Paradox: A Death Dealers MC Novella (Book 5.5) Page 4

  She falls back again, breathing out of control. Then I hear it.

  The sharp cry.

  My baby is here. A child I created has entered the world and taken his first breath.

  My knees go weak.

  “It’s a boy!” the doctor announces.

  “You hear that, baby doll? It’s a boy. I told you!”

  I have a son! With joy surging through my body, I peek down the bed to get a glimpse of him, but a nurse whisks him away.

  “Okay, Raven. We’re almost there. I need you to push for me again.”

  The exhaustion is evident as she props herself up on her elbows. I help her up, kissing her forehead and gently squeezing her fingers in encouragement.

  “Almost there, babe.” Her eyes lock onto mine, red and puffy from all the crying. “I love you,” I whisper.

  She nods, the words renewing her strength. As I watch her fight to give our children life, I fall deeper in love with the woman I vowed to spend the rest of my life with. I didn’t even know it was possible. She already occupies every crevice and corner of my heart, but this is different. I look at her and now know what it means to have my heart beating outside my chest.

  Another sharp cry pierces through the noises in the room and I stop breathing.

  “It’s a girl!”

  A girl. My baby girl. A daughter.

  “Wanna cut the cord, Daddy?”

  I look to Raven, who’s nestled in the pillows, lids drooping. She gives me a weak nod, her lips barely curling up into a smile. My body vibrates as I make my way to the foot of the bed. I try not to look under the sheets, but the blood I can see is enough to make me sick—not for me, but for her. My poor baby doll.

  “You okay, there?” the doctor asks as he hands me an instrument.

  I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat. Gazing at my baby girl, I cut the umbilical cord where the doc indicates. She’s covered in blood and fluids, but other than her mother, she’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. My little Hailey. I can’t remember the last time I cried, but my eyes begin to burn. I turn to watch them fuss over her while another nurse brings my baby boy forward. When she lays him in Raven’s arms, I take mechanical steps toward her.

  “Gage, look….”

  Tiny fingers curl around Raven’s thumb. She grins up at me briefly before her gaze returns to our son.

  Chaos.

  Fuck if he didn’t come into this world living up to his name.

  My babies were conceived in rage and born in chaos.

  “Mr. Hunter?”

  I turn to the nurse, carefully taking the little bundle she hands me. I thought I wanted sons, but this little girl already has me wrapped around her tiny finger.

  “You did it, babe.” I show Raven our daughter. “They’re here.”

  They’re here. They’re here and they’re beautiful.

  Perfect.

  The tears I was holding back slip from the corners of my eyes. The nurses try to take them away, but I throw a glare in their direction.

  “It’s okay, Mr. Hunter,” the doctor assures me. “We need to do another check on their vitals, and then they’ll be taken to the nursery for a more detailed assessment.”

  Reluctantly, I hand my daughter over and watch as my kids are taken from the room. I turn back to Raven to find her eyes closed. One of the nurses stayed behind and is injecting something into her IV.

  “Babe?”

  “She’s fine, just wiped out,” the doctor says.

  “What are you still doing under there?” My annoyance is crystal clear. I know I’m being irrational and crazy jealous, but I think he’s been touching my woman’s pussy for far too long.

  “We have to get the placenta out, and I also need to close up some incisions I had to make. There would have been some tearing if I hadn’t.”

  “Oh.”

  Raven’s eyes flutter open and she gives me a weak but knowing smile as if she’s reading my thoughts. That’s my baby doll. Sometimes I think she knows me better than I know myself. She seems to still be in pain so I take her hand, stroking her hair.

  “We’re parents,” she whispers.

  “I know. Who the fuck thought it was a good idea to give us kids?” I smile down at her, but she’s now serious.

  “We’ll be okay, right?”

  “More than okay, doll. We’re gonna rock this parenting shit. You’ll see.”

  “I hope so.” She gives my fingers a light squeeze, her eyes closing once more.

  I don’t know how much time goes by before the doctor clears his throat, finally moving from between Raven’s legs.

