“Darlin’, I need you to stay calm and think about our baby.” Peyton is still sobbing in the background. I feel like I should be there for her. But, right now, I need to be here.
“No….no…no. No.” Eden starts shaking her head, as if she already knows.
“I’m sorry,” I tell her, letting her down and failing to hold it together. I drop my head into her shoulder and hold her as she cries. “I’m so fuckin’ sorry.” I got nothing I can say. I can’t tell her it’ll be alright. I can’t say everything will be okay.
Everything is so unclear now, and no words, no tears,nothingis gonna bring our leader back.
“Iswear that woman?—”
“Vike, you have to remember they’re her family.” Alicia stops me before I get started, when I pull up outside the house and see Greaser and Iris already parked outside waiting for us.
“She has no concept of personal space or boundaries.” I shake my head, grab the car seat from the back, and then help Alicia outta the car. I can tell from the way she’s been walking that she’s still sore as hell, but she’s not stopped smiling since she heard her little girl’s first cry.
“You’re home.” Iris races toward us, crouching down to look inside the car seat I’m carrying. “Here, let her Uncle Siddy carry her inside. You can help Alicia.” She takes hold of the handle.
“I’d prefer Vike to carry her in.” Alicia shocks me and everyone else when she politely smiles and removes Iris’s hand at the same time.
Iris frowns her disapproval, and Greaser scowls at me as I continue to walk up the path toward the house, carrying the sweet baby girl.
“Did the doctor check her over? What did they say about that woman cutting her cord using a knife and a pair of pliers?” Iris fusses while I unlock the door.
“Quinn had to work with what we had,” Alicia reminds her. “We were lucky she was there.” I take her arm and help her hobble over to the couch so she can rest.
“Did they weigh her? Is she healthy? She looks like she is, doesn’t she, Siddy?” Again, the woman gets in my way, trying to crowd the baby before I can place the car seat on the couch beside Alicia.
“Alicia’s fine, by the way,” I interrupt her, pissed off that this woman has shown no gratitude to the woman who has birthed her grandchild, “Remember her? The one who just pushed your grandchild into the world?” I might sound rude, but even at the clubhouse when Alicia first let her hold her, she never asked once how she was feeling.
Come on, little miss.” I unbuckle the precious little bundle from her car seat and gently lift her out while Iris remains silent. Being careful not to crush her in my huge hands, I place her in her mom’s arms and smile at my girl.
“Oh, she’s beautiful, look at her, Siddy; she has Seggy's nose and his chin.” Alicia raises her eyebrows and looks to me in horror, and I shake my head to assure her that that ain’t the case.
“Did you pick a name for her yet?” Iris strokes the baby's chest as she leans over them both, and I can see how suffocated it’s making Alicia feel.
“Iris, she’s only twelve hours old,” I remind her, not wanting to move too far from Alicia’s side. I’ve always felt protective of her, but now everything is so much more intense. I swear, I could have killed Greaser when he came at her in the club last night.
“And I had both my boys' names picked out before I’d reached my second trimester. You have to be on top of these kinds of things. It’s important that she has something strong and meaningful. I still think Iris would be a good choice; now she’s here, can’t you see that it suits her?” Iris studies hergranddaughter while an exhausted-looking Alicia smiles up at me helplessly.
“Siddy, you haven’t held her yet. Come on, sit here beside Alicia.” Iris moves the car seat outta his way and pats the cushion.
“I think she needs to be fed first.” Alicia goes rigid at the idea.
“Dear, she’s sleeping, she’ll let you know when she’s hungry. Come on, hand her over. Seggy, put this cushion under your arm to support her hea–”
“Iris, can we just calm things down a little? It’s been a long night and—” I get interrupted when my phone starts ringing, and after looking to see who it is, I ignore it and put it back in my pocket. “Alicia and the baby need to rest. Doctor’s orders. Why don’t the two of you come back here tomorrow?” I suggest in a much friendlier tone. Greaser’s cell starts ringing too, and he does exactly the same as I just did.
“Mom’s just excited. The news of this baby has been what's kept her going,” Greaser speaks up, staring at me like he wants to murder me right here on this very fuckin’ spot.
“I can appreciate that, but we also have to appreciate that Alicia just gave birth. She needs to rest,” I point out, trying not to sound aggressive. I just want these people gone.
“She can rest; I’ll happily take care of Iri—the baby, while you nap.” Iris flaps around Alicia some more, and when the door opens, and Freya rushes inside, it’s obvious she’s been crying.
“Ruck?” I look past her to where he’s standing in the door and know just from the look on his face that something serious is wrong.
“We need to get to the club, Wrath’s called a meeting.” He’s distant and nothing like himself. If I had to make a guess, I’d say he was in shock.
“Sorry, Ruck, but you’ll have to tell Wrath I can’t make it. Alic–”
“Raze is dead.” Ruck talks over me, his lips wobbling like he’s about to break.
