I wanted to drive to Lauren’s apartment, I doubt Maria would’ve let me in, but I wanted to see her. I could really use a cuddle right now. I needed Kitten to wrap me in her arms and fill me in on everything I’ve missed. Knowing her, she probably had a scrapbook full of Pea’s pictures. Maybe I would get a chance to feel the baby move. That would be epic.
I didn’t do any of those things; instead I drove my ass to the Red Dragons’ clubhouse and sat across the street from their compound with my hand wrapped around my gun. I thought of a million different ways I could get through those iron gates and twice as many ways I’d kill the motherfucker. I didn’t want them all. I wasn’t greedy like that. I’d just take Wu.
But I knew Bones was right. It was suicide. If the Dragons didn’t kill me for offing their president then Jack would kill me for going against him. Brother or no brother, that shit was wrong.
I resigned, tucking my gun away, deciding Wu and I both got to live another night and peeled away from the curb, making my way to my apartment. Maybe I’d put another coat of paint on the walls, or finish that bottle of whiskey I had been working on. The first thing I’d definitely do when I walked in the door was put Pea’s picture where it belongs…on my refrigerator.
I reached for my keys as I climbed the stairs to my apartment, pulled them and the photo out of my pocket, jingling the keys in my hand as I stared at Pea.
I was still shocked that me and Lauren made a kid.
I reached the landing and turned my head when I heard footsteps, stopping in my tracks as my eyes met Lauren’s briefly before they dropped and zeroed in on her protruding stomach.
My God.
She’d gotten so much bigger since the last time I saw her.
There was no question that she was pregnant, that round belly said it all. The club always talks about branding their women, making their women their property, they give them their colors and stamp them as their old lady.
I made Lauren my property, claimed her as mine, the sweetest way imaginable the night I put Pea inside her. That bump was her brand and it made her mine forever.
I lifted my eyes back to her face, noticing her cheeks reddening ever so slightly. I moved around her to open the door. Silently, she stepped inside and I followed her, closing the door behind me.
She stared at me for a moment before looking down at the photo I clutched in my hands.
“Funny thing happened today,” she started, taking the picture out of my hand and walking into the kitchen. She pulled a magnet from the side of the fridge and placed Pea’s photo front and center on the refrigerator door before she turned around and looked back at me.
“Actually, a couple of things happened today. I went to my doctor’s appointment and guess who was there?” She asked, walking closer. “Bones. Picture that. He said he was lost and I believed him. You’ve made it clear that you guys aren’t really the brightest bulbs,” she said, her lip curling slightly. “Anyway, after my appointment he walked me to my car and took off but I forgot that I didn’t make my payment with the doctor.”
I should’ve turned around and ignored her but I couldn’t take my eyes off of her.
“Are you ready for the funny thing? I went to make a payment and the receptionist told me that the man I was with came in a little before me and paid my balance in full.”
“That Bones, he’s a good guy,” I said hoarsely.
“Yeah, he is,” she agreed. “Some might say his friend is too,” she added, crossing her arms under her chest. “Why did you pay my doctor’s bill, Riggs?”
“It’s not a big deal, Lauren,” I argued.
Fiery blue eyes pierced me as she stalked toward me, closing the distance between us and shoving the palm of her hand against my chest.
“It’s a big deal to me! So is watching you walk up the stairs holding our baby’s picture in your hand. It’s huge for a woman who thinks she’s all alone and the only one who wants this baby.”
“What do you want me to say? You want the truth? It’s not going to change anything. It’s not going to make all the bad shit disappear, Lauren.”
“For once can we just stop talking about the club and all the bad things that can happen? I’m so sick and tired of letting that patch dictate our life.” She reached out and placed her palm against my chest.
“Just tell me what’s in here. Please,” she whispered. “It’s just us, just the three of us, give me this Riggs. I promise I won’t hold you to anything. I just need to hear it. I need to know that it all wasn’t lies.”
“The three of us,” I repeated hoarsely, laying my hand over hers. “Let me look at you, Lauren,” I said, as I took a step back and let my eyes travel the length of her, taking in all her changes, all her beauty.
“You’re so goddamn pretty,” I said, lifting my eyes back to hers. “Pea has your mouth,” I whispered.
“And your nose,” she replied.
I stepped closer to her, mindlessly taking her face in the palms of my hand and bent my knees so we were eye level.
“Thank you,” I said sincerely.
“For what?” She replied breathless.
“For being a great mom to Pea. You’re doing a great job, Kitten,” I whispered, as I touched my forehead to hers.
“I miss you,” she blurted. “I know you love Pea, Riggs,” she insisted.