  “The nurse will clean her up and get her to the recovery room, and the babies will be brought in soon. I’ll check in on her later, and a pediatrician will also come by to check on the twins. Congratulations, Mr. Hunter.”

  “Thanks. Thank you for all you did. I owe you everything.”

  “Just doing my job. You take care of your family,” he says over his shoulder as he leaves.

  “I will.”

  I wait around, watching the nurses work on my sleeping wife, then walk beside the gurney while they transport her back to her room. I’m anxious about the twins. I want to see them, to hold them. I just hope they’re okay.

  With Raven still sleeping, I head to the waiting room to find E. The entire fucking club is there, always having my back. Everyone jumps to their feet, watching me with anxious stares. I remove the plastic cap from my head, balling it in my fist.

  “Well?” Chopper is the first to speak.

  “I’m a father.” I let out a breath, chuckling. “A boy and a girl.”

  Cheers ring out in the otherwise quiet room, E coming forward to wrap me in a bear hug.

  “I’m proud of you, brother.” He slaps my back. “How’s Raven?”

  “Good. She’s sleeping. They’re running tests on the babies.”

  “A bit of a belated birthday present.”

  “Yeah. How cool is that?” I hadn’t even realized, but my kids were born only a few days after my birthday.

  Ellen forces her way between us, throwing her arms around my waist.

  “I’m an aunt! Never thought I’d see the day.”

  “They’re gorgeous, shorty. Can’t wait for you to see them.”

  “Of course they are.” She winks up at me. “Excellent genes.”

  I get lost in a crowd of my family and my brothers, everyone congratulating me and wanting to see Raven. Aunt Nita pinches my cheeks before kissing them. Chopper gives me a curt nod. He’s still pissed at me, and I guess he has every right to be. I put Raven and those babies in jeopardy and I’ll never forgive myself. I don’t expect him to.

  “When can we see them?” Nita asks.

  “Soon, hopefully. I haven’t heard anything since the nurses took them away.”

  “I’ll go find out what’s going on,” E offers, patting my shoulder as he walks away.

  “Thanks, E.”

  I jerk my head at Razor, beckoning him over and moving to a quiet corner.

  “Where is she?”

  “Prospect’s keeping an eye on her.” He matches my hushed tone. “She’s at her mom’s.”

  “How the hell did we not know she was pregnant?”

  “No one’s seen her since she was banned. We figure she skipped town.”

  “Why come back now? Why pull this bullshit?”

  “No clue, Prez. What do you want to do?”

  “I don’t know. The kid makes things difficult.” I rub my chin in thought. “Who’s the woman she came with?”

  “Don’t know. Probably not from around here.”

  “Put Tek on it. I want this buried before Raven and the babies come home.”

  “Got it.”

  I move back to the others, addressing all of them at once. “You guys can head home. I’ll call when you can come back and see the babies. Don’t know how long the tests are going to take.”

  “Sure thing, brother.” Venom walks up, giving me a
slap-and-grip handshake, touching his right shoulder to mine. Emily is right behind him, beaming up at me.

  “Congrats, Gage! I have an idea for the perfect cake for their homecoming. You’re going to love it.”

  “I’m sure I will. Thanks, Emily.”

  I watch as everyone files out and then return to Raven’s room. She’s still asleep, so I pull up a chair as quietly as I can and sit by her bed. Even exhausted and out like a light, she sends my heart racing. Her jet-black hair is fanned out on the pillows, void of color for the last few months. She cut the ends off once the blue faded, not coloring it because of her pregnancy and fear of exposure to the fumes. Her tanned skin is flawless, pouty lips slightly parted in sleep. I can’t wait to see what our daughter will look like. I hope she looks just like her mom. Fuck, I’m going to have to do more than beat the boys off with a stick. I’ll have to shoot their asses. No one is coming near my princess.

  Leaning back in the chair, I close my eyes and hope I can see my babies soon.

  That bitch Britney better pray to whatever god she serves that they’re okay.

  ***Raven***

  I’m a mother.

