“I’d guess he’d rather be raising her himself, but since he ain’t here to do that, I’ll do what I can to make him proud. He was my club brother,” I remind her.
“You’ll soon tire; having children puts strain on a relationship. You’ll get fed up with being her second best,” she warns me.
“Sorry to disappoint you, Iris, but that ain’t gonna happen. I love Alicia, and I’m gonna love her child, too. Alicia wants us all working together to make that child's life the best it can be, soit’s time we all start having a little faith in each other.” I know what I’m saying is meaningless; I don’t have an ounce of faith in either of the people standing in front of me, but that don’t mean I won’t allow them to think I do. “Thanks for this,” I tell Greaser, lifting up the box before making my way back to the club.
“You found anything?” Ruck looks eagerly over my shoulder.
“Nothin’. We ain’t waitin’ on nothing major to come in, and everything we owed is paid up.” I have to admit, I’m impressed with the way everything's been handled while I’ve been away.
“Vike, we gotta start thinkin?—”
“I know.” I scrub my hand over my face, still not sure what to believe. I get where Wrath is coming from with his theory, but would Raze really leave Peyton and Eden to worry about him this way? It all seems too selfish for a man like him.
“You speak to Burlusconi?” I check.
“Yep, he’s heard nothing.”
“I got a bad feelin’ about this, Vike.” Ruck looks scared as he paces the desk in front of me.
“You notice how busy Greaser’s garage has been?” I ask, curiously. “I stopped by to pick up these books, and the parking lot was full.”
“I know Greaser’s been busy; too fuckin’ busy to notice you steal his girl right from under his nose.” Ruck proves he hasn’t lost his sense of humour entirely when he sniggers at me. “But what’s that gotta do with Raze being gone?”
“I don’t know, somethin’ just ain’t adding up; all the paperwork fits but...you don’t think he’s pulling anything shady, do ya?”
“Look, Vike, I know you and Greaser have got issues, and that you never wanted him back here, but you have to get past all this. We can’t have any weakness in the pack,” he warns, and I nod my head, deciding not to press him anymore on it; I’ll just keep an eye on things a little more closely myself.
“Freya tells me his mother’s sticking around. How does Alicia feel about that?” he checks; I guess he saw for himself when we visited her place how crazy the woman can be.
“A little suffocated, but she’s got me to make sure no one oversteps. Alicia wants them both involved, but there's a difference between involvement and control.”
“Freya’s had the same concern. I told her you were the right man for the job. Vike, you're the most level-headed out of all of us. We need you, now more than ever.” He leaves me to keep searching for some answers, heading out into the barroom to join Wrath at the bar.
“What ya doin' in here?” I smile when I get home and find Alicia sitting by herself in the baby's room, rocking in the armchair.
“Just imagining what it’s gonna be like when she gets here.” She smiles excitedly. “I’ve been looking forward to meeting her, but since you came home and we’ve decided to do this together...I don’t know, it feels different.”
“‘Good’ different?” I check.
“‘Amazing’different.” She beams back at me.
“Well, I’m very happy to hear that.” I lean over her and kiss her lips. It feels like too long since I left her this morning, and I’ve missed being close to her
“You find out anything useful?” she asks, knowing that I've spent all day going through club records.
“Not a damn thing.” I shake my head, disappointed.
“Peyton isn’t coping, and I’m worried about Eden. All this stress... It’s not good for her.” She starts fretting, and I stroke my hand through her hair to try to calm her down.
“Baby, I know you love ’em, and they’re your girls, but you can’t let this worry ya. You have to think of yourself, right now.”
“That’s not easy to do when two of my best friends' lives are falling apart. I feel so guilty for being this happy,” she admits.
“Well, you shouldn’t, you’ve been through a lot; if anyone in this world deserves a little happiness, it’s you.” I kiss her again, watching her face turn a little curious as I straighten back up.
“What do you say I take a shower, then we head out and get something to eat?” I suggest, sensing that she needs some distraction.
“Like a date?” she checks, with that beam back on her face.
