Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
Isabelle
We’ve been sitting around the waiting room for hours without any news on what’s going on with Ivy or the baby. The prospects went out and brought back some drinks and burgers from the burger place down the road. They also had a crap ton of fries and onion rings.
In the past two weeks, if I wasn’t in the sight of Hellhound or one of my brothers—I’m still trying to get used to the fact I have siblings—the prospects have an eye on me.
Ghoul sat down with me a few days after they moved me out of my apartment.
He apologized and said he wouldn’t be making that mistake again.
He and Goblin both, I can tell, are taking earning their patch seriously.
Though Gremlin, a newer prospect, seems to try and think his shit don’t stink.
So much has happened, and if not for Ivy, Sutton, Angel, and best of all, Hellhound, I wouldn’t have been able to get my head on straight. It’s been a lot to deal with coming to terms with Styxx and Scythe being my big brothers, but I have questions I want answered.
The entire evening Hellhound has stuck close to me.
I know he doesn’t like the fact I’m out in the open away from the clubhouse, considering all that’s gone down and the unknown still out there.
He told me about my brothers getting Dexter and my so-called parents.
He also informed me that Dexter is no longer a threat to me.
But the other two were gone before he got to the hunting cabin, and no one knows how they got out of there.
I keep racking my brain with who could’ve helped them, but I’m not sure who.
They had a lot of junky friends who would be around all the time.
Maybe I should’ve paid more attention to them, and I’d be able to help.
I can’t, though. I did my best to stay out of the way and far from all of those people. I didn’t want anything to do with them.
Hellhound moves, drawing my attention to him as he sits in the seat next to me and pulls me into his arms. “You okay, Bells?”
I nod, tilt my head back and look at him. “Yes, I’m just worried about Ivy. They’ve been in there for a while, and Reaper hasn’t come out with updates, and no one’s telling us anything.”
“She’s good, Críona,” he says, stroking a hand through my hair. Leaning in, he presses a tender kiss to my lips. “Reaper would tear the whole place down by now if she wasn’t.”
This is true. Reaper absolutely adores his woman.
Just before her water broke, Everleigh and Josephine made a joke about how protective the man is of Ivy.
Juniper had made a remark about it, and we all brushed it aside.
Knowing Juniper as we all do, we get she’s high maintenance even if she likes to get muddy.
She prefers the attention to be on her. It’s just how she was raised to be.
Her mom and dad spoiled her to be that way, and we all ignored it. Well, for the most part.
“Yeah,” I whisper and lay my head against his shoulder.
Another hour or so passes before Reaper finally comes through the doors, looking exhausted, but he’s smiling brightly.
“How is she? The baby?” Everleigh asks, clearly anxious and worried as we all are about our friend.
“Ivy’s good. Had to do a c-section. She’s being moved to recovery now. Babies are going to NICU,” Reaper breaths out heavily and runs a hand over the top of his head.
“Wait, did you just say babies?” Angel asks cautiously, brows furrowed.
Reaper drops his hand and grins. “Yeah, a boy and girl, Paxton and Sage.”
“Oh shit.” Tombstone chuckles. “Did you know?”
“Our little girl was hiding behind her brother the whole time,” Reaper answers and glances around the room. “I know you all want to see her and the twins, but she needs to rest, and I’ve gotta run between. So go on home, get some sleep.”
“I’m not leaving you and Ivy alone,” Angel mutters, crossing his arms. “I sure as hell ain’t leaving my niece and nephew unprotected. Not when shit’s going down, and you know it.”
Reaper stiffens and glares at our VP. “Right, then pick a few brothers to stay, and the rest of you go on for the night.”
I glance at Hellhound and whisper quietly for only him to hear. “You can stay if you want.” With him being the SAA of the club, I know he’s probably needed.
“Críona, I’m not letting you be far from me unless I have to, and that goes for now as well. Got me?”
I nod, seeing the glittery glint shining in his eyes. “Okay.”
The members of the club huddle together for a brief chat while I hug my friends and tell them I’ll get with them later. Juniper gives a look and then makes a huffing sound. I don’t know what’s going on with her, but she’s been moodier than normal, well prissier.
By the time Hellhound and I finally get out of there, I’m exhausted, ready to fall on my face. I think when we get to the clubhouse, I’m going to sleep for days on in, though I know it’ll only be a few hours before I get up so I can get back up here and to my friend.
Hellhound strokes his fingers along my bare side.
His tender touch is something in the past few weeks I’ve gotten used to.
