Catching Forever (BlackPath MC Book 2) (11 page)

      Dra

As soon as Diamondback is out, Krill and Ty come walking in with bags filled with food. I hear Callie’s stomach growling and I know she needs to eat, but I have a few questions. I see Chief and Blake giving each other the eye, but they need to get over it. We have overcome so much, so they need to let whatever is between them go. I know the doctor will be back to see Callie again and I somehow need to get Callie to rest.

  “So, why did this Mason leave your MC and follow Diamondback?” By the look on Chief’s face he’s not ready to explain it to Callie.

“He didn’t like me not telling Callie about Diamondback and then me going with Devil to talk to the Rebellions 4blood MC. He thought he had the right to be kept in the loop and he had none. He had to prospect for us just like anyone else. He didn’t for Diamondback. Mason is a full member there and so is Cru. Sarge and Stealth.” Chief looks relieved. “Saves me a problem and Jeb is the best of the three, anyway.”

“What was the problem? How did they get in without prospecting?” Callie is puzzled, but I know how it happens. She’s not going to like this, but I know she needs to know.

Chief looks at Blake and suddenly I see Chief doesn’t trust him. “Well, my problem was sooner or later I would have had to cut him loose. He won’t accept you and Dra any better than he did you and Devil. That could have only been problems. I’m not sure how he was patched in, but I know he had to take care of something big for the club.” Callie shakes her head in understanding. She needs to let it drop.

“So, Uncle Blake, when are you and Dad going to forget all the crap that went on between you two? You know neither one of you have Tina anymore, so suck it up buttercup and forget it.” Callie doesn’t beat around the bush. “Same goes for you sunshine.” She looks at her Dad. So they aren’t speaking over a woman. Interesting. “Give me my food, please. I am starving.”

Krill hands Callie her take-out. Ty is handing out burgers for everyone else while Krill is getting the fries. Blake and Chief are still eyeing each other while getting ready to eat. “Please. I love you both and I need you both.” Callie stops talking as soon as she has her food ready to eat. She is digging in like a woman possessed. My baby is hungry.

I start eating and then it comes to me. “Is everyone staying until this is over with Diamondback? We can handle it if you need to get back.”

“I’ll be here for good. Everything I need I brought with me. The rest I’ll replace.” That came from Blake.

“I won’t be going home until I spend some time with my daughter and find out exactly what she is doing.” Chief still don’t get it. He will.

“She’ll be staying with me. Right babe?” I look at Callie and she is already nodding her head yes.

“As soon as the doc gives me the ok, I’ll be coming for my stuff. Since Kim is with you,” Callie looks at her dad and smiles, “I’ll have Kat ship my stuff from Oklahoma to you, and then I’ll come and get it. All I have is clothes and the pictures you gave me. One trip, easy.” Callie is trying to dig into Chief’s life but he is giving her nothing. In fact, he is ignoring it.

“We’ll still be here until Diamondback decides to leave. You’re stuck with us, get used to it.” I know Chief is worried but there is no need. We have this, but Callie will like having them here.

  We finish up our food and I see Callie trying to hide a yawn and right on cue, the nurse comes in. “The doctor would like for Mrs. Steel to get some rest. She has had a room full of people all day. If she wants out by tomorrow, she needs her rest.” The mention of going home makes Callie smile. The nurse comes over and pushes the pump. “That’ll be your last dose. I’m taking it out, so gentleman, please give us some time. You may want to leave and let her get a little sleep and then come back.”

The nurse starts taking things out of her scrub pockets. Blake, Chief, Ty, and Krill get up and start saying their good-byes and hugs to Callie.

“Baby Girl, you need anything? We will be back.” Chief hates to leave her and I understand that. I hear my text message alert go off. I stand up and pull it out of my pocket. I check it and the message I had been waiting for is finally here. Devil and his club are gone from our territory and I feel a little better now. At least that is over, for now. I look up and the door is closing and I see Krill’s back going out. The nurse takes out the pain pump attachment, then she, too, leaves us. I see Callie fighting sleep. I see the fatigue in her face. I go back over and lay back down beside her and pull her into my arms carefully. This is it, the peace I have found.

