Page 39 of His Flawed Ride (Sons of Lost Souls MC #16)

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Shane

I ’m more than exhausted. We’ve been fighting for months with no respite and though we’re riding home, I don’t hold much hope that we won’t be sent back out without rest. Myself, the twins, and Dex, have been riding home for the last four days and I’m about ready to say goodbye to my ass it’s so fucking dead with numbness.

Leo’s out front of the gates talking to the sheriff. She eyes each of us as we ride past her and into the club.

I pass my usual spot and ride to the new house I rent from the club. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it when I was looking for Annie a few months back. Once she heard about it, the house in town was quickly forgotten about.

It’s been two months since we moved in and it still feels weird when I let myself in, coming home to an old lady and a kid on the way. Though it does offer a little more stability.

Every time I come home there’s something new in the house.

Today, there’s a new rug in the living room with a new armchair and a new table and chairs set-up in the kitchen.

The huge fridge that was delivered last week is filled with every food and drink known to man and I grab a bottle of beer.

Twisting the cap off, I toss it in the trash and make my way upstairs.

Annie’s still sleeping in our new bed with new bedding, and I fall into the new rocking chair that showed up a few weeks ago. She has money that’s for sure and she’s not afraid to spend up.

I sip my beer as I watch her chest rise and fall. I find myself no longer tired from the long ride and fight with the Hades Hog fuckers, I’m content to sit here and watch her take every breath, wondering how many more she will get to take.

I’m scared as shit for her, yet I can’t show it in front of her. Perhaps this is my karma for all the women I’ve fucked and ducked out on. I think I’m falling in love with this woman, and I have no idea if she’ll be here with us this Christmas.

How the fuck am I going to raise a kid on my own, if the worst should happen.

“How long have you been watching me sleep?”

I plaster on a smile. “Not long.” Hauling my ass out of the chair, I join her on the bed and place my hand on her bump and grin when my kid kicks. “How’s my boy today?”

“He’s been active, too active.”

“How are you?” I ask, looking her over.

“Tired.” She glances at me. “How are you? You look as tired as I feel.”

“I could do with a week’s worth of sleep.” I kiss her forehead and curl up behind her.

I begin to relax, and my eyes grow heavy just as my phone goes off.

“Ignore it.”

As much as I’d love to crash and ignore the phone, I roll onto my back and dig my phone out of my pocket.

“Babe, whoever it is can wait.”

I read the text and tell her, “Leo wants everyone in the back room. I’ve gotta go.”

I haul my ass off of the bed, grateful I had yet to take my boots off and grab the beer I was yet to finish.

“How long do you think you’ll be?”

“I don’t know. You rest for the both of us.”

I don’t hear her reply. I finish my beer on the way over to the bar and slide the empty bottle across the bar to the prospect to throw out. I’m the last to arrive and I close the door and take my seat in the backroom.

“You look like shit, brother,” Sparky points out.

“Thanks,” I mumble just as Leo slams the gavel down.

“I want to know how the run went,” he starts.

“Shit show free,” Dex informs him.

“Yeah, for the first time in months,” Mason grunts.

Leo tosses each of us an envelope and I’m quick to tuck mine straight into my cut pocket. Aside from the normal household bills, it’ll go toward the hospital bills the baby will bring and Annie’s treatment. I’ll need a lot fucking more but payday is a start.

“The sheriff told me the Hog fuckers that were arrested have been released on bail,” Leo goes on to say.

Yesterday, JJ and Zach had a run in with four Hogs in town.

“She made a trip out here just to tell ya that?” Sparky asks.

“It’s her payday too, two birds and all that,” Leo reminds him.

Sparky rolls his eyes, and Leo goes on to add, “She’s proving her use, but we’ll see how long it lasts…”

He’s cut off by a knock at the door. “Yeah?” Leo hollers.

The prospect opens the door and sticks his head in but then he’s shoved out of the way by Holly. Leo’s immediately on his feet but it’s me who she looks at with fear in her eyes.

“Shane, it’s Annie. She’s bleeding, it’s bad. You need to come now.”

I shoot up to my feet and run for my house. I barely have the time to ask how Holly knew but I can guess that Annie would’ve text or called her knowing I wouldn’t have my phone on me in the back room.

“Annie!” I yell as I run up the stairs.

Harper and Nina are with her as she cries out in pain. Harper quickly moves out of the way as I scoop her up into my arms. I don’t need to stop to talk. She needs the hospital and I’m not wasting a second waiting for an ambulance.

The old ladies follow me out to my truck and as I lay her on the back seat, Holly jumps behind the wheel, instructing Harper to watch her kids.

I barely have the door shut when Holly reverses and the prospect is opening the gates.

