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A warm, callused hand slides over her belly, his fingers barely brush mine. He doesn't pull his hand back, though, and my heart races at the contact.
Jude Walker might be as boring and reliable as they come, but he isstupidlyfucking hot.
About two minutes later when the belly starts to move he grips my hand, sliding it down. He holds his hand over mine, making sure I feel where the baby wiggles.
"I know you're awake," he whispers.
My eyes pop open and he quirks an eyebrow at me, staring straight into my eyes. He bites his lower lip.
"She loves you," Jude whispers, clearing his throat. His hand leaves Baby's belly and slides up, brushing my hair out of my face. "That baby will love you, too. Good or bad, worthless or the best parent in the world…" He pauses. "Kids can't tell. Not at first anyway. They love unconditionally. It's time to clean up your act. If you love her half as much as I think you do, then stop messing around. Be the guy they know you can be."
My mouth opens and closes a few times as his thumb brushes over my cheek. He studies my face. He's so damn sincere. My throat closes up. I can't think of a single smart-ass thing to say.
"You need to get clean and stay that way. I grew up in a pack. My dads are a team. Things will never work if we aren't a unit. Vince is a hard-ass, but he's also one of the best guys you'll ever meet. Let us be here for you," he says as his eyes stare into mine.
He's so fucking earnest, it's ridiculous.No one has faith in me, except for Baby and Issac. My whole life I've been the unreliable fuck-up, but Iwantto be better. I want Baby to feel safe with me. Disappointing people is also gettingreallyfucking old.
"I meant what I said," Jude whispers. "She loves you. Don't fuck it up by continuing to play games."
I nod, licking my lips. Jude's thumb brushes over my cheek and he grins at me. His hand slides down, cupping mine where the baby is still wiggling. He doesn't let go of my hand. No. Thetwo of us frame Baby, wide awake, and pretend to be asleep when Issac pokes his head in the door.
Chapter Twenty-One
Issac Matthews
Taking in the scene, I don't say anything. It's not a bad thing seeing them all cuddled up together. It's going to take a whole lot of sticking around to prove we don't need anyone but her. It motherfucking kills me that she doesn't think she's as worthy as an omega. It makes me want to snatch up a big ol' handful of her hair and spank her ass until she wakes up to reality.
Not all alphas want the constant nagging responsibility of an omega. I realize that might sound shitty.
I love Kitten on some level that's not romantic, but also isn't purely friendship. There's not really a word to describe it. Mostly, I just give a fuck what happens to her and want the best for her. Kitten is family, but having a chick who constantly needs me to help her make decisions? That shit would drive mefucking insane. She ended up with the right guys.
I never thought I'd see the day when Lachlan fucking York settled down with one woman. Not that we knew each other well, but we'd crossed paths enough over the years that I have a clear understanding of who he was.
Getting to see him now? That shit blows my fucking mind. He completely changed. I think knowing Kitten counts on him,needs him to look out for her, that shit helped him grow up. Real fucking quick.
Guys like Rooker Jacobs and Griffin Stone, do best leading and when they're looking out for those around them. That's one type of alpha, but I'm the other. I find independence and strength a huge aphrodisiac. It's why I've always been captivated by Love.
All the way back to that first night I met her. She was stuck in a bad neighborhood with her car shut off and her phone without service. But she wasn't crumbling. She might have been scared out of her fucking skull, but she was still feisty.
She's been that way the entire time I've known her. No matter what comes her way, she doesn't back down. Not even to her asshole father. When his plan to force her to come to heel failed, he branched out into other methods.
"I'm twenty-one years old," Love hisses. "You can't drag me home to daddy."
"Ma'am, your father is concerned about your well-being," the officer says calmly.
"Right." Love chuckles derisively. "He's concerned about his public image."
"You're really going to need to come with us," the other officer says, frowning at the three of us.
"Yeah, that's not happening," Dexter says, popping up at Love's side. "Why exactly are you fucking with us?"
"Back up, sir," dick number one says.
Dex and I are hot and sweaty. We just finished a performance inside the club they dragged us out of. It's total fucking bullshit. We're being detained in an alley because Love's father is pissed she didn't run back home to him.
"Right, listen," Love says, crossing long arms over her chest. "I'm legally an adult. My father might not like who I'm keeping company with…" She rolls her eyes heavenward. "But let's behonest, that's not exactly up to him, now, is it? Y'all have far more important things to do with your time. I'm good, as you can see. I'm not on drugs or intoxicated. I'm here of my own volition. Please don't let me keep you from getting back to actual police work. Thank you for your time. I'm sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused."
Officer number two grabs Love's arm, twisting it behind her back. I growl, but I don't move. I know better. We're in the heart of the South. I've seen how these things can play out. I watch them very carefully, though.
