He shakes his head slowly and smiles. “I can see right through you, Luke. You’re as protective of her as I was when I met Isabella.” A fond smile curls his lips when he thinks of his fiery upstart of a wife. “Just be patient. She’ll need time to heal.”
I voice the fear that eats at my belly. A fear I could only speak of to Raiden. “But what if she doesn’t want me? I’m only half a man. How can I give her what she needs?”
Raiden snorts. “You’re more of a man then most men I know, Luke. If she can’t see that, then she’s not worthy of you.”
He squeezes my shoulder, and I’m left wondering if he’s right. Could I ever have a chance with Isla? Would it even be fair to her to expect her to be with a man like me?
I shake the thoughts from my head. That doesn’t matter now. The important thing is getting Isla help, and with the MC rallying for her, we’ll have her catching up on the sleep she needs in no time.
4
ISLA
My eyes flicker open, and the first thing I notice is how quiet it is. I sit up quickly and the basinet is empty. Panic tightens my chest until I remember Danni tiptoeing in at five-thirty this morning and taking the crying Cody from the crib.
She gave me a smile and told me to go back to sleep as she carried him out of the room, his cries getting softer as she moved down the hall.
For the first few mornings I couldn’t bear my baby being taken away by strangers, and I worried he wouldn’t drink the milk I’ve been expressing and keeping in bags in the fridge. The first morning I followed Danni down the stairs, sure my baby would need his mother.
But the little guy soon settled, and Danni expertly fed him from a bottle and changed his diaper and kept him entertained with bright plastic toys from a box in the club nursery room. I did not expect a motorcycle club to have a brightly decorated room full of toys for kids of allages and a nursing chair. Shows how much I know about MCs.
The women have been doing shifts to help, but Danni seems to be the one Cody settles the quickest with.
This is the first morning I’ve been able to go back to sleep after she takes him, content with the knowledge that my baby is just fine without me for a few hours.
I stretch luxuriously, enjoying the big soft bed and the experience of waking up on my own rather than to Cody’s cries.
How long has it been since I got to sleep in? I check my phone and it’s just after seven, which is sleeping in for me now that I’m a mother.
There’s a message from Ian, and my gut twists when I see his name.
When are you coming back?
I worked up the courage to call Ian two days ago and told him it was over. He yelled at me and told me I was embarrassing him by calling off the wedding, which confirmed I’m doing the right thing.
He never once mentioned he missed me or Cody.
I haven’t told him where I am. He’s still mad and a mad Ian could be dangerous, especially if I’ve embarrassed him, which he thinks I have. He’s been messaging me ever since.
I put my phone down and try to block out all thoughts of Ian.
Now that I’m getting more sleep, my mind is clearer. I have no doubt I made the right decision to leave. But I need to find a way to support myself and Cody for the long term, and I refuse to go begging to Ian for help.
Which means finding a job, preferably one that will be flexible around looking after my son.
I grab a shower and wash my hair, enjoying taking my time. I shave my legs for the first time in weeks and moisturize them afterwards. I’m not sure who it was that stocked the bathroom cabinet, but I have to find out and thank them. My legs are silky smooth, and I feel like a proper woman for the first time in weeks.
I towel dry my hair, but I’ve already been too long, so I don’t use the hair dryer. I need to get downstairs to see my baby and relieve Danni from her duties.
I still can’t believe how kind everyone has been. Luke organized a rotation of help, and all the women are pitching in. I’ll never be able to thank them enough.
Which is why I need to find a job and a place to live and get back on my own two feet.
I head downstairs and follow the sounds of children’s laughter to the playroom. It’s a testament to how family oriented this MC is that they have a room in their HQ that’s for kids.
Luke is in his wheelchair with a little boy, Marco, whom I’ve learned is the club President’s son, on his lap. He reads him a story that he’s too young to understandbut the toddler stares up at Luke in wonder, giggling at the funny voices he makes.
Danni’s kids sit on cushions around Luke stacking colorful blocks into towers and knocking them down again.