“It hurts, Shane,” Annie cries. “It’s too early. Something’s wrong.”

Sweeping her hair away from her face, I soothe, “It’s gonna be okay. We’ll get you to the hospital and the doctors will fix you up.”

“If anything happens to the baby…”

“Nothing’s gonna happen to you or the baby, I swear it.”

The drive to the hospital seems to take forever but Holly gets us there and I carry Annie through the main entrance.

The world becomes a blur and when it snaps back into focus, I’ve been left in a corridor to wait for news on the family I didn’t ever want but would now die for.

Holly and I have waited in silence for what feels like hours when Leo and JJ stroll around the corner and she goes over to her husband.

Leo slings his arm around her, and she cuddles into his side.

It’s all so easy between them. Though I should only be thinking about Annie, I can’t help but think that it’s not so easy between me and Annie.

“Any news?” he asks me.

I shake my head. “She’s still in the operating room, no one’s telling me anything.”

“I’m gonna take Holly home, JJ’s gonna stay.”

I nod and thank Holly for her help and then they’re gone. I sit my ass on the unrelenting hard plastic chair and hang my head in my hands.

“If it helps, your woman having the baby under normal circumstances is still scary as fuck,” JJ says.

“This waiting is unnatural.”

“Nah, many men before us have been through this and got through it and you won’t be the last.”

“She’s got cancer, brother, what the fuck is gonna happen after today with that? What’s it gonna look like for my kid coming early?”

All the what ifs are building, and I can’t handle it.

“All you need to worry about for now is the next hour, then when that passes, you focus on the next. You keep doing that until you don’t need to. Shit always works itself out.”

He slaps me on the back and announces, “Let’s go for a smoke. If they come out with news, they’ll come find you.”

“I can’t, I don’t want to be smelling of cigarettes when I meet my son.”

JJ grins. “See, you’re already thinking like a dad. If any Hog fuckers show their faces, I’ll let you know.”

He goes to walk off and then turns back to me.

“Having kids were never on the cards for me and my old lady, but when Gunner was born, all the fear of having to take care of him went away. I knew what I’d do for that kid, how far I’d go to protect him.

You know the worst of mankind, so you know you’re the best person to protect your son.

Don’t be scared, Shane. Make everyone else fear what you’d do for him. ”

I mull over his advice and it’s not bad. I like to think I’d have to come to the same conclusion myself, once the worries of Annie’s cancer and making sure my son is healthy were over.

I hear my name being called and I jump up to my feet. Everything has stopped until I hear what I want to hear.

“Yeah, that’s me. How’s Annie? How’s my son?”

She smiles. That has to be a good sign. Unless she’s an evil psychopathic nurse.

“Annie is in recovery. She lost quite a lot of blood but she’s stable. And your son is in the NICU. He’s a little early but he’s strong.”

“Can I see them?”

“I’ll take you to see Annie and then we’ll see about taking you both to meet your son.”

I walk beside her and now I know Annie’s still here, I ask, “When can Annie start her cancer treatment? Surely the sooner, the better?”

If I weren’t looking at her, waiting for her answer, I would’ve missed the slight confusion she wears and quickly masks with a smile that is too bright.

“You’ll have to speak with Annie.”

I nod but my head starts spinning. That look… the small voice in the back of my head is now screaming.

The nurse opens a door into a private room and Annie tiredly smiles at me as I walk around the bed to her side.

The nurse leaves us, and I lean over and press a kiss on the top of her head.

“I’ve never been so scared in my life,” she tells me.

“It’s okay. It’s over now. The nurse said she’ll be back, and she’ll take us to meet our son.”

Water fills her eyes. “I haven’t even seen him. This hasn’t been anything like I imagined…”

“Hey, hey. You’re still here, the baby is being looked after, I’m here. We’re good.” I take a deep breath and continue, “And now the baby is here, you can continue with treatment. When the doctor comes around, we’ll ask them about it.”

My suspicions are confirmed when a flash of unadulterated fear covers her beautiful face.

“I’ll talk to him. Don’t you worry about it.”

“I do worry about it. You needed the treatment months ago. We should be hounding the doc down right now.”

Her cheeks burn a furious red. “Shane, it’s my business. I just need some rest and then I’ll talk to someone. Please, stay with me while I sleep a little.”

I don’t know why but I smile and nod. “Okay.” Taking hold of her hand, I press a kiss on her warm palm and tell her, “Shut your eyes, I’ll be right here when you wake up.”

Relief whooshes from her in a long exhale and she closes her eyes. I have no idea what’s going on, but my gut is telling me I’m being played. My gut hasn’t driven me wrong before.