“I love you, babe. Now go to sleep.” I kiss the top her head and I believe it fell on deaf ears, because I think she is already asleep. I can finally breathe easy after a few days of hell. Just a few hours really, but it seems like a lifetime. I feel sleep begin to pull on me and I smile because I am truly at peace knowing I am holding my future in my arms.

      Callie

Two months later…

It has been a whirlwind of a few months. I’m five months pregnant, and today we find out if we are having a boy or a girl. I think of everything that has happened and I really can’t believe it has all been packed into two months.

I am definitely Dewayne “Diamondback” Mahan’s daughter. He calls me daughter, but he is Dewayne to me. Dad is dad, and always will be. Dewayne and I have forged a friendship of sorts, but it is a work in progress. He has kept his word and has kept Mase away. We have texted on the phone, but I know we will never be good friends. He did tell me I never have to worry about Karen again. I didn’t even ask. I don’t want to know. I’m done with feuds and revenge.

Blake has settled in to small town Colorado. At times he and the Troubled Fathoms MC are at odds, but they are trying to exist in the same area. He says they are vigilantes and they say he is a blind idealist who believes the law settles problems. As long as no one gets hurt and we can still sit down and eat a meal together, it works for me. Dad and Blake are still a work in progress.

  Dra and I are so in love. If my divorce does not become final soon we may have total self-combustion. Sleeping in the same bed with my pregnancy hormones and Dra has become a problem. Two more weeks. Not to say we haven’t gotten to know each other’s body, but no sex. All I can say is please hurry. I am in a constant state of arousal and Dra isn’t much better, but he never pushes. God, I love that man!

  Devil was true to his word. I have a bank account, I never touch, full of money. He calls every few days to check on me. I keep him updated and we have found a new friendship. I am very proud of him. His and Dra’s relationship is still strained, but I guess that is to be expected. Once again as long as we can work together towards a family that at least is civil, that is all I can ask for. Devil even wants Dra to be our baby’s Godfather. Surprised the heck out of me, but Devil is growing. He is going to be the amazing dad I always knew he could be. Even Dra was surprised, but he is honored and is going to do it. I am over the moon. We are doing things our way, and it works.

Dra was not happy he couldn’t come down to Texas with me for my doctor appointment, but he adjusted and said maybe by the time I get back we can move into our own home. We have bought one and are renovating, but now he’ll have more time to work on it. Can’t wait for that. I love Gram, but we need space with the baby coming. There’s trouble brewing for the club, but I am kept in the dark. I feel Dra’s tension and I always have more than one set of eyes on me.

I’m waking up in my old bed at my dad’s house. He has been nothing but a bear since we have been here. Kim and he have something going on and apparently there is trouble in paradise. She was living here but she is gone now. What he doesn’t know is she will be back today for my doctor’s appointment. She and Kat are both coming with Devil for the sonogram. The little doctor’s office is going to be packed. Devil, Kat, Kim, Dad, Ty, and Fe are all going to be there, and if Uncle Trent and Blake can be there, they will, too. It takes a tribe they say, and we have one.

Dad didn’t know Blake was coming with me to Texas, but Dra couldn’t make it and he didn’t want me coming alone. Blake has plenty of vacation time so he took some of it. We have been here two days and we will be here another three after today. Devil and I are going to pick out his baby furniture and some other things he’ll need. We are coordinating nurseries. That way the baby will feel familiar with the surroundings. We are all having dinner tonight.

“You better get up sleepy head. You’ll be late for your doctor’s appointment. Today is the big day.” Dad is as excited as I am. I push Fe’s back. Yes, I wasn’t here an hour and Fe was here. Sarah and Hanna will be here tomorrow night. I don’t think Fe is leaving. He took a week off work and he is skipping his classes. He missed me.

“Ok dad. I’ll shower and be down to cook.” I look at the clock. It is still early.

“Dad, it’s still early. Everything ok?” He doesn’t look like he has slept much.

