Tank’s brows shot up. “You got issues, man. Just fuckin’ ask her before you do or say some shit you can’t take back.”
“Doesn’t matter, not when she plans on leaving.” That’s what I needed to remember, she wasn’t here for me. She was here because she wanted me to protect her son.
Our son.
“Shit changes,” T-Bone called out from three tables away. “Faith was planning on going back.”
“So was Harper,” Gio reminded me. “Shit changes.”
They were right and I fucking hated it because the implied shit was that maybe Viv would stick around. Maybe we could make a go of it when I knew that was bullshit. I pushed my chair back and stood. “This shit won’t change,” I grumbled and turned because I needed a goddamn minute to myself but suddenly the room was filled with kids.
Or just one kid in particular. TJ.
He toddled on unsteady legs towards me, his chubby arms lifted, and his small hands stretched out to me. His hazel eyes were wide and trusting. “Dada. Up.”
Dada?
Had Viv told him I was his dad, or was it just baby babble? The word slammed into me harder than any fist I’d ever taken and for a second, I froze up. My chest locked and my throat was suddenly too clogged to speak.
This was real. He, my son, was real. This wasn’t a conversation or a hypothetical. It was real fucking life, and my own flesh and blood was at risk, and it was up to me to protect him if Vivian couldn’t.
I bent my legs and scooped him up, testing out the feel of his little body in my arms. He fit against me like he’d been there his whole life, curling into my chest with complete, unshakeable trust as if he just knew I’d take care of him. Never let him down. His heart pounded against mine, steady and sure.
Something cracked open inside of me just then. Every wall I’d built, every scar that had scabbed over, it all meant shit in the face of this little boy who didn’t know shit about betrayal,MCs, mobsters, or blood feuds. All he knew was trust and care, and toys. And I was now part of that.
I hadn’t noticed that the room fell silent until I looked up from TJ’s heavy lids and found everyone—brothers, old ladies, club whores, and prospects alike—all staring at me waiting to see what I said or did next.
What could I say, though? Because with my son in my arms, hanging onto me with utter fucking trust I was damn certain I hadn’t earned, I knew nothing in the world would ever be the same again. Life would never be simple again because this little kid earned a piece of me. He was my blood to care for, to love, to protect and I would do all of that.
Fuck that, I wouldn’t just do that. I would burn down this whole fucking world just to keep him safe.
Chapter Four
Vivian
“You can’t hide in here forever.” Falcon’s voice sounded behind me, deep and tinged with that thread of annoyance he never managed to conceal.
I said nothing at first because what was there to say?
The door closed behind him and a heavy sigh cut through the tense silence. I turned to face him and found him leaning against the door with his arms folded, a scowl on his face. “You might actually like them if you gave them a chance.”
I knew what he was doing, trying to get me to respond, or maybe he was trying to piss me off enough that I left the room. It didn’t work. I turned and gave him my back once again, wrapping my arms around my legs while I stared into space. I didn’t need his attitude, all I needed was him to keep TJ safe.
“I get it,” he sighed again, the sound of his weight leaving the door told me he was moving closer. “You’re too damn good for the likes of us.”
I knew what he was doing, again, but he’d hit his mark that time. I whirled around to frown at him, nearly falling off the bed. “Screw you.”
His lips curled into a satisfied smirk and one brow arched, sharp and mocking. “You did that already. Even left a note and went back to your rich boyfriend and forgot all about me for three goddamn years.”
His words were intentionally cruel, and they sliced through me effectively, but I absorbed the pain and let it callus over. I needed to get stronger for what lay ahead and learning what he really thought of me would help. It was easier for both of us if he hated me, a hell of a lot easier than the messy truth. If he knew why I really ran it might change things. I mightwantit to change things, so I kept it to myself. I reminded myself that his incorrect assumptions didn’t matter because I’d be gone as soon as he had the proof he needed that TJ was his son.
“What,” he snapped, almost angry I refused to fight back. “No denial?”
Instead of answering, I pushed off the bed and blew out a heavy sigh. I thought he knew me because I felt as if I knew him after those two weeks, but I was wrong. Again. He didn’t know me, not if he believed the worst. “I don’t want my presence interfering with things around here,” I explained in a bland, emotionless voice. “I’m not supposed to be here. Just TJ.”
That shut him up for a full minute, the sound of life on the other side of the door invaded while he stared at me, jaw ticking as if he wanted to say something but couldn’t find his words. Another minute passed before a look of hard resolve was etched on his face. “You have to eat.”
“I did.” I hooked a thumb over my shoulder to the box of protein bars that sat on the small dresser. “Ellie brought me a box, so I’m all sorted. Don’t worry about me.”