He can be sweet and loving while inside me, but he can also be rough and wild.
Both, I absolutely love. I’ve never done any of what he’s done with me—the positions, exploring all he’s shown me.
With not having to fear Dexter anymore, I think it’s easier to be me. I’m able to find my way without the thought of looking over my shoulder. I’m not scared out of my mind that I won’t be able to cover my ‘parents’ debt and end up at the hands of that monster.
“Bells?” Hellhound mutters, pulling me out of my head before I can fully go down that dark path.
I tilt my head back on his shoulder and meet his gaze. “Yeah?” I whisper for some reason, not wanting to be loud.
“You okay?” he asks—his deep baritone going straight to my chest, clenching tightly.
“Do you like kids?” I blurt out without meaning to. The moment the question slips past my lips, my eyes widen, and I tense as Hellhound’s arms tighten around me.
He turns us until we’re both lying on our sides facing each other. Hellhound raises a hand to cup the side of my face and strokes my hair out of the way. “Yeah, Críona, I like kids.” Sliding his hand down, he brushes his thumb over my lip. “What about you?”
“I . . . I, um, I never really thought about it. I mean . . .” I suck in a nervous breath, realizing he didn’t ask me if I wanted them but if I liked them. “I mean, yes, I like kids. I never thought about having any, but that well, you know. I feared never being able to take care . . .”
“I know what you mean, Bells,” he interrupts me, grinning.
“And I’m gonna explain something to you.
Growing up, I had great parents. My mom was a stay-at-home woman who enjoyed spending her time with her son and daughter.
My dad worked hard. He was a biker, but he didn’t belong to a club, though he was friends with the Satan Keepers.
He simply liked living his life the way he wanted to.
They died years ago. I got guardianship of Stella and started prospecting for the club. ”
My heart hurts for him that he lost his parents.
“You asked me about the scar on my face, and I’m gonna tell you. It was because I failed in protecting my sister.”
I gasp, shocked at what he’s admitted.
“Asher,” I whisper, cupping the side of his face and brushing my fingers along his scar.
“Long time ago, Isabelle,” he mutters. “For a long time, I was pissed with Stella. She didn’t listen to me when I told her not to do something.
She did it anyway, and the result of it ended with her getting hurt and me killing a fucker, but not before he got one good shot at me.
That shot being slicing the side of my face in with a hunting knife. ”
Oh no.
“So, I never thought of having any kids myself, Críona.” He slides his hand into my hair and holds me still.
“But that was before you. What you need to do, though, Bells, is know that I want a life with you. One that includes you as my ol’ lady, wearing my patch, my ring, and carrying my kid inside you.
It ain’t gonna be tomorrow, but soon enough.
I learned a lot from my folks growing up, but the hardest lesson I got from them is life is fuckin’ short. Now you think you can handle all that?”
I nod without hesitation, licking my bottom lip.
His words swirl around in my head, searing themselves in place.
If it were anyone else but Hellhound, I might go running from him a mile a minute.
However, this is Hellhound, and he knows the worst of me.
So. who cares if he killed a man. That guy must have deserved it.
I might not know everything about this man, but I know he’s not a cold-blooded killer.
Everything he does is with purpose, and he calculates his move before doing anything.
“Need words, Críona,” he says, pressing his lips against mine for a chaste kiss.
“I can handle everything you said,” I whisper truthfully.
Hellhound smirks and repositions us, rolling so I’m on my back, and he’s on top of me, his body cradled between my legs. I suck in a breath when he slips inside my already wet entrance.
“You’re so fuckin’ beautiful but more so when you get that sweet look on your face when I fill you with my cock.”
Oh my.
I run my hands up his arms and wrap them around his shoulders while I tip my hips for him to sink deeper inside me. “Asher,” I moan, savoring the feel of him.
“Yeah, Críona.” The gruffness of his voice sends a shiver down my spine.
With a slow thrust, Hellhound takes his time loving me in a way he’s not done before. Tears well in my eyes at how sensual it feels. It’s beautiful in a way I never understood sex could be. The two of us come together, our mouths brushing against each other’s as our releases take over.
Still inside me, Hellhound repositions us, so I’m on top of him, my head to his chest.
“Sleep, Críona,” he murmurs, pressing a kiss to the top of my head.
I smile, release a breath of contentment and close my eyes. It doesn’t take me long to do as he orders. I drift off to sleep murmuring something I didn’t even realize I said. “I love you.”