Page 5 of The MC’s Surprise (Bikers and Babies #4)

Sierra

I felt him go stiff and forced myself to pull away.

His hug was nice, but it felt wrong to take comfort from him when I was delivering such bad news.

I shifted a little in my seat to look him in the eye.

All the blood had drained from his face and he stared at me wordlessly, his mouth hanging open.

In any other circumstance, it’d be funny. Now, it just made me feel worse.

“I know. I was surprised too. I honestly had no idea up until a couple of weeks ago. I–” I hesitated in my rambling, studying him. “Vegas? Are you okay?”

He wasn’t blinking. Was he even breathing?

I waited for a little while, letting him absorb it all, but when fifteen minutes dragged by and he still hadn’t moved, I forced myself to speak.

“I think I’m going to give you some time to process all this.

I know I needed it. Still do sometimes.” I forced an awkward laugh, pushing to my feet.

He still didn't move. Maybe that was answer enough. It was too much for him. Was it wrong to feel disappointed? He was such a nice guy before. I thought maybe at least I wouldn’t be going through this alone.

Walking away was hard. It felt wrong. But I couldn’t force him to acknowledge or accept the news before he was ready.

I had a few weeks to come to terms with it.

He deserved at least a little time before we made any big decisions.

I stopped as I pulled open the door, looking back at the frozen statue sitting on the couch.

“I hope you know I didn't mean for this to happen. And you don’t have to be part of any of this if you don’t want to.

I just didn’t want to be that person to have a baby behind your back without telling you.

I, uh… I’m staying with my parents in Silver City for now, if you want to talk more. If not… that’s okay too.”

It really wasn’t, but I couldn’t say that to him. I couldn’t force him to be part of this. It would be wrong.

When he still said nothing, I made myself leave, shutting the door quietly behind me. I tried to comfort myself with the knowledge that I’d done what I came out here to do. I told him the truth. I was having his baby, and he could be involved if he wanted to be. The ball was in his court now.

I managed to make it to the car before the tears spilled over. My throat was tight from the suppressed sobs and my hands trembled as I used the key to unlock the truck. I was pulling the door open when a voice caught my attention.

“Hey, you!”

Quickly, I swiped the tears away, clearing my throat.

Yes, life sucked right now, but no way in hell was I going to show that to the harpy I’d met before.

She stomped across the parking lot in six inch heels, her eyes blazing with fury.

I didn’t close the door, using it as a shield between her and my turbulent emotions.

“Well?” she demanded as she stopped a few feet away.

“Well, what?”

“Don’t act dumb,” she snapped. “Why did you come? If you’re looking for a job, you have to go through me first. I’m the manager. Mr. Taylor won’t hire anyone without my approval first.”

“I’m not here for a job,” I grumbled, sliding into the driver’s seat. “I’m going now. Bye.”

I shut the door on her incredulous screech, but she didn’t stick around to argue with me.

She stomped her foot, which looked painful, honestly, and stormed back inside without another word, leaving me alone in the parking lot.

Letting out a heavy sigh, I rested my hand on my belly.

It felt a little awkward. It still didn't feel real.

“I’m sorry. Neither of you deserved being stuck with a failure like me.”

Vegas

By the time I pulled myself out of the shocked stupor I’d been drop kicked into, Sierra was gone. A part of me knew I needed to go after her, but I didn’t know what to say. How the hell did this happen?

Charlotte strode back into my office without knocking, crossing her arms over her chest. “What’s going on? Who even was that?”

My stomach twisted at the thought of explaining to the woman I’d been pining over that I got someone pregnant.

If I thought I didn't have a chance before, I definitely didn’t have one now.

It only made the news harder to take in and my stomach twisted up in knots to the point that I thought I might retch.

I forced myself to my feet, ignoring the way I wobbled, my entire equilibrium off balance.

“I need to go,” I croaked out.

“What? Where? Justin–”

My mouth filled with saliva and I panicked, dodging past her and out of the building at a run.

I made it to the sidewalk before I started dry heaving.

I staggered to my bike, grateful I left my helmet on the handlebars.

The employee parking lot was around the back and no one ever went back there who didn’t work here.

I never worried about it being stolen. I jammed it on, throwing my leg over my bike in a rush.

My hands shook as I pulled out my keys and it took me more than one try to start the damn engine.

I lift my visor up, desperate for some air as I took off out of the parking lot. I needed some damn air.

The entire forty five minute drive back to the clubhouse passed in a blur. I didn’t remember a second of it when I pulled into the parking lot out front. Driving distracted like that could get me killed, but I couldn’t focus for the life of me. I was lucky to have made it home unscathed.

Most of the guys weren’t home. It was a weekday and we all worked for a living.

Which meant the clubhouse was blessedly empty when I trudged inside, my helmet dangling from my fingertips.

I dropped myself onto the couch, then froze again, just like I had in my office. I just couldn’t wrap my head around it.

I buried my face in my hands, leaning my head back. My mind was full of white noise and I couldn’t think straight. All my swirling thoughts aside, I kept going back to one question. How the hell had this happened?

I wasn’t sure how long I stayed that way.

Long enough for the guys to slowly start trickling into the house after the work day was done.

I got a few pats on the shoulder and some attempts to make conversation.

I couldn’t offer more than a grunt in response, my stare far off.

I wasn’t present in the moment. Thankfully, my crew didn’t push unless they needed to and most of them respected that I needed a minute, even if they didn’t know why.

