Page 45 of His Flawed Ride (Sons of Lost Souls MC #16)

Chapter Forty-Three

Shane

“ Y ou look strong today, son.” I grin when he looks up at me.

The doctors are still happy with his progress and tomorrow I can take him home. The nurses ask when Annie will be by to see him, throwing curious glances between each other that they think I don’t catch, and all I tell them is she’ll be by soon.

I haven’t left him since Annie left, choosing to sleep in the family room. I’ve had no phone calls or texts either. I should be relieved but all I am is anxious. I still can’t believe she lied, and I don’t think I’ll ever get past it. How she believes I could or would forgive her is beyond me.

I sit with Wolf until early evening, imagining what our lives are going to look like on our own. Holly said her and the old ladies will help out until I’m settled but how long will that take? People’s generosity only lasts so long.

“I’ll be back tomorrow, son. You get some rest and then I’ll take you home.” I press my lips to the top of his head and leave him with the nurses for the last time.

The twins are sat out front as I walk outside and light a cigarette. They jump up and we head for our rides.

“He’s coming home tomorrow, brothers. No more babysitting.”

“Thank fuck for that, Emma’s been on my ass to help out more with the kids.”

The ride back to the club is peaceful and I scan for any sign of Annie when I park up out front of the garages. If she truly believed me and has finally left, I’ll be surprised.

Leo and JJ walk out of the bar, looking like they’re heading over to the main house. I catch up to them pretty quickly.

“I need a word.”

“Go on then.”

“Have you seen Annie around?”

“No. Holly went to check in on her and said it looked like she had gone.”

“Good.”

Arching his brow, Leo asks, “Good?”

“It’s what I wanted to talk to you about. It turns out she lied about having cancer. Every word she said since she showed up was bullshit.”

Leo lets out a whistle. “What about the baby?”

“He’s mine. I told her to leave, and it looks like she has.”

“I mean, I get why but kicking out the mother of your kid is fucked up.”

“It wasn’t what I wanted to do, but she’s crazy, brother.”

“How are you gonna hold down the club and being a single dad?” Leo asks.

I shrug. “I can’t plan that far ahead, or I’ll lose my mind.”

Leo glances over my shoulder. “Who the fuck is this?”

JJ and I turn, and a black town car pulls through the gate. “What’s the prospect doing let them through?” JJ frowns.

“It better be someone we know,” Leo warns.

It stops and the driver climbs out and opens the back door. A stiff in a suit steps out and straightens his jacket.

“Don’t recognise him,” Leo mutters and JJ agrees.

“Excuse me,” the prick calls out and walks over, adding, “Do you know where I can speak to Shane?”

“What business do you have with him?” JJ asks before I can speak.

Before he can reply, our question is answered. Annie slips out of the car and storms over to stand at this prick’s side.

She’s dressed in clothes I’d never have pictured her wearing. High-waisted, pale blue trousers and a tight fitted lace shirt. Her short shorts and tiny tops are gone and so are her tears and beg-me-to-love-her face. An arrogant smirk sits at the corner of her mouth instead.

“You’re never going to see your son again,” she warns, and the prick holds his hand up to silence her.

“So you’re Shane?” he asks looking at me.

“I am, and whatever you’re here to say, I’m not interested.”

“You should be. Is there somewhere we can speak privately?”

Annie frowns up at him. “Uncle, I’ve told you what he’s done.”

What I’ve done?

“Annie, darling, get back in the car.”

“But…”

His face contorts in silent rage and without glancing my way, she backs up and walks back to the car.

“You need us, holler,” Leo offers, and he and JJ walk off toward the main house.

I look at Annie’s uncle. “If you’re here to stop me from seeing my son, I’ve gotta make it clear that I’m not going to allow that.”

“It’s not why I’m here. My niece has told me all about how you raped her and got her pregnant, then forced her to stay here at your club until she gave birth.”

I’m about to blow my shit when he continues, “You’re not the first and if she gets away from me again, you won’t be the last. Though, this is a first her seeing a pregnancy through to full term.”

“I knew she was crazy,” I mutter.

“We don’t use the term crazy anymore. Angelica suffers from delusions and fits of psychotic rage. I assure you, I’ll be getting her the help she needs.”

“To be honest, I couldn’t give a shit. All I care about is my son.”

His grin sets me on edge. “Then I’m sure you’ll agree to my deal.”

I wait for him to continue and when he does, I can’t help but watch the car. “Before that, if she’s prone to psychotic rage, why does she listen to you?”

“I’ve been her guardian since she was young. She knows what she can and can’t get away with around me. She’s looking at me to help her today so she’ll rein it in. If she knew my true intention, I assure you it would be quite a different scene.”

“What’s your deal?”

“Not that she realises, I’ve made her sign over full custody to you.

You’ll get an annual payment of $100,000 until the child turns eighteen.

In exchange, you’ll never tell the child who his mother is.

You don’t tell him who I am. I don’t particularly care what story you have to concoct as long as it’s far from the truth.

She died in childbirth is probably a good start. ”

I don’t know what to say. It sounds too good to be true.

“Believe me, I’m doing you a favor.”

It doesn’t take me long to get on board. “Keep Annie away from me and you have a deal.”

He takes out a manila envelope and hands it over. He produces a pen from his top pocket while I pull out the contents and read over the papers.

“She’s already signed. We just need your signature.”

I sign before the deal can be retracted.

