Page 74

Remy

The steady beep-beep-beep of the heart monitor is like a lullaby in the otherwise silent room. I can’t help but fidget, trying to get comfortable on the hospital bed. The sheets are so crisp they practically crackle every time I move. But at least the contractions have stopped.

I hear him before I see him. Those heavy footsteps are unmistakable. And there’s Rex, filling up the doorway like a mountain in a leather cut. I swear, his shoulders almost touch both sides of the frame. But when those dark eyes of his meet mine, they go all soft, and I catch the hint of a smile tugging at his lips.

“Hey, darlin’,” he rumbles. “How’re you holding up?”

I manage to scrape together a smile, even if it’s a bit wobbly. “Better now that you’re here.”

Rex nods, crossing the room in what seems like two giant steps. He drags the chair over before plopping down and engulfing my hand in his. Those callouses of his could probably sand wood.

“Your mama has the kids. I have one of our prospects watching the house, and Cheyenne is staying with her,” he says, his thumb doing that soothing circle thing on my hand.

I let out a breath. “Thank you. I was worried about them.”

Rex leans in, his face etched with concern. “You don’t need to worry about anything but you and our baby right now. I’ve got everything else handled.”

I nod, feeling the tension in my shoulders ease a bit. Rex has always been good at taking charge and making me feel safe. Even after all we’ve been through, that hasn’t changed.

“Did you see Meredith?” I ask.

Rex’s jaw tightens at the mention of Meredith’s name, and I can see the muscles in his neck straining. “Yeah, I saw her…” He trails off, his eyes darting away from mine.

I feel my heart rate pick up, the monitor’s beeping increasing in tempo. “But what, Rex? What aren’t you telling me?”

He sighs, running his free hand through his short, cropped hair. “It’s a mess, Rem. A real fuckin’ mess.”

I try to sit up straighter, wincing as I do. “Tell me everything. I can’t just lie here not knowing what’s going on out there.”

“You need to rest, darlin’. The doc said-”

“To hell with what the doc said,” I interrupt. “This is my family we’re talking about. Our children. I need to know.”

He nods, knowing better than to argue with me when I’m like this. “Alright. But you promise to stay calm, yeah?”

I nod impatiently, and he continues, “Turns out Meredith was mixed up with some cartel business. Rocky, that asshole from the Atlanta chapter she ran off with? He’s dead.”

My eyes widen. “Dead? How?”

“Killed by the Diaz cartel for losing their drugs.”

I feel my blood run cold. The Diaz cartel. Just like my father. His actions nearly eight years ago recently came back to bite us in the ass. We killed a Diaz in the very clubhouse that is being rebuilt. The memories flood back, vivid and sharp.

“Jesus Christ,” I whisper, my free hand instinctively moving to my swollen belly. “It’s all connected, isn’t it? Dad’s mess, the clubhouse explosion, Meredith...it’s like the past is determined to haunt us.”

Rex nods grimly, his grip on my hand tightening. “Seems that way, darlin’. The Diaz cartel has a long memory and even longer reach. Maya called in your brother to help.”

“If anyone can help, it’s Bobo. What do we do?”

“We’re still working that out. Tex wants me to just hand Meredith off as a peace offering, but you and I both know she’s just collateral damage in this shit storm. If this is the same Diaz family that your dad was in bed with, it stands to reason that they know we killed one of them.”

I feel a chill run down my spine at Rex’s words. The Diaz cartel isn’t known for forgiveness, and we’ve given them plenty of reasons to come after us.

“So, what’s our next move? We can’t just sit here and wait for them to come knocking.”

“We’ve got some options, but none of them are great. We could negotiate, offer them something valuable enough to forget about their grudge. Or we could go on the offensive, hit them before they hit us.”

I shake my head, wincing at the throbbing pain it causes. “No, both of those are too risky. We need to think smarter, not harder.”

Rex raises an eyebrow, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. “Got something in mind, darlin’?”

I nod slowly, an idea forming in my mind. “What if we use Meredith as bait? Not hand her over, but to lure them out. We could set up a meeting, make them think we’re ready to deal, and then...”