Rooster dropped onto the couch next to me with a sigh, giving me a relaxed grin. “You think the kids are coming tonight? I wanna kick your ass in poker again, and I play better with my good luck charm.”

The mention of kids made my stomach clench. One of those kids would be mine. Holy shit.

“V? You alright?”

I didn’t answer him. I couldn’t. I wasn’t alright. I still felt like I couldn’t fucking breathe.

“Uh… I’m gonna get Prez. You… stay right there.”

He left at a jog, but I didn’t say anything to stop him. What did it matter? They were going to find out anyway.

Rooster’s voice came back, followed by Prez, who sounded concerned when he asked, “Vegas? What’s going on?”

At this point, it was just stupid that I couldn’t answer. But even thinking about saying it out loud made the words stick in my throat and the urge to gag came back again. I never thought this would be me. I was careful, dammit.

“Come with me,” Prez said, his voice firm and unwavering.

And when I didn’t automatically move, he took me by the elbow and led me away, through the group gathering in the house and into his office in the back.

He closed the door behind us and forced me into the seat in front of his desk, sitting himself on the one next to it.

“Tell me what happened. Is it your mom?”

I shook my head. It was about as much as I could do. Oh shit, I’d have to tell my mom. Would this make her worse? Would she flip out?

The door to the office burst open and the crew kids flooded in, all talking over each other. I was too out of it to catch what they were saying. Prez tried to get them to slow down, making in vain attempts to get them to give us privacy, but it was hard to corral that many kids into listening.

A little face appeared in my line of vision, her big green eyes bright and happy.

She crawled into my lap without even asking, and I felt my arms move around her protectively on instinct.

This little girl was the catalyst. She changed the crew as a whole when she showed up.

Four months old and so damn tiny, she had the crew wrapped around her finger in a matter of hours.

Butch hadn’t known Chelsea was pregnant, just like me.

He’d sucked it up and stepped up for his kid.

And look what he gained. Not only Ellie, but three more thanks to the woman who showed up to help him when he needed it most. He always said Ellie was the best thing that ever happened to him. Could my kid be the same thing for me?

Pulling Ellie into a hug, I smiled when her little hands patted my back. “S’ok,” she mumbled. Her baby speech was adorable and I felt myself breathe a little easier the longer I held her. If I got a kid as great as Ellie, I could handle it. Probably.

“Hey. Who wants to help Uncle Rooster prank Aunty Mel Mel?” Rooster called.

As one, the kids all turned, considering him.

“What kinda prank?” Gracie demanded.

He had to be careful pranking Mel. She was the favorite aunt for a reason and I got the feeling could easily give Rooster a run for his money on the favorite guardian.

Even Rooster couldn’t combat her boundless energy.

She was an ER nurse by day, super aunt by night.

The kids wouldn’t turn against her easily.

He pulled a handful of fake bugs out of his pocket with a grin. “How many times can we make her jump, do you think? We’d have to hide them well or she’ll catch on.”

They all looked dubious until Rooster added, “Everyone who makes her jump gets a candy. What do you say?”

That got most of them moving, giggling as they took their fake bugs and went to hide them.

Only Ellie and Zoey stayed behind. Ellie because she was a big cuddle bug and didn’t give up being held easily, and Zoey because Prez was her daddy and she was turning out to be a huge daddy’s girl.

She stuck to him like glue most days and now that he was home from work, she only wanted him.

“Do you mind if they’re in here?” he asked with a sigh as he picked up his daughter. “I can get Maggie to take them if you need some privacy.”

I shook my head, rocking Ellie a little by habit. “No. They help.”

He hummed, sitting back down beside me. “Want to tell me what’s going on? I’ve never seen you like this before. The last time one of my guys looked as pale as you–”

He paused when I grimaced.

“Wait… Really?”

I nodded, offering a hand to Ellie. She liked looking at my rings. She thought they were pretty.

“Remember that chick I told you about last summer? She was in town helping a sick aunt and worked at the casino for a while?”

It was a lot time ago, but Prez’s mind was like a steel trap. He forgot nothing. If it had to do with his crew, especially, he remembered everything.

“You mean the one I warned you about because its never a good idea to sleep with your employees?” he asked suspiciously.

I huffed out a broken laugh. “Yeah, turns out she’s pregnant. Showed up at the casino to tell me. I… I froze, Prez. We only hooked up a few times. Hell, we used protection. I don’t know how this happened.”

He hummed, expression contemplative. “And you’re sure its yours?”

Honestly, no. I wasn’t sure about anything. It was a long time ago, and she didn’t look pregnant when she came to see me. Then again, she was wearing those really frumpy clothes so maybe it hid a lot.

“I don’t know. I don’t think she’s the type of person to lie, though. Besides, she was living her best life in California. Why would she come all the way back here to slum it with me if it was someone else’s kid?”

Prez made an irritated noise, scowling at me. “She wouldn’t be slumming it with you. Shut up.”

“What’s slumming?” Zoey asked. She was four now and too damn smart for her own good. I winced and Prez flashed me an irritated look.

“Its complicated, princess. Can you do me a favor and take Ellie to go play? I need to speak to Uncle Vegas.”

She stuck her lip out in a little pout, but did as asked, holding her hand out for Ellie to join. Once the door closed behind them, I let out a long sigh, slumping in my seat.

“What the hell am I going to do?”

“Well, first, you’re going to get a paternity test,” Prez informed me. “Then, once we know, we’ll figure it out. This isn’t our first rodeo, thankfully. We can handle another kid.”

Yeah, but the kid had never been mine before. I still found it hard to wrap my head around that.