s not dilating.”
Nate waved him off. “I don’t need to know those details. Just tell me when and where.”
Jesse nodded, trying not to laugh at his friend. “Like I said, probably a couple of days.”
Then he turned to Val.
“You okay to be on hand tonight with Chelle? I mean, after we capture that asshole who’s after you.”
“I’m good.”
“She’ll be fine,” Sage replied. “We’ve got all the crew we need here if Simeon arrives. I’m here, Avery, too. And if Rochelle does go into labor, we got this.”
Jesse had no doubt. These women were fierce and strong, like all Hellraisers.
“Okay, Nate. We gotta a job to finish. Let’s go.”
Nate kissed Rochelle goodbye, but Jesse hesitated in reaching for Val.
Fuck it.
He gave her a languid kiss and swatted her ass. “You be careful.”
Val nodded. “You guys will nab him before he knows what’s going on. Simeon isn’t taking me anywhere.”
Jesse swallowed hard and kissed her again.
Now, he was ready to go and kick some Krypt ass.
Xander
“Hey, Xan,” Jackson called out. “You ready for this firefight?”
Xander turned and gave Jackson his best finger. “Hell yes. You know I love a takedown.”
“Where’s your better half? I mean, your third?”
Xander glanced away. “Jesse’s with Val, checking on Chelle. She might be ready to have the baby.”
“Fuck, I still can’t believe it. Can you see Nate walking around with a kid, man?”
“Hey, my father did it. Twice. So why not Nate?”
“True. Still, it’s gonna be a mindfuck when it happens.” Jackson leaned on the SUV and pushed his hat back. “You ever think about it?”
“What? Having kids?”
Jackson nodded, his face suddenly serious. Which was unusual. He was always joking around and never one to bring up the heavy topics.
“No. Well, I mean, not until—” Then he caught himself. Shit.
“I can see it. You and Jess and Val. It’s the real deal, right?”
Xander knew the answer but he didn’t reply, instead he just nodded.
“And hey, it’s not a bad idea. Rochelle’s kid and Avery’s will be a few months apart. You guys could add another one and we’ll have the third generation of Hellraisers in no time. Then we can retire to Mexico.”
Xander laughed at that. “I like that idea. What about you?”
“Me? Kids? No way. I’m happy just fucking randos and enjoying my freedom.”
“You never know. I thought the same until recently.”
Jackson let out a deep chuckled and adjusted his hat. “Nope. And there’s no woman on earth that can ever change my mind.”
Before Xander could respond, Jesse’s voice called out.
“Are we on?”
Xander turned and spotted Jesse and Nate, along with Sonny and Dante and fifteen of their crew. Darkness was settling in around them. And his nerves were starting to run wild and hot.
Xander checked his phone and the tracker that was monitoring Simeon’s movements.
“Look like our target hasn’t left the motel yet.”
“Load up, check your comms,” Gage demanded as he got in the first SUV.
The crew piled into the remaining cars, with Jesse, Dante, and Jackson in with Xander.
Xander glanced at his phone again, then tapped his earpiece. “He’s finally on the move. Let’s head for the gates. Wyatt, Vanier, you in place in case he case he tries to take off?”
“Hidden and ready to pounce.”
“Good. Val, you copy?”
“I hear you, loud and clear,” she responded. “I’m heading over.”
“Remember, let us do the talking and bring him in. You arrive at the gates only at our cue. And afterwards, you can question him all you want in the bunker. At least, until we’re done this job with the Krypt tonight and Sonny’s back.”
“I’m good. I’m ready.”
“I know you are, baby.”
Jeers and hollers rang out. In the car, and on Xander’s comm.
“All right, enough joking around. Let’s get to work.”
The motorcade of SUV’s headed down their driveway towards their front entrance. The closer Xander got, the more nervous he became.
Until he spotted Simeon’s car by the side of their road. Waiting.
Xander pulled to a stop and punched in the code to open the gate. When they got to the other side, Simeon stepped out of his car and walked up to the SUV, bold as fuck.
Xander got out of the SUV and strode up to him. “Who the fuck are you and what are you doing on our property?”
“I’m here to see Val Renn.”
Xander shook his head. “She ain’t up for visitors. Now get gone.”
“No. I need to see her,” Simeon insisted, his eyes cold and flat. “She’s my wife.”
Xander scoffed at that. “Sure, she is. Look, I don’t know how you found this place, but I’m telling you, you need to leave. And Val? She ain’t yours. She belongs to us.”
“I have cash. Five thousand dollars if you’ll give me the woman.”
Simeon was sweating, and fidgeting, like he was high on something. Or just nervous.
“Five grand? Is that a joke?”
Simeon ran a hand through his gray hair and pulled on it, agitated. “Ten thousand. I got ten grand. In cash. Just let me see her.”
Xander pulled out his phone and tapped away. “Are you really Val’s husband?”
“Yes. She has problems. She ran away and changed her name. I know she’s here, please just let me see her.”
“Let’s call her out and see if she recognizes you. If she don’t, you better haul ass before I fill it full of buckshot.”
A minute or so ticked by as Xander waited. Simeon hadn’t budged from his position just outside the gate. And Xander knew, from everything he’d just seen, that the man wasn’t leaving until he got Val.
Then Val’s voice echoed in his ear.
“I’m nearing the front gate.”
There was a pause and silence. Val was still walking.
He turned and watched as she stopped short when she spotted Simeon, her face pale, eyes wide.
“What are you doing here?”