“Just life, Baby Girl. I have to run to the club, so thought I would wake you first.” He looks at his feet and then gives me a smirk. “Can’t say I haven’t missed your breakfasts, and I am looking forward to it.”

  “Ok, it’ll be ready when you get back.” I get out of bed and my belly growls. I rub my swollen belly. It has rounded out and you can definitely tell I’m pregnant now. I’ve not gained a lot of weight, but what I have is in my belly. I push Fe and he lifts his head. Now I know we’re not late, he can sleep longer. I head for my bag and get out my clothes for today. It’s early December but it’s warm in Texas. I grab a pair of leggings and a soft tee. I’m not going to make the cover of any magazine, but I don’t see the need to spend a lot of money on maternity clothes I can only wear a little while. I go for comfort in every way. My bra is a totally different story. I have had to go up two sizes. If the girls don’t stop growing, I’m going to need help carrying them around. Dra doesn’t mind. He says I’m a tease. He has new toys that he can’t play with.

I get my morning rituals over. The shower felt great. I comb through my hair that has really grown out. The prenatal vitamins supposedly help with that. My hair is already below my shoulders again. I missed it. I flip it up in a messy bun with it still damp. I put on some lip balm, moisturize, apply lotion and this girl is done. I go back in my bedroom and Fe is sitting on the side of the bed. I grab my chucks by my dresser, my back pack and my shades. “I’m going to get breakfast. Come down when you’re done.” Fe is not awake yet. He shakes his head.

I get in the kitchen and start the coffee. I grab a water from the fridge and take my vitamin and then start the big breakfast. Bacon, sausage, hash browns, biscuits, eggs, waffles, and gravy. I go ahead and get the juice and milk out, too. Forty-five minutes later and I am just finishing waffles and pulling biscuits out of the oven. Then I hear the back door open and voices.

“Look who I found outside.” That’s Ty. Always first to the table. Behind him is Kat, Kim, Devil, and Uncle Blake.

“Well good. Food is almost done.” Uncle Blake comes over and kisses my forehead. I put the biscuits on the cabinet and turn to put some more waffle batter on.

“Good morning, sweetheart. Look at you. You look beautiful pregnant and in the kitchen.” Kat is laughing and I look down at myself.

“Don’t know about beautiful, but I’m comfortable.” I turn and finish cutting the fruit I took out and then take that last waffle from the waffle iron.

“You’re very beautiful barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen. Would only be better if it was my kitchen.” Devil is being flirty. Love the playful side of him. He comes over and hugs me. He smells good. It’s the cologne I bought him when we got married.

“Fe!” I yell up at him but I turn and he is standing there and I smile.

“You bellowed?”  Fe is laughing. He has been doing that a lot. I wonder if Woody has anything to do with that. He hasn’t been around since I arrived. He’s gone on a run.

  Just then Uncle Trent and Dad walk in the back door. Dad spots Kim and his eyes don’t move from hers, but then again hers are trained on him. The tension could be cut with a knife.

“Everyone ready to eat? We have about forty minutes until we have to leave.” Dad goes and pours himself a cup of coffee and fixes his plate then turns to me, “I’ll be in my office. Come get me when you’re ready.” Then dad walks out. Ty and Driller follow Dad’s lead and I am left wondering, WTH?

As soon as they are out of hearing distance I turn and look at Kim. “Anyone want to explain what just happened? Because I will not have my dad thinking he has to go to another room to eat in his own house.” Kim’s eyes go to Devil’s.

“I told you I should have stayed home.” Kat pats her on the side of her arm. I turn my eyes to Devil but he doesn’t speak.

“Steel told Chief if he stayed with Kim it would be full out war. Chief told him to fuck off, but when Steel talked to Kim, she went back home. To say the least, Chief was pissed, but when he found out he threatened your freedom, Chief lost it.” Blake barely gets it out and everything in me goes cold. My dad is trying to protect me again from a Steel. I go to the phone and dial the number of a man I once respected. After two rings I hear his voice.

