Nova - The Kings of Retribution MC, Louisiana - Chapter 21

Holy fuckin’ shit!

For the second time in my life, I’m becoming a dad. My heart is about to bust out of my chest with the amount of emotion sweeping through my body.

I become silent for a beat, lost in my thoughts. Piper is everything to me, and now, Promise is giving me another blessing. I love being a part of The Kings of Retribution—a part of a brotherhood, but being a father defines who I am.

Promise twists, facing me. Reaching out, she runs her finger across my brow, and her touch has me closing my eyes. “You okay? You zoned out for a second,” her voice is soft as she sighs. “What a day, huh?”

I bring her palm to my lips, thinking about today’s events leading up to this beautiful moment, then kiss her palm.

“Aside from the chaos, it’s turned into one of the best fuckin’ days of my life,” I confess, losing myself in the depths of her eyes. What am I saying? I was a goner the very moment I saw her walk into the bar.

Promise’s eyes light up. “You’re everything I always wanted, Cain.”

“I’ve been waiting for you my entire life, Sugar. Fuck. I’d wait a thousand more lifetimes knowing you would someday be mine.”

Promise laughs, with a single tear falling down her cheek. “I’m having a baby.” Her eyes widened.

“What about Piper?” concern fills her eyes.

“What about her, babe?” I stroke her thigh. “Piper fuckin’ adores you,” I assure her. “And she’ll be over the moon knowin’ you’re pregnant and that she will have a sibling.”

“Yeah?” Promise bites her lip with worry.

“Yeah, babe.”

A light knock on the exam room door draws our attention, and Teagan walks in. “Everything good in here?” her eyes dart between Promise and me.

“Never better,” I tell her, and Teagan smiles.

“Good.” Teagan clutches her clipboard to her chest, her attention focused on Promise. “Okay, let’s get you over to radiology for that x-ray. Hopefully, we can have you good to go within a couple more hours.”

I help Promise from the exam table, as a nurse appears with a wheelchair.

“Is that necessary?” Promise cradles her wrist.

“For now,” Teagan informs her. Sighing, Promise seats herself. Teagan looks over her shoulder as she follows the nurse wheeling my woman out the door.

“You can wait here.” She informs me when I go to follow her. I give her a look that doesn’t faze her. Teagan is in her element. Her brow lifts.

“Shouldn’t be twenty minutes, thirty at the most.”

Fighting every instinct to not let Promise from my sight, I stay put. As Teagan steps into the hall, she reaches to close the exam room door. “Leave it open.”

I pace the floor, as I wait. Time slows, and it feels like twenty minutes has passed. Looking at the clock on the wall; I notice it’s only been ten.

I tell myself she’s fine, but with everything that has happened over the past few weeks, my body doesn’t want to relax unless Promise is at my side.

Distracting myself, I pull my phone from my pocket, calling my brother. He answers on the second ring.

“What’s the word?” he eagerly questions.

I’m bursting at the seams, and want to yell the news at the top of my lungs that my woman is carrying my baby. Instead, I hold it in, reserving it for later. It’s not just my news to share. “They took her to x-ray. It looks like her wrist is broken.”

“Shit, man. Sorry to hear that.” He pauses before saying, “It could have been worse.”

“Yeah.”

“She’s a fighter, Cain.” I hear the pride in my brother’s voice.

That she is.

“How’s Piper holdin’ up?”

“She’s good, brother. Josie and Payton haven’t let her out of their sight. You focus on your woman at the moment. We’re holdin’ it down here.”

Just then, the nurse wheels Promise through the door. “Got to go,” I tell Riggs, then quickly disconnect the call, shoving my phone back into my pocket. “What’s the verdict?” I ask her.

“Don’t know yet,” Promise stands, and I help her sit back on the exam table. “Someone should be in soon to let us know.”

Great. More waiting.

It turns out, we don’t have to wait long. An unfamiliar face walks into the room. “Mrs. Bailey?”

“Yes?” Promise replies.

“Hi,” the doctor extends his hand to my woman. “I’m Dr. Lamer, the Orthopedic surgeon on staff today. His eyes land on me, unfazed by my hard gaze, as he takes in my appearance. “You must be, Mr. Bailey?” his brow quirks.

Accepting his offered hand, I give him a firm handshake. “Mr. Leblanc. She’s mine.” I don’t try to hide my caveman possessiveness.

“You gonna piss on me too?” Promise seems amused by my territorial actions.

Dr. Lamer clears his throat. Walking across the room, he pulls the x-ray image from the manilla folder in his hand, clipping it to the light board on the wall.

“You have a scaphoid fracture.” He points to a small wrist bone in the image.

