Page 18 of Lore (Serpents of Chaos MC #3)

LORE

Haze is sitting with his guitar on the couch, singing.

All the women are sitting around him like his little fans, and I don’t like the way Atiana is watching him.

After I made her come twice with my mouth, Bones had knocked on the door looking for us, so that’s as far as we went.

We had dinner, put the kids to bed, and now we’re here at the bar, having a little adult time before we head to bed.

Haze is singing his version of “Locksmith” by Chanin, and I notice Atiana looking over at me with a vulnerable expression. When I start listening to the lyrics, I can understand why.

I need a drink.

Tapping my knuckles on the bar, Rose leans over and slides me a bottle of my favorite beer. “Does she know about the tattoo yet?”

When you think about it, it’s pretty messed up that all the club girls knew about it before her.

“She knows,” I nod, lifting the beer by the neck and taking a sip.

Haze continues to sing, the words haunting me.

Why can’t that bastard sing something upbeat?

The lyrics make me want to drag her back upstairs and beg on my knees for her to forgive me.

To take me back.

To fucking love all of me again.

I glance down at the baby monitor in my other hand, watching Dove sleeping in her cot. My little baby butterfly. She is the sweetest girl ever. I then look at Rider, who is fast asleep, hugging a pillow.

Why did I never want kids?

I know it has to do with my childhood, and the love I didn’t always feel growing up.

My mother used to bring man after man home, looking for a love that she’d never find.

One she didn’t bother to look for in me, her son.

And I don’t even know who my father is, so I guess I never thought I’d be a good dad because I didn’t exactly have that role model in my life.

But I know good men.

I’m surrounded by them every day.

And I know I will be a great father because I will make sure that I am.

Failure is not an option.

And I’m around men and women who will hold me accountable to that.

War sits down next to me, nodding to Rose for a beer. “A letter was delivered to the clubhouse for Atiana.”

I still, my hand tightening around the glass bottle. “Today?”

“Yeah, we only just saw it,” he replies, turning his head to study me. Prez will call church tomorrow morning. But Angel found Trent. We have eyes on him. Blade said he’s been moving his money around, trying to cover his ass.”

“I don’t care what problems that motherfucker has, but he needs to leave my woman and kids alone,” I grit out, watching Atiana smile at something Lu says to her.

“Does she know that she’s yours?” War smirks, watching Ora throw her head back and laugh, then still and gasp.

She stands up and looks down at her feet.

War also stands, sensing something is wrong.

“The baby is coming!” she calls out, her eyes rounded.

Haze stops his playing, and War all but runs to her, wrapping her in his arms.

“Lu, can you get her bags? I’ll get her in the truck,” he calls out, and I can tell he’s freaking the fuck out.

“I’m on it,” Lu replies, rushing upstairs.

War turns to me. “Can you call Prez and Scorp and tell them it’s time?”

I nod and walk over to Ora and kiss her temple. She glances up at me and winces in pain. “Lore, I don’t want to do this anymore.”

“You don’t have a choice, darlin’,” I remind her gently. “You’ve got this. We’ll all follow you to the hospital.”

She nods, closing her eyes and taking deep breaths.

Atiana comes up next to me and smiles at Ora. “If you need anything, please let us know.”

“You’re the only one here that’s given birth,” she says, eyes flashing open as she grabs onto my woman’s arm. “I’m fucking terrified.”

“I won’t let anything happen to you or the baby, Ora,” War growls, kissing the top of her head. “It’s going to be okay. Let’s get you there so they can give you some fucking drugs.”

I feel sorry for the doctor who has to deal with him.

“I promise you, it will be okay,” Atiana agrees, leaning forward and murmuring something to Ora.

Ora’s eyes shimmer with emotion.

Seeing Atiana being there for my family means more to me than she will ever know.

Lu runs down with the bags. “Okay, let’s go! We have a baby to meet.”

I send a quick text to Prez and Scorp.

Lore

Ora’s having the baby. She’s heading to the hospital now.

They both reply instantly.

Scorp

Already here. I’ll get everything ready.

Prez

Fuck! On my way.

I send another message, this time to the Baddies chat group, so Xanthe can see. Atiana has been added to the group, so she can join in on all the shenanigans. I don’t want her to ever be left out of anything or ever question my relationship with the other women.

