Page 35 of His Flawed Ride (Sons of Lost Souls MC #16)

Chapter Thirty-Three

Shane

I stay awake long after Annie falls asleep.

I’ve spent the last few hours thinking of ways to help her and failing every time.

Her only method of help is treatment but she’s adamant she’s going to see the pregnancy through.

So that’s off the table too. I should get up and do something, but I don’t want to leave her.

I want her in my arms exactly where she’s been since she crashed.

What a woman she is, prepared to give up her life for a life that hasn’t been born yet. I wouldn’t want her getting an abortion but when it’s your life to consider, it has my head spinning. I want my kid, but I don’t want her to die.

She begins to stir and when she wakes, it’s like I’m seeing her for the first time. Her beauty takes my breath away. She looks up at me with wide eyes and then breaks out a grin.

“You’re still here?”

“Don’t sound so surprised.”

She sits up beside me and takes hold of my hand. I must admit her hand fits perfectly in mine.

“You’re so fuckin’ beautiful, Annie.”

Her smile widens but it’s her blush that sets my dick off. I don’t know what comes over me. I kiss her hand and get up. Not only is she pregnant, she is also sick, the last thing she needs is me climbing on top of her.

“You need breakfast. Get dressed and we’ll go to the diner before you show me this house you found.”

It doesn’t take me long to wash and dress and I head over to the bar while Annie finishes getting ready. Leo is sat alone, and I join him.

“Can I ask you a question?”

“I’m sure ya gonna whether I want to hear it or not.”

“I don’t wanna drag up old shit for you, but the woman I knocked up is… she’s got cancer and cause she’s adamant she’ll see the pregnancy to term she can’t have treatment, and by the time she can, it’s gonna be too late.”

He arches his brow. “What is it you wanna ask?”

“I know your daughter has Holly now, but do you think your kid knew her mom wasn’t around, like, do you think it affected her even though she was a baby.”

Leo leans back in his chair and sighs. “I always believed that Rayna knew her mom was gone but I was determined to be the dad she needed. That’s what you have to do, be a good dad, so when they are missing their mom they’re safe to knowing they have you there with them.

” I nod and he goes on to continue, “You’ll need help, it’s not easy and parents who do it alone are fuckin’ heroes. ”

“I suppose,” I murmur, mulling over what he’s saying.

“My advice whether you take it or leave it, get shit sorted before she gives birth. It’s easier fighting a war in the club than it is raising a kid on your own.”

“Cheers.”

I push up out of my chair when Annie walks in.

“Shane, there are plenty of women around here that will help, especially when you let them ride your cock.”

“Fuckin’ hell, Prez. I ain’t even thinking like that.”

“Maybe you should. If it’s true what you say, that day ain’t that far off.”

Before Annie can hear any of this, I tap out of the conversation I wish I never started and meet her by the bar.

“Are you ready?”

She nods and goes to take hold of my hand. After last night, I don’t pull away.

She’s quiet on the drive into town and I can’t think of anything helpful to say so I leave her to her thoughts. Breakfast is also a quiet affair but when we park outside the house she’s found, she comes to life.

“Isn’t it beautiful?”

It’s just a normal house to me but to her, it’s the best she’s ever seen. Not wanting to upset her, I grin. “It’s nice, yeah.”

“Come on, you need to see inside.”

She knows where to look to use the spare key and that’s when her excitement turns into full-on euphoria.

“Ignore the furniture, we’ll get our own. I’ve already picked it all out,” she informs me. She takes my hands and drags me through to the kitchen. “We’ll have to get our own pots and pans, obviously, but I can do all that for you. You don’t have to worry about any of it.”

Before I have the chance to speak, she’s opening the back door and waving her arm for me to take in the yard.

My first thought is it’s a lot of lawn to mow but it doesn’t seem to be a problem for Annie.

“Look, we already have a swing set for the baby. When it gets old enough, obviously.” She turns to me and asks, “So, what do you think?”

Scratching my head, I say, “It’s alright.”

“You don’t like it, do you.”

The shine in her eyes dull and I start to feel bad.

“I’m just wondering how we’re gonna afford it.”

Her smile returns. “I’ll buy it.”

“With what money, Annie? You’ve already told me you don’t use your trust fund and if you hadn’t noticed, houses cost a fortune.”

Rolling her eyes, she tells me, “For my baby, I’ll use it. Besides, when I’m gone the baby will inherit everything. The house included.”

That makes sense and I nod, but it’s the anger bubbling to the surface I can’t hide. I blurt out, “How are you so calm talking like it’s normal to be dying?”

Her laughter sounds wrong. “Trust me, Shane, I’m anything but calm, but what can I do? I’ve made my choice, so all I have left is to make sure I do everything I can for our child’s future.”

“There has to be something that’ll help you!”

“If there was, don’t you think I’d be doing it?” Her anger comes through, and I step closer to her. “The only part of me I have control over is our child’s future. It’s all I have that’s not death.”

A tear rolls down her cheek, I wipe it away for her and pull her against me. I hold her in what will be our back yard, and I admit, it’s a quiet neighbourhood. It’s certainly quieter than being at the club.

“What do you need me to do?” I ask her.

“I don’t need you bringing up pointless talk about things that won’t and can’t happen. All I need is to build a future for our baby so I know what I’m leaving behind.”