“The good news is, it’s not displaced, which means you won’t require surgery to stabilize anything. However, you will require a cast to immobilize movement, which will extend over your thumb to limit mobility.”

Taking the image down, he places it back in the folder. Pulling a stool over, he sits in front of Promise. Carefully lifting her arm, he examines her wrist. “Swelling is minimal, so we should be able to hard cast you today.”

“How long will I have the cast?” Promise asks.

“Ten to twelve weeks,” Dr. Lamer explains. A young nurse walks in, pushing a cart. “While Hayley here gets you casted, I’ll get your prescription written.”

Dr. Lamer stands and sifts through Promise’s file. He lifts his head. “I see here you just found out you’re expecting—congratulations.” My woman’s face lights up with the doctor’s remark, and I have to say, my insides flop with illation as well.

“Mr. Leblanc,” Dr. Lamer regards me with another handshake, then turns his attention to Promise once more. “Miss Bailey,” and suddenly, I hate hearing him address her by her last name.

“I’ll see you at the outpatient clinic in a week. Your appointment will be attached to your discharge papers.”

“Thank you, doctor.” Promise smiles at him and damned if my jealousy doesn’t rise again when he flashes his smile back at her.

Once he exits the room, the nurse has her workstation organized, and all the things she needs to fix my woman up. “How long have you two been married?” Hayley asks, sitting beside the bed.

Promise, and I look at each other. “We’re not married,” Promise tells her.

“Yet,” I quickly add. Promise and the nurse share a look. “What?” I ask, looking at the two sharing a giggle.

“He’s a bit possessive, but I like that about him.” Promise relaxes as Hayley begins to wrap her wrist with a soft cloth.

“I have one just like him at home.” Her eyes lift to mine as I hover over my woman. “Okay. What color would you like?” she pulls out the bottom drawer of her cart, exposing a rainbow of wraps.

Promise takes a moment, thinking, and I chuckle. “What?” she looks back at me. “If I have to wear this ugly thing for twelve weeks, I want it to look good.” She turns back around. “Purple.” She confirms, and Hayley sets the chosen color aside.

A short time later, the nurse has her wrist immobilized, and the cast has hardened. “This cast is waterproof. Just make sure you keep the liner clean and use a blow dryer on the cool setting to dry it after showering.”

Hayley smiles. “Any questions?”

“Nothing comes to mind,” Promise tells her.

The exam room door opens with a tap on the door, and Teagan pokes her head in. “How’s it going in here?”

“Done,” Nurse Hayley tells her. “She’s all set.” Then she turns to face us. “It was nice to meet you two.”

Teagan opens the door all the way and walks in pushing a sonogram machine, and Nurse Hayley closes the door on her way out.

“A sonographer from OB will be here any moment.” Teagan peers over her shoulder as she fiddles with the monitor, and types on the keyboard.

Walking across the room, Teagan opens a cabinet, pulling a white folded sheet from inside.

“Being that it’s early in the pregnancy, they need to do a vaginal ultrasound.”

Without hesitation, Promise nods. Leaning back, she lifts her hips, trying to shimmy her panties off from beneath her dress, while Teagan steps out. “A little help?” Promise huffs.

“Lay back, Sugar.” Promise leans back against the raised bed, and my palms slide up the sides of her thighs. I feel her skin prickle beneath my touch, and her pupils dilate.

Hooking my fingers at the sides of her panties, she lifts her hips off the bed as I slip them off her body. Her face flushes. “What’s the matter, babe?”

“Must everything be sexual with you?” Promise fidgets.

“I’m not doing anything.”

“Right.” She drapes the sheet across her bottom half. Scooting to the edge of the bed, she places her feet in the stirrups Teagan already readied for her. “Stop looking at me that way—Like you want to devour me.”

“I do.” I have no shame in saying so.

“You’re too good looking. I can’t concentrate.” Promise closes her eyes. “I can’t look at you right now.”

I burst with laughter. “I can’t help the way I look, babe.” Tucking her lace threads in my pocket, I stand at her side, lean down and kiss her lips.

“I work with what God gave me. I can’t help the way my body reacts around you no more than you can when you are near me.”

There’s a knock, followed by a new voice. “Ready?” An older woman steps into the room. “My name is Beverly, and I’ll be performing the ultrasound today.”

I smile down at Promise, who takes hold of my hand.

Beverly takes a seat, placing herself at the end of the exam table. “This will be a bit uncomfortable,” she tells Promise.

My woman stares at the ceiling, a small twinge of discomfort appearing on her face as Beverly performs the ultrasound. My gaze shifts to the monitor screen, not knowing what I’m actually staring at.