Lore

We’re having a baby, bitches.

Xanthe

Oh my! I’m coming.

I’m pretty sure we’re all going to be kicked out of the hospital at this rate.

War gets Ora in the truck, and Lu jumps in the back seat.

“I’ll stay back with the kids,” Atiana says, threading her hand through mine.

I don’t want to leave her here, but I also don’t want to have to wake them up. “I can stay back with you.”

“No.” She shakes her head. “You go and be there for Ora, and the first Serpent baby.”

“Rider and Dove are the first Serpents of Chaos babies,” I gently remind her.

“Go, Lore.”

“I’ll go and see her, but will come back soon,” I decide, running my hand down her back until it lands on the curve of her ass. “I’ll leave the prospects here to guard you and the kids.” I pause, narrowing my eyes. “But don’t talk to Romeo.”

“What, why?” She laughs, amusement dancing in her eyes. Yeah, she knows exactly why.

That fucker is too pretty for his own good.

I grin and lower my face to hers, searching her eyes before kissing her hungrily. Ignoring the catcalls from some of the men, I lift her in my arms and carry her back upstairs.

Suddenly, life is fucking wonderful.

* * *

We’re all sitting in the waiting room. There are so many of us that there aren’t enough chairs, but no one seems to care. War is the only one inside with her, and he hasn’t even come out to give us a fucking update yet.

Even Ghost is here, leaning against the wall, ankles crossed. He’s throwing his dagger in the air and catching it by the blade.

The twins are seated on either side of me, and Bones, who can’t fucking sit still, picks up a magazine and starts flicking through it.

“Apparently, men fall in love with women who stress them out,” he states, smirking.

He lifts a page so we can see. “And look, there’s advice on how to give good blow jobs!

” He brings the magazine up close to his eyes.

“Maybe I should leave one of these lying around the clubhouse. Some of the girls, I’m not going to mention names, could use less teeth, if you know what I mean. ”

Skull makes a sound of amusement in the back of his throat. “Doesn’t stop you from asking her for them.”

Bones puts his hand to his chest. “I’m a man with needs, brother.” He then turns to me, arching his brow. “Speaking of, you fucking your old lady yet or what?”

I clip him across the back of his head. “A man doesn’t fuck and tell.”

“Since when?” he asks, frowning as he shares a look with his twin. “You told us in detail how you fucked both Daisy, Rose, and Brandy at the same time on one of the pool tables in the middle of the day. You tell us about all your conquests. It’s lore around here.”

Ahh, fuck. “Not anymore. I’m not going to tell you what’s going on with me and Butterfly. I didn’t give a fuck about those other women. She’s different, and she’s the mother of my children,” I remind him.

He looks down at my crotch.

“What the fuck are you doing?” I ask him.

“Just making sure you still have a dick.” He smirks, his tone well-entertained. “Fuck, all the women in Rest Falls must be crying right about now.”

I clip the back of his head. “You just wait until you find your woman, Bones.”

He shivers, scowling. “Why would you curse me like that, you fucker?”

“You called?” Curse yells across the room.

Skull laughs under his breath.

“Leave Lore alone,” Rune demands, crossing his arms over his chest. “Atiana is fucking hot.” He brings his dark eyes to me. “You’re a lucky man, you know that? You should be thanking your lucky stars a woman like that is giving you the time of day.”

My eyes narrow. “Is that a way of you telling me you’d fuck my old lady if you could?”

“Fuck yes, I would.” He smiles widely, flashing his dimples. “Does she know about your body count? I bet she fucking doesn’t.”

“Which body count are you referring to?” I tease. “How many I’ve killed or how many I’ve fucked?”

Bones mutters something about murdering pussy.

“All of you shut the fuck up,” Prez growls, pacing in front of us. His stress level is clearly high. “My daughter is giving birth to my grandbaby. I don’t want to listen to this shit right now.”

We all go silent.

“What is your body count?” Bones whispers, amusement lacing his tone.

I’m about to tell him to worry about what he’s doing with his own dick when the doors fly open, and War stands there, a wide, proud smile on his face.

“I have a healthy son,” he announces.

We all cheer.

Another child to add to the next generation of Serpents of Chaos MC.