“Steel.” I take a second and then I lay into him.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing? I will say this one time only, so listen, no one uses me against my dad. Now I’m going to tell you, find another way. I don’t care if you tie your damn daughter down. I don’t care if you put a damn moat around your house so you can keep her there. Do not use me! No, you shut up and listen to me, you have thirty minutes to change your tactics. Yes. By the time I leave to go to my doctor’s appointment, my dad better have had a phone call from you, letting him know whatever you think you have on me has disappeared. Are we clear? If he doesn’t, with everything in me, you will never lay eyes on this child. Do you get that you over grown brat? Find another way!” I am so mad I can’t even talk straight. I slam the phone down and Fe is up and over to me. Devil is eyeing me in amazement.

“I’m sorry. I love your dad, but I don’t want you in any trouble. Dad still has some things on you about the night that dumbass tried to take me.” I save his daughter from being kidnapped and he threatens my dad with it. I look at Kat.

“I tried to talk reason into him. He is going crazy over Chief with Kim. He will do anything.” Ok. So he wants to turn everything in. Fine. So be it. I did nothing wrong. His club did. I’ll do the only thing I know to do. I will cut my own nose off to spite my face. I know I heard that somewhere. I’ll turn my own self in. I get up and go for the phone but then I realize I have a Marshall setting right here. So I look to Devil.

“I changed my mind. Call him and tell him time is up and I plan to go with option B.” I look at Uncle Blake and Devil knows exactly what I have in mind. Then Kim’s phone rings. She looks at it and goes outside to take it. Then dad comes charging in the kitchen.

“Baby Girl, what the hell did you do? I can take care of Steel myself.” He says it with a smile, so I know he is not mad.

“Taking care of business, Dad. No one uses me to hurt you. Not even Steel.” Dad comes over and hugs me.

“Callie is on the warpath again.” Uncle Trent is smiling ear to ear. He is enjoying this.

Kim comes back into the room. “Dad is mad but he won’t use anything against you Callie. I guess that means I can stay, if you want me.” She’s looking at dad.

“This changes nothing between us. I told you if you left you weren’t coming back, and I meant it.” With that he turns his back to Kim. “We need to get moving.” I look at my watch and he is right. Kat and I do the clean-up real fast. Dad never says another word to Kim and she stays away from him. Nothing else I can do.

I put my chucks on, grab my backpack and put my shades on. We get outside and I go to Fe’s car and get in with him. Figuring this will be the place with the least amount of stress. The guys get on their bikes and Kim and Kat get in Kat’s SUV. Even Uncle Blake is on his bike and he looks mighty happy.

Once in the car with Fe, he turns to me. “What in the heck was that?”

“Don’t know and at this point I don’t care. Too much drama.” Then I hear my phone ping with a text. I look at it and it makes me smile. It’s from Dra. Short and sweet.

Dra:
Do you miss me yet?

Me:
You will never know how much. I love you.

Dra:
Pic as soon as you’re done. Love you more.

Me:
Ok. ASAP. Later and you can’t love me more.

Dra:
Do to. Later.

That was it. I love this man.

  “I can tell by the dopey smile it was Dra. When do I get to put my stamp of approval on this man that makes you smile?”  Fe is always like my brother.

“In about three and a half months. We will be here to stay until after the birth. Dra is bringing me and staying a week and then going back. He will be back, hopefully by the birth.” I know by that time the trip will seem so much longer.

“Why is he going back? Why can’t he stay?” Fe doesn’t know how many businesses Dra helps keep going for the club.

“Business. Their club runs a lot of businesses. Dra has to do his part. He is driving Gram and me here and he will come stay as long as he can. By then we will be married. I’m worried for him and the club. Trouble is brewing and I don’t know how to help. He won’t even discuss it with me. I feel helpless and I don’t like that feeling.” Fe smiles.

  “Maybe you should talk to Chief. Can’t hurt.” Fe is trying to help but he doesn’t understand.

  “Can’t happen, Fe. You don’t discuss club business outside the club, and I don’t even know anything, really. Just a feeling.” A very strong feeling.

  I see the doctor’s parking lot ahead. I am so excited, even the events this morning can’t put a damper on it. We turn in and Fe has us parked in no time. Our conversation forgotten.