“You’ll find an account has been set up for the child, you’ll be the trustee. Like I mentioned, you’ll receive payments until he is eighteen.”

He pulls out a second envelope and this one I recognise for what it is. Money.

“For your silence.”

“Trust me, I’m not saying a word about her to anyone.”

“What about the other men here?”

“They see nothing. They hear nothing.”

“Good.”

“So that’s it?”

“There’s nothing more to discuss. I’m sorry you met my niece.”

He walks back to the car and when he opens the door I wait to see if Annie makes a reappearance. She doesn’t. The car reverses and just like that, it’s gone. I stand there for a long time processing what the fuck just happened. Long enough that Leo joins me again.

“Shit good?”

“Yeah. A hundred grand a year good and Annie gone forever good.”

“Huh?”

I explain what just happened and he laughs. “At least you can afford to hire a nanny now.”

I huff. “I suppose. Holly know any good ones?”

“Brother, you know Holly was never actually a professional nanny, don’t you?”

I shrug. “Of course I knew that.”

“Do you want me to ask her if she’ll help you out looking for someone? They’ll end up spending time with the other old ladies and kids, Holly can suss them out before you hire.”

“Yeah, that’d be great. Thanks.”

My son has one last night in the hospital and I have one last night before I’m on night feed and diaper duty.

Fuck Lily. Fuck Annie. I was right before I met either of them.

Fuck and duck. From now on my kid and the club are the only certainties in my life.

Women can come and go, quite literally. With a new bounce in my step, I walk into the bar, scan for Stevie and find her dancing with Nikki.

I have some making up to do and tonight, it’s my last blow out.

I cross the bar and throw her over my shoulder. She giggles and whacks at my ass to let her down.

For a brief moment I go to head for the stairs but remember I have a house. That hasn’t changed just because… nope, I’m not thinking of her anymore.

“Shane! Are you gonna put me down?”

“Nope.”

It doesn’t take long to walk home and once through the door, I set her down on her feet in the hall.

“What do you think of the house?”

Her brows knit together but she takes a look around and shrugs. “It’s a house. It’s okay.”

“I want to make you a deal.”

“Shane…”

“Please, just hear me out.”

“Go on then.”

“I need help with my kid. We fuck crazy good. I want to pay you to watch my kid when I’m on club business. Days, nights, weekends.”

“Where does us fucking come into it when you’d pay me to be a babysitter?”

“Because I want you to move in. My kid ain’t gonna have a mother, the most I can do is make sure he has as much stability and routine as possible. I don’t want you to be his mom, just someone kind and you know, a woman. And I want you to be the only one I fuck here.”

“Here?”

“While I’m in town, when I want to fuck, I’ll come to you and in return you won’t touch any of the other brothers. When I’m on the road, no questions, no lies, no pretences that we’re anything more than fuck buddies who look after my son.”

“You want the old lady benefits without making me your old lady?”

“No, I’d pay you for looking after my son. And we’d exclusively fuck each other without being together. I don’t want you fucking me like an old lady.”

“You want a whore to fuck on tap.”

I grin. “Exactly.”

“And what if you fall in love with me?” she inquires.

“I won’t.”

“But what if you do?”

“But I won’t.”

“What if I fall in love with you?”

“You won’t and before you ask what if again, let me be clear, this is about my son’s welfare and you on my dick. Think about it and let me know. In the meantime, you’re over-fuckin-dressed.”

I drive into the club, thankful we’re now home. I’ve had my driver’s licence for years, but it wasn’t until today I feared being on the road because of something so precious being in the car with me.

Holly, Alannah, and Bonnie are waiting by the main house. The moment I’m parked, they make their way over and my kid is embraced by the old ladies. They take him into the house, and I follow behind them, glad he’s with me now.

From out of nowhere Alannah has her camera out and is taking pictures. I stand off to the side and smile when Holly joins me.

“How are you feeling?” she asks.

“Not as terrified as I thought I’d be.” I laugh.

“I heard you’ve got someone to help you with Wolf.”

I nod. “I’ve made a deal that will benefit everyone.”

She rolls her eyes, but smiles. “If you find you need help elsewhere, just give me call.”

“Thanks, but I’m hoping we’ll be fine.”

There is a knock at the door. I leave the old ladies with Wolf and go to answer. Leo and Myles are on my porch. For the rest of the day, brothers and their old ladies show up.

Darkness has fallen by the time Stevie shows up with a few of her bags.

“I thought you might have changed your mind,” I say, stepping to the side to let her in.

“I’m just running late, that’s all. I had some crap to sort out.” She dumps her bags in the hall, and asks, “What is the room situation?”

I haven’t thought that deeply about it. “Since I want you in my bed when I’m home, makes sense to stay in my room. I’ll take your bags up later.”

She glances around and steps into the living room. She stops by the kid’s bassinette and stares down at Wolf.

“So this is your kid?”

“Yep.”

“He’s so small. Are you sure his mom isn’t coming back?”

I nod. “There’s a couple of rules where she’s concerned. One, you never talk to him about her. And two, you never tell him her name.”

“To be fair, Shane, I don’t know her full name and he’s a baby, he wouldn’t understand me even if I did.”

“Yeah, but if this works out, he’ll grow up, won’t he.”

Alannah and Bonnie were eager to tell me to enjoy these days with him because before I know it, he’s going to be an adult and off doing his own thing.