“There.” Beverly breaks the silence that had fallen in the room. After tapping on the keyboard, she then points to the image in the screen. “I would say you look to be around six weeks.”

Six weeks?

I think back. That would have been around the night Promise walked into my life. Dropping my head, I look at my woman whose eyes are fixed on the screen, tears falling down her cheeks.

“That little blip is our baby? We created a human,” Promise whispers in awe.

Suddenly the room fills with a rhythmic whooshing. “And that is the baby’s heartbeat. It’s steady and strong.” Beverly says.

Everything around me fades, all but my woman, and the sounds of the baby she carries in her womb. I can’t take my eyes off Promise as she continues to stare at the first images of the life we made. How did I get so fucking lucky?

“I love you,” I repeat those three words, finding satisfaction in the way it makes me feel.

Her watery eyes connect with mine. “Thank you.”

“Babe,” I swallow the lump of emotions stuck in my throat because I know why she said what she said.

“I finally have everything I ever wanted. I love you too, Cain.”

NIGHT HAS FALLEN by the time Promise is given the all-clear to leave the hospital, and we finally make it back to the clubhouse. As I’m helping her from the truck, she asks, “Did Sadie and London stick around?”

“Yeah, babe. Riggs texted me at the hospital, while I was bringing the truck around. They’re both here.”

“Good. I think I’ll sleep better knowing they are close.” Promise falls quiet for a minute as we walk to the entrance, tucked in close to my side. “And the biker?” she waits for my reply.

“You and Piper don’t have to worry about him ever again.” Opening the door and stepping inside, we find the place quiet, with a few of the guys lingering by the bar.

“It’s unusually quiet here,” I remark as Promise and I stop by the bar.

“Everyone turned in early. Rough day for a few of them.” Riggs lifts his whiskey filled glass taking a sip. “Why don’t the two of you join us for a drink? You could use it after the day we’ve had.”

Promise, and I share a look, and my eyes fall to her stomach. “I think we’ll call it an early night ourselves.” I clasp my brother on the shoulder, before walking away from him and the others.

“Catch ya in the mornin’,” I call over my shoulder as we climb the stairs to the second floor.

“Can we stop and check on Piper?” Promise whispers just outside her bedroom door.

“Yeah, babe.” Turning the handle, we peek inside, finding her asleep in her bed with her earbuds in her ears. I close the door quietly. “Come on.” I guide Promise down the hall to my room.

Stripping her of her clothes, I slip one of my shirts over her head. “I have clothes I can go and get, Cain.”

“Don’t care, Sugar. You’re not leavin’ my sight. Besides, I like seeing you in my shirt.”

“I have to admit, I like the smell of you against my skin.” She smells the shirt then slides into bed, yawning.

I strip, slipping into bed beside my woman, pulling her close. Promise drapes her leg over mine, tucking her thigh between my legs, and rests her casted arm on my torso.

Almost instantly, her breathing becomes heavy as her exhausted body finally relaxes.

As soon as I think about it, I say it. “Marry me.”

“What?” her sleep-filled voice asks.

“Marry me.” Promise is silent for a moment, and I start to think I’ve spooked her.

“Okay.” I feel her smile against my skin.

My hold on her tightens. “Damn. Where have you been all my life?”

“Waiting for you,” Promise’s whispers.

A moment later, Promise is softly snoring. It doesn’t take long before I’m drifting off to sleep myself.

THE FOLLOWING MORNING, I wake to an empty bed and the smells of bacon and something sweet wafting through the air. How the hell did she slip out of bed without waking me?

My body feels stiff as I move from the bed. Damn, I roll my shoulders on the way to the bathroom. I don’t think I moved a muscle the entire night.

Fuck. I rub my neck, then turn the faucet on. I splash cold water on my face to aid in waking my tired ass up. After doing a little grooming and brushing my teeth, I walk to the dresser, grabbing some clean clothes from the drawers.

Dressed, I sit on the side of the bed, and lace up my boots, then grab my cut before exiting the bedroom. Heading down the hall, I shrug my cut on and listen to the voices coming from downstairs.

I find everyone gathered around the tables that have been pushed together, and the women carrying platters of food from the kitchen.

Promise smiles as she walks toward me, holding a plate stacked with pancakes. “Good morning.” She kisses me, and I deepen it.

“You snuck out again,” I smirk, gripping her ass, and pulling her closer.

“Only to help cook breakfast. You were sleeping so well. I hated to disturb you.”

I press my mouth to her ear, for only her to hear my next words. “Too bad. Because I woke up hungry—for you.” Promise’s breathing hitches.

