Page 23 of Shine: Sins of the Father (Evil Dead MC: Second Generation #8)

Fiona—

In February, everyone is called to the clubhouse one Sunday afternoon, but we’re not told the reason. The ol’ ladies are just told to set up for a party. I think the older ones have been through this before and know exactly what to do.

I arrive late with Ella, Janey, and Tori, huddling in a corner by ourselves and gossiping. The men disappear for Church, and Cody comes over to see if we need any more drinks. Tori gets a beer, and Ella and I get colas.

The place is crowded, not just with our usual MC family, but with a lot of supporters and hang-arounds. I spot a bunch of War Dogs—the military riding club that the guys have been close with since long before I was born.

“Cody,” I say when he returns with our drinks. “Who are those new guys?” There are a couple of them behind the bar.

“I think Cole’s going to let them become prospects. They’ve been hang-arounds for a while.”

“Are they good guys?”

“Pete and Joe? Yeah. I like them. They pitch in and help whenever we need extra hands, and they’re not loud or obnoxious about their partying. It’s like they respect the honor it is to be allowed in the clubhouse, and don’t take it for granted, drinking all the beer like some others do, ya know?”

I nod. “Any idea what this party is about? Is it to make them prospects?”

“Nah, I don’t think so.” He shrugs. “Guess we’ll find out at some point. Wave at me if you need anything, okay?”

“Thanks.”

He winks and walks off.

“He’s cute,” Janey says, her eyes on his ass as he goes.

I giggle and elbow her. “Don’t even think about it.”

Soon, the men return.

“Quiet, everyone,” Cole calls out.

Everyone stands and forms a circle, and Janey and I push through on the edge to see what’s happening. There’s an open area, and Cole motions to Crash, who steps forward with something in his hand, but I can’t make out what it is.

Cole emits a whistle. “Cody. Get your ass over here.”

I glance toward the bar and see his face pale.

Harley Jean, Tori, and Melissa move in behind us, and Melissa leans to whisper in my ear.

“Cody’s getting patched in.”

My mouth drops open, and I whirl. “You’re sure? For real?”

She grins and nods. “Billy told me they took the vote earlier today. I’m happy for Cody. He’s waited so long.”

I go up on my toes and search the crowd, finding his parents, Jake and Layla, across the room. Jake is standing with his circle of brothers, but Layla is right behind him in the crowd. They’re both smiling. It must be true.

Cody steps forward, and I see his Adam’s apple bob in his throat.

“Cody, raise your hand. Do you swear an oath to the brotherhood of the Evil Dead MC? Do you from this day forward swear to abide by the rules of the club and to respect your colors, and to put the club above all else?”

“I do.”

“Evil Dead. First, last, and always,” Cole states.

Cody repeats it. “Evil Dead. First, last, and always.”

Cole grins and shakes his hand, pulling him in for a backslap. “Welcome to the club, brother.”

It’s the first time Cody is called brother, and the import of that is clear on his face. His grin is from ear to ear.

Cole motions Jake forward, then passes something from Crash’s hands to Jake, and I realize it's Cody’s new patches—the three-skull center patch and the top and bottom rockers which will replace the Prospect rocker he now wears.

“Here you go, Papa. You do the honors,” Cole says, patting Jake’s arm.

Jake turns and holds them out to his son, his eyes shimmering.

“Welcome to the club, son. I’m proud as hell of the man you’ve become, and I can’t think of a better man to have as a brother.”

They embrace, and I glance at Layla to see her wiping her eyes.

“Greet your brothers, Cody,” Cole says, and the kid makes his way around the circle receiving backslaps from each one.

“Okay, everyone. Let’s get this party started.” Before he can lift his beer in the air, I clutch Janey’s hand and cry out.

Cole lowers his bottle and stares at me, and the eyes of everyone turn.

“Oh, God.” I bend over as a huge cramp hits my stomach. I can feel the muscles tightening and my abdomen getting hard to the touch. “Get me out to the car, please. I don’t want to ruin Cody’s day.”

“She’s fine. She’s good.” Janey waves to everyone. “Just needs some air.”

“Make way,” Harley calls out, and she, Tori, and Melissa make a path through the crowd for me.

Rafe and Reckless catch us at the door, my father right behind them.

“Is she okay?” my father asks.

“I’m fine, just gonna go home and lie down. Go back to the party, Daddy.”

The girls lead me outside and to Melissa’s car. I’m standing on the side, waiting for her to unlock it, when I feel a sudden flush of wetness between my thighs. I glance down and see my maternity pants are soaked.