“And then we take them out,” Rex finishes, his eyes gleaming with approval. “It’s risky, but it could work.”

I lean back against the pillows, “We need to get the Queens and the Kings working together on this. Maybe a call to Raze, too. I hate pulling him into our shit again, but we need the bodies. It’s the only way we stand a chance against the cartel.”

Rex nods, his face set in resoluteness. “I’ll make the calls.”

I open my mouth to protest, but he silences me with a look. “I mean it, Rem. You’re six months along and just had a scare. Let me handle this.”

I sigh, knowing he’s right but hating feeling helpless. “Fine. But you keep me in the loop, you hear me? No going off half-cocked without talking to me first.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” he says, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. He leans in, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead. “I’ll be back soon. Try to get some rest.”

. The Diaz cartel is a formidable enemy, but we’ve faced worse. And with the Queens and Kings united, plus Raze’s help, we might just stand a chance.

I close my eyes, trying to will myself to relax. But my mind is racing. My father’s dealings, the clubhouse explosion, Meredith’s sudden reappearance - it’s all connected, a tangled web of violence and revenge.

Just as I’m about to drift off, my phone buzzes. It’s a text from Cheyenne.

Kids are fine. Ameline made gumbo. You need to take care of yourself. I have everything handled here.

Everything is fine at home, which is exactly what I need right now. I can almost smell Mama’s gumbo, rich and spicy, filling the house with its comforting aroma. My stomach groans, reminding me that hospital food is a poor substitute for Mama’s cooking.

I type an answer back.

Rex is working on a plan. I want you to stay with my mom and the kids. If shit hits the fan, keep them safe.

I set my phone down, trying to push away the nagging anxiety about being stuck here in the hospital and having to rely on others to protect my family. Cheyenne’s one of the toughest women I know, and if anyone can keep my family safe, it’s her. Still, the thought of my children caught in the crossfire of this mess makes my heart race.

The door creaks open, and I half-expect to see Rex’s hulking frame. Instead, it’s Dr. Thibodeaux, her salt-and-pepper hair pulled back in a neat bun. She gives me a warm smile as she approaches the bed.

“How are we feeling, Ms. Laveau?” she asks, picking up my chart.

“Like I’m ready to get out of here,” I reply, managing a weak smile.

Dr. Thibodeaux chuckles. “I understand the feeling, but we need to keep you here for observation a bit longer. Your blood pressure is still higher than we’d like.”

I nod, resigned. “How’s the baby?”

“Your baby is doing just fine,” she assures me, patting my hand. “Strong heartbeat, good movement. But we need to keep you calm and stress-free for the next few months.”

I almost laugh at that. Calm and stress-free? In my life? The only way that will ever happen is after I die, and even then, I think it’ll find me in the afterlife. But I just nod again, knowing arguing won’t change anything.

As Dr. Thibodeaux finishes up her examination, my phone buzzes again. This time, it’s Rex.

Meeting set for tomorrow night. Warehouse district. Raze is sending in some reinforcements for us, and for you and the kids.

Fuck, I owe so much for my brother’s club help. The Heaven’s Rejects would be there, which gave me more peace of mind. Things are moving fast, maybe too fast. But we don’t have the luxury of time.

I type back quickly.

Be careful. I love you.

His response is almost immediate.

Always am. Love you too, Rem.

Dr. Thibodeaux notices my furrowed brow. “Everything alright, Ms. Laveau?”

I force a smile. “Just family stuff.”

She gives me a look that says she doesn’t quite believe me but doesn’t push it. “Try to rest. I’ll be back to check on you in a few hours.”

As soon as she leaves, I let out a long breath. Rest. Yeah, right. How am I supposed to rest when my family and my club are about to face off with a cartel while I am laid up in the hospital?

I close my eyes, trying to will myself to sleep, but mages of Rex, Cheyenne, and Bobo facing down armed cartel members flash through my head. I see Beaux and Birdie, their innocent faces twisted in fear. And Meredith...God, what a mess she’s dragged us into.