In the bottom of the bag were a couple of small black t-shirts.These must be what Taylynn had said was for Carter.She unfolded one to find the back of the shirt had the same winged, haloed skull as Smokey’s vest, and the word “Patchling” arched above the image.She frowned at it, not recognizing the word, and then shrugged.If they wanted to claim Carter as theirs, that gave him who knew how many more people willing to protect him, to raise him and keep him safe from Rod should anything happen to her.
That wasn’t something she wanted to think about now.But then, she needed to, didn’t she?If something were to happen to her, should she get in an accident or fall down the stairs here in the clubhouse and break her neck, then Carter would automatically go to Rod, since her husband was his legal father.
Shaking herself from her thoughts, Tania stuffed the clothes back into the bag and carried them into the bedroom where she propped Carter up in the middle of the bed so she could keep an eye on him while she changed.Once she was dressed, she picked up the shirts Raven sent for Carter and looked at it again.It looked a little big, but she didn’t think it would matter.She pulled one on over the onesie he already had, then picked him up and set him on her hip.
“What do you say we go show your daddy your new shirt, then see if he’s ready to take you to meet your grandparents?Huh?”she tickled Carter’s belly until he giggled, then grabbed his diaper bag and headed for the door.
Chapter Thirteen
Footsteps on the stairsdrew Smokey’s attention.He looked up to find Tania headed down wearing black leggings and a brownish pink sweater.Her gaze skimmed the room, stopping when she spotted him.She glanced down as she continued down the stairs then came to him.
“Here, you don’t need to be carrying all that.”He took the diaper bag from over her shoulder and slung it over his before he reached for the baby.But she didn’t let him take Carter.Instead, she seemed to cling to him.Smokey paused, wondering what was wrong.
“We need to make sure he’s safe.”Her voice shook.“We need to be sure that if something happens to me, if I’m hurt or killed, then the courts don’t give him back to Rod.”
“You think he’d hurt him?”Smokey couldn’t help but scowl.
“I don’t know.I didn’t think he would hurt me, but,” she waved a hand in the direction of her face, “I don’t want to risk it.After the last twenty-four hours I don’t know what to think.I don’t want to risk Rod hurting him to get back at me or you.I don’t want our son to become a weapon.”
Smokey stared at her for a moment as her words took a moment to register.Then, rather than lead her to the door and out to the SUV he’d borrowed, he turned and took her back to Raven’s office, where he knocked on the open door.
“Enter,” the president said without looking up.
“Hey, I wanted to check and see if you’ve reached out to the attorney yet?”Smokey asked.He didn’t use Fletch’s name because Tania wouldn’t have known what he was talking about.
“Taylynn sent the photos to him but I haven’t talked to him yet.I figured he was busy, probably with Spider, and would call when he got time.”
“Can we give him a call now?Tania’s brought up something and I think it’s got some merit, especially after what happened with David and Hunter today.”
Raven’s gaze flicked to Tania and Carter, then back to Smokey.
“Tell me.”
Smokey explained Tania’s concerns, with her only speaking up a couple of times to add details, and when they were done, Raven stared back at them for a long moment.
“You’re right.Let me give him a call and see what he recommends.You go on to your folks, you’ll have enough brothers with you to make sure that even if something happens, they can get your kid and woman out.Hopefully, I’ll have some kind of answer by the time you get back.”