“Oh, God,” I whisper.

“It’s okay,” Janey clutches my hand. “Your water just broke. It’s perfectly normal.”

“But it’s not time yet. I have another month.”

“Sometimes these little people decide to come early. It’s going to be okay,” Harley says, then looks over the roof to Melissa. “You and Janey get her to the hospital. I’ll get her mother.”

They pack me in the backseat of the car, and Janey jumps in with me, and we’re on our way.

“I’m sorry I ruined the party for you guys.”

“Don’t you dare apologize,” Janey hisses, then shakes my fisted hand excitedly. “You get to meet your son today, honey.”

“Janey?”

“Yeah, babe?”

“I’m scared.”

Melissa meets my eyes in the rearview mirror. “Everything is going to be fine. I know it’s scary, but we’re here with you, and we won’t leave you.”

Once we’re at the hospital, Melissa pulls up to the maternity entrance, and Janey runs to get a wheelchair.

She wheels me in while Melissa parks the car.

We’re still at admitting when Melissa joins us with my mother, Harley Jean, Tori, and my sister, Ella in tow.

Mom bends to hug me, then squeezes my hand. “I’m here, honey. Don’t worry.”

“I’m surprised Dad didn’t come,” I say.

“I told him to stay there. This could take hours. I said I’d let him know when things got close.”

“Good. He should enjoy the party.”

“Oh, I don’t think your father is going to drink another drop. He won’t want to be drunk when his grandson arrives.”

I smile. “My son is coming today.”

She lights up. “He is.” She checks her watch. “February 20 th . It’s a good day for a birthday.”

My eyes fill, and my throat closes, and all I can do is nod. Then another contraction hits me, and a big bear of a man comes to wheel me up to labor and delivery on the third floor.

He’s got a great smile and glasses. He reminds me of a young Forest Whitaker. His name tag reads Jamal.

“Come on, little lady. You ready to meet your baby today?”

We get on the elevator, and the girls hold back.

“Maybe we should catch the next one,” Melissa says.

“Nah.” Jamal holds the doors open. “You can all squeeze in. Come on.”

It’s a tight fit, but we make it work.

“Got your girl squad, I see,” Jamal says. “Girl’s gotta have that, right? My lady has one, and when they come to the house? Who-ee. It gets loud.”

Soon I’m ensconced in a bed and a different nurse is busy hooking me up to a bunch of monitors. Now it’s getting real.

Everyone steps out except my mother, and the nurse checks my dilation and attaches a fetal heart rate monitor, and I see the line on the screen start to blip.

I squeeze my mother’s hand. “There he is.”

“Looks good, Mama,” the nurse says. “They’ve contacted your doctor, and she’s monitoring your progress. When you get further dilated, she’ll come down. She’s delivering twins right now.”

“Thank you.”

“I’ll let your friends in now and be back with some ice for you.” She disappears out the door, and Janey, Tori, Harley, Melissa, and Ella come in.

“You guys don’t have to wait. It could take hours,” I say.

They end up bringing me things from the gift shop to keep my spirits up. Janey even finds me a cupcake magazine, and I flip through it.

Harley Jean checks her phone. “Reckless is asking how you are.”

I know he has a special interest, and wonder if he’s going to break down and tell Shine. If he was going to break his word to me, now would probably be when he does.

“Tell him everything is fine, and he doesn’t have to worry about me. Ask him how the party is going. I’m so excited Cody finally got his patch. I never even got to hug him.”

Harley is busy tapping out a message. “He says he’s not giving Cody a hug from you.”

I make a face, and we all start laughing. That just brings on another contraction.

This goes on for hours.

It’s almost 10pm when things really start to progress, and they finally shoo everyone but my mother out of the room. She sends a text to my father that the baby is coming.

It’s so much harder than I expected, but I get through it somehow, and at 10:53pm my son makes his debut, clocking in at 6lbs, 9oz and 19 inches long.

They lay him on my stomach, and I cry with happiness, my mother looking on. He’s so tiny. I stroke his cheek, and his little hand clutches my finger tightly.

“Mama’s here, my angel. Mama’s here.” I press a kiss to his head, and the nurses give us a few minutes, then it’s time to clean him up, and they take him.

I feel an instant tug at my heart when he’s removed and begins crying, his little body trembling. I want him back, but know they have to tend to him.

Once he’s cleaned and swaddled, they bring him back to me. His little cry instantly stops when I cuddle him under my chin, and my determined little man works one hand free to cling to my finger.

I’ve never loved anyone more.