  An exhausted one, but one nonetheless. If the evidence wasn’t in my arms, mouth latched on to my nipple, I probably wouldn’t believe it. I brought two human beings into this world, two tiny people who will be dependent on me for the foreseeable future.

  They’re okay.

  They won’t even have to go into an incubator. Thank God for small miracles. Two perfect little miracles, both shy of five and a half pounds. I was pretty sure I’d caused them harm by going into a tailspin over this whole Britney issue. I should have known she was lying. I should have known Gage wouldn’t do that to me. I’m going to have to make it up to him big-time. He deserves my trust, and I doubted him. I won’t make that mistake again.

  The nurse giving me tips on breastfeeding is rattling on, and although I’m listening, the weird sensation in my nipple is drawing my focus. This is nothing like when Gage sucks on my nipples. It hurts, but I need to endure it for my babies. I stare down at my son, stroking the dark hair lying on his forehead. Both have a full head of hair, but Hailey’s is so fine, she looks bald until you come close. She’s a blondie like her father.

  My boy’s lids flutter in an obvious attempt to open them. I’m curious to see what shade his eyes are. With two blue-eyed parents, they’ll be blue also, but I wonder if they will be light like mine, or dark like Gage’s. They could also be a hybrid of mine and his. Dios! I just want to see them!

  Gage is knocked out in a chair next to my bed, Hailey sleeping soundly on his chest. For a man who wanted boys, he’s certainly attached to his daughter. He’s barely let me hold her since they were brought in. I haven’t wanted for attention either, as my husband hasn’t left my side. He’s taken care of everything, even eagerly filling out all the necessary forms the nurse gave us.

  When Chaos lays his hand on my breast, I bring it up to my nose, inhaling his addictive baby scent. I play with his pink fingers, counting them over and over. He releases my nipple, body stiffening, face scrunched as if he’s about to cry. I burp him the way the nurse showed me with Hailey, and once he does, he settles down. The nurse leaves, telling me she’ll be back soon for the babies. Even though they checked out, the doctors still want them under observation.

  A soft knock at the door has me looking in that direction. I don’t know who it could be because everyone has already visited. I’m surprised when my mother walks in, even more so when Lonnie follows. Mom’s eyes widen, mouth falling open in glee. When she notices Gage, she places a finger to her lips, motioning to Lonnie to be quiet. She hurries over, kissing my forehead before taking Chaos from my arms and devoting all her attention to him.

  “Oh, he’s gorgeous,” she whispers.

  “He is,” Lonnie agrees. I glance up at her and she shrinks back, dropping her head. “Laurelyn called me.”

  “And Gage called me last night. We caught the first flight we could get. You’re going to need a lot of help with these babies, Raven. Especially the next couple of weeks. Oh.” She cups my cheek, tears swimming in her eyes. “I remember the day you were born. I was devastated when I had to give you up to Emilio.”

  “I know, Mom,” I try to appease her. All my life I thought she didn’t want me. If it wasn’t for Gage, I wouldn’t have given her the chance to redeem herself.

  “What are their names?” Lonnie asks.

  “Chaos Emilio and Hailey Corrine.”

  “Emilio?” Mom’s eyes fill with tears again. I expected her to give me shit over his first name, but she’s so focused on the second, I’m pretty sure that’s all she heard. “That’s sweet, baby. Your father would be so proud.”

  “Really?” I ask, voice hopeful. I doubt he’d want me to get married at eighteen and have two babies at nineteen.

  “Really.” She smiles over at Lonnie. “You’ve both grown into lovely young ladies.”

  Lonnie looks away.

  “Thanks, Mom.”

  “Do you want to hold him?” Mom asks Lonnie.

  Her eyes light up at the question, but she quickly tamps down her excitement.

  “I shouldn’t. I’d probably drop him or something.”

  “Nonsense.”

  “It’s okay, Mom. Give him here.”

  She has no idea that Lonnie and I don’t have a good relationship. We share texts every now and then, but that’s it. I still can’t forgive her for what she did to me.