“As far as I’m concerned, the taste of your sweet pussy is all I need to start my day off right.” My mouth lingers against her neck, and I feel her pulse against my lips.

“Jesus, Cain.” Promise’s airy whisper, as she tilts her head to the side, makes my cock twitch.

“You two lovebirds get your asses over here, I’m fuckin’ starvin’, and I’d like us to eat together this mornin’,” my brother yells from across the room.

Making him wait, I grab the back of my woman’s head, and claim her mouth with a deep passionate kiss, while giving Riggs the middle finger.

The room fills with laughter, and Promise’s lips lift in a smile at the end of our kiss. “I love your family,” she says with her lips still touching mine.

“Your family, babe.” I pull back. “And they fuckin’ love you too.”

“Damn right we do,” Kiwi speaks above the others chattering amongst themselves. “I’ll love you even more if you bring those pancakes over here.” The others laugh at his banter, and I chuckle.

“Come on.” I walk with my woman to the tables, joining the family.

“Good morning, Daddy,” Piper hugs my neck once I’ve settled in the chair beside her.

“How you feelin’, Bean?” I kiss her temple.

Piper pours syrup over her pancakes, before locking eyes with me. “I’m good, Daddy.” Then she drops her voice, low enough so only I can hear what she says.

“I know I don’t have to worry about that terrible man anymore.” My daughter searches my eyes. Without me saying it aloud, she sees the truth behind them. She knows I’ll do anything to keep her safe and is not naive to what the club does to make sure it stays that way.

I lovingly smile at my daughter, then pull her to me for a quick side hug. We say nothing more about the subject, letting it die right along with the motherfucker who did her wrong.

As we sit around the table, enjoying food and family, I can’t help but be grateful for all that I have.

At the head of the table, I watch my brother’s interaction with his daughter. Riggs lifts her pink shirt, blowing raspberries on Aria’s tummy, causing her to go into a fit of giggles.

The way his face lights up with her laughter is contagious, and I find myself smiling too. Luna sits to the side, her face just as bright with happiness as she watches her husband.

I notice Promise watching them as well when I look at her. Leaning into her, I whisper in her ear.

“Should we tell them?”

Promise tears her eyes away from my brother. “You sure?”

“Yeah, babe.”

Promise looks past me, watching Piper as she heads toward the kitchen. My woman’s eyes are filled with so much love for my daughter. Our daughter, I correct myself. Ours. God, I fuckin love the way that sounds.

Promise tells me, “I’d like Piper to be the first to know.”

Just when I thought my heart couldn’t be any fuller, my woman proves otherwise. Though I’d like to be there when she tells her, I feel this could be another bonding opportunity for the two. I rub her thigh, where my hand is resting. “Go tell her.”

Promise’s eyes water. “Me?”

“Yeah, babe. Your mine. That makes Piper yours too.” I continue to keep my voice low, not wanting the others to hear our conversation. “Go tell our girl she’s going to be a big sister, and that we’re getting hitched.”

Promise struggles to keep her emotions at bay and lightly brushes my lips with hers before standing. I watch her walk away. Looking around the table, I catch Riggs’ gaze fixed on me. He says nothing, but I feel that he knows. It’s just a connection we have. Call it twin intuition if you want.

Some people don’t believe it’s a thing, but I’d have no qualms telling anyone they don’t know what the fuck they are talking about. The connection exists. It’s been there our entire lives.

Just then, Piper burst through the kitchen door. Pushing my chair from the table, I stand, just before she barrels into me, hitting my chest like a linebacker.

Her arms wrap around my waist, squeezing with all she has. Her action causes all talking to stop, and the room stills with silence. I don’t have to look to know every eye is fixed on us. Tilting her head back, Piper looks at me, tears pooling in her eyes.

“Does this mean you’re happy?” I grin.

“It’s about time,” Piper says.

“Well, hell, don’t leave the rest of us hanging,” Tequila quips.

“Can I tell them?” Piper can hardly contain herself. Looking past her, my eyes land on Promise quietly standing a couple of feet away.

Promise nods, and I look back down at Piper. “Go for it.”

“Alright, listen up.” Piper makes a production out of it, waving her hands in the air. “I can’t believe I’m saying this.” She takes a deep breath, her excitement clear. “Promise and Daddy are going to get married, and I’m going to be a big sister!”

When I tell you, the room erupts like a bomb exploded, I’m not exaggerating. Everyone pushes from the table. The women converge upon Promise, and my brothers huddle around me, with words of congratulations.

“I fuckin knew it!” Riggs boasts, pulling me in for a hug. “Goddamn, I am so fuckin’ happy for you, brother.” It’s a brief moment between us, and his words are short and to the point, but they mean the fucking world to me.