Page 59 of Rage’s Rose

“Would you like to hold him after I burp him?”

“Well, I can burp him if you want, while I hold him. I’m a pro.”

I look over at Rage and he laughs.

“Yeah, dad’s a real pro, his oldest is twenty nine and his youngest is two.”

My eyes widen at the thought of kids that are many years apart as Devil walks over to the bed to grab Reid from me.

“Not all of them have the same mamas. I made some poor choices when I was younger and some women that did not share they were pregnant with me. My three oldest are twenty nine, Rage here is twenty seven and then Trevor is nineteen. The next child I have with my wife is twelve. So they have a seven year age gap. So it is crazy, but there is definitely a break in there. But I promise, sweetheart, I do know what I’m doing.”

I nod my head and hand Reid over to Devil. I watch as he places the baby up on his shoulder and begins to pat him on the back to burp him. Reid looks so tiny in this man’s arms. He is a little bigger than my dad, but not much. It just is a much different sight seeing the father of your baby daddy holding your son for the first time.

“Okay now that we got your family tree, can you tell us what the hell you are doing here?”

“We wanted to let you know that there is a situation. We’ve got a couple of club girls running around and they seem to be a couple who are working with your stalker based on the photos that you received earlier today. Our tech is working on their phones to see if we can find anything that will help us figure out who is stalking you. Until we find them though, we are keeping some brothers here at the hospital and at your home to make sure you are protected. We just wanted to give you a heads up that they will be here, they will be following you home to make sure you guys are all okay.”

“And if I say no.”

Before anyone can answer, Brynley chimes in.

“Come on, Rose. Do not be like that. You need to think of not only your safety, but also Reid’s safety. If Rage wants to help look out for you both it is his right. He is the father of your baby whether you like it or not. I know situations suck right now, but I really think it is important for you to have them there.”

“Yeah, well I feel like it is important to have my freedom too and I don’t think by having fucking shadows all the time I will have that.”

Rage steps forward, “They are not there to monitor what you do, they are not going to report anything back to me. They are just there in case something happens. They are there to make sure you are safe and protected. I would never expect them to give me information about where you go or who you are with. Unless you're in danger. You are not being chained or kept from doing anything. I just want you both safe.”

He glances at Reid before returning his eyes back to mine.

“I think it is a good idea, Rose. I talked to your Uncle Declan and some of the guards he brought with him are going to be staying close too, but I would feel better if you had the extra protection. If something happens at least there is a club of men that is close by that can get to you quicker than we can. Unless you want me and some of your brothers to stay until this son of a bitch is caught.”

I sigh and I’m not going to lie. I am extremely annoyed.

“Fine. I will do this for Reid. But I’m telling you, you have nothing to worry about. I don’t know why those bitches would come here or after me for that matter.”

“Because, darlin’, you are the mother of Rage’s baby.” Devil says.

“Exactly, that is all I am.”

“That might be how you feel, but I can assure you, sweetheart. My son feels differently.”

I scoff and look back at Rage, “Is there anything else? Because honestly having to deal with more drama from your whores feels like too much for someone who told you that all we are to each other are coparents. I mean I told you that forever ago. Now we are here and you’re worried about them coming after me. Which ones are they?”

“Sin and Ash.”

“Lovely. I’m really surprised it isn’t Kitty. That bitch has been a nightmare since the first time you brought me to the clubhouse. Should’ve been a red flag, but my ass is too stupid.”

No sooner than the words are out of my mouth and Rage is up next to my bed putting his hand on my chin and forcing me to look at him.

“No, you are not stupid. Do not ever put yourself down because of things I did. Those are my stupid fucking mistakes to take responsibility for. You trusted me with something precious and baby, I took advantage. I fucked up. I know. I regret everything I said and the things I think I did when I was drunk. But that does not make any of it better. I regret how I went about things, I regret hurting you, but I could never regret you because without you there would be a part of me that still is in that dark space in my head. I would still be angry and so full of fucking Rage I don’t know what to do with it. You made me look at myself differently and that scared me. I do not want you to put my mistakes on your shoulders. You are not stupid for giving me your trust. I am stupid for being the idiot to break it. I have so much more to say, but I think today has been a lot. I’m going to leave after I say goodbye to our son. You are going to text me your address so Mason and I can move into the guesthouse. I love you, Rose. More than I can even say.”

My breathing is coming out fast and I can’t even comprehend everything he is saying. He’s said he loves me before, but that, everything else, he’s never said that. The part of my heart that is stupidly not closed off from this man flutters with hope. Hope, that he is the man I thought he was. But I shut it down so fast that he can’t see it before he leans up and places a kiss on my forehead. He lingers there for a moment with his lips pressed against my head that I feel like he is never going to let go. But he finally steps back and walks to his dad, taking Reid from his arms.

“Alright my little man, I’m going to go. You be good for your mama okay? I love you, buddy. So so much.”

I watch as he kisses Reid’s head and walks him back to me. He hands Reid to me, his hand lingering where mine is touching the baby. He makes eye contact with me as if he is trying to communicate so much more with that look than I know what to do with. He doesn’t say anything else before he turns and heads out the door.

“Well I’ll be damned.” My dad says next to me.