  “I’m going to get Dani and Daniel. Be right back.”

  Mom breezes out of the room, leaving me with Lonnie. As the awkward silence stretches out, I fiddle with the blanket Chaos is wrapped in.

  “Raven….” She takes a deep breath, lowering her voice. “I know you still hate me, and you have every right to. I’m not asking for your forgiveness, just a chance. I’m not proud of the horrible things I did to you—”

  “What? Beating up on me every day? Having your landlord try to rape me, or leaving your best friend to finish the job he started?” I whisper.

  “’Mana….”

  Before I can even cringe at the term of endearment, the air in the room shifts. I swallow, slowly turning my head. Gage’s rage-filled eyes are burning a hole in the back of Lonnie’s head.

  Fuck.

  “It was you?”

  Lonnie’s eyes widen in horror as she spins to face him. “Gage—”

  “Shut the fuck up.”

  Rising to his feet, he places Hailey in the bassinet by my bed and then grabs Lonnie’s arm, dragging her to the door.

  “Gage, wait. Please….” I try to stop him, but no other words come. This is why I didn’t let him know. Only God knows what he’ll do to Lonnie now.

  “No.” He turns back to me, nose flaring as he jabs a finger in my direction. “You should have told me she was the one laying hands on you. You should have told me everything. I don’t want her anywhere near you or my kids.”

  “What are you going to do?” My voice trembles with the question. Despite everything, she’s still my blood.

  “What I should have done a long time ago.”

  CHAPTER 6

  E SQUARED

  ***Ellen***

  After tucking my sleeping son into bed, I leave his bedroom, heading to mine and Jon’s. A smile plays on my lips when my thoughts shift to my new niece and nephew. They have that newborn, wrinkled-old-man look, but I can tell they’re going to be gorgeous.

  And spoiled.

  Definitely going to be spoiled, and not just by their auntie. Gage is already tightly coiled around Hailey’s little finger. Chopper and Nita are baby-crazy right now, but it’s a good thing. They’re falling over themselves to get ready for when the twins come home. We need a few good things to happen around here. The last couple years haven’t exactly been sunny.

  “You okay, beautiful?” Jon asks, walking out of the bathroom with a towel around his waist.

  I nod, licking my lips at the sight of
his naked chest. I see it every day, and my muscles still clench whenever he’s shirtless. He drops the towel, and I add pantless to the list. I swallow a groan as he covers up with a pair of boxers before joining me in bed.

  “Mikey go down okay?”

  “Out like a light.” I move over, laying my head on his chest. “He wants to go back and see the twins tomorrow.”

  “Everyone’s got a bit of baby fever right now. Can you imagine what he’ll be like when we bring ours home?”

  “He’ll be a doting big brother, that’s for sure.”

  “Definitely. Did you massage the oil into your skin already?”

  “No.” I look up at him, batting my lashes. “Can you do it for me, please?”

  He chuckles, reaching for the bottle of coconut oil on the nightstand. “Roll over, beautiful.”

  Smiling, I move onto my back. I pull up my shirt and push down my shorts and panties, giving him full access to my stomach. He straddles my thighs, pouring oil into his palm and slathering it on my belly. Closing my eyes, I relax into the pillow and lose myself in the sensations as his fingers move over my skin.

  “Mmm… so good,” I mumble. Who knew treating stretch marks could be this pleasurable?

  He massages the sides of my belly, moving to the top and then working his way down. When he pauses, I crack an eye open. He’s sitting still, eyes focused on my face.

  “What’s wrong?” I open both eyes.

  “You’re gorgeous.”

  “You know, a woman could get a big ego from being with you.”

  “Well, this man is lucky to have you and would do anything to keep you.”

  I stretch my hands toward him and he leans forward so I can wrap them around his shoulders. My eyes roam his face, heart beating faster from the love I have for this man.

  “You’re an amazing partner, Jon, a great father to my son—”

  “Our son.”

  “A great father to our son. As long as you love me, I don’t need anything else.”

  “I do, Ellen. I could never find words to express how much.”