Page 4 of Rebel

I hear Atlas yelling so I look down and can’t believe it. The baby is half in and half out. Yoggie is pulling the cord off its neck, and Shadow is holding one shoulder. Meanwhile, Atlas rotates the baby one way, then the other, until the other shoulder literally pops out. In less than a second, Atlas has the baby out, and instead of a crack on its tiny wrinkly ass, he’s rubbing up and down its back. Then he looks to the parents and smiles.

“Congratulations. It’s a baby girl. Dad, want to cut the cord?”

Enforcer looks at Atlas then me and shakes his head.

“Let Rebel do it. I’m good where I’m at.”

Atlas gives me what looks to be some sort of scissors and shows me where to cut between some clamps. When I do, I feel wet rolling down my face. Shit. When I look up, Shadow and Tink are wiping their faces.

“What’s her name, Mom and Dad?”

Taz and Enforcer both look to Atlas for a second then she leans back, whispering in his ear. They look at each other and kiss first, then look back to Atlas.

“Doc, her name is Michelle, but we’re going to call her Mickie.”

My mouth falls open as my eyes fill even more. No way, they’re naming their baby girl after me.

“Rebel, didn’t think taking your club name was right, so Travis and I talked and this is what we came up with. Hope you don’t mind?”

I shake my head as I have no words. When Atlas grabs Mickie from Taz’s tummy and gets done cleaning the baby best he can and fumbles with whatever he does, he then shows Enforcer why he wanted him to take his shirt off. This is after Taz has gotten out of the water and so did her ol’ man. Atlas gives Mickie to her daddy, who then places her on his bare chest. The look on his face is beyond priceless and when I look, Shadow is snapping pics. She looks my way and grins. Yeah, this is truly a once in a lifetime moment that we are so totally blessed to be a part of.

Finally, we hear the sirens and not too long after paramedics come running down the hall apologizing, saying they were stuck in traffic due to an accident shutting down the highway. Everyone in the hallway is waiting on news. No one says a word until Enforcer in his boxers leans out into the hallway and screams loudly for all to hear.

“It’s a fuckin’ baby girl. Our princess, Mickie, has arrived.”

Seems like the paramedics know Atlas, well, at least the female one does. Once Taz and Mickie are all bundled up on the gurney, they wheel her out as everyone cheers. I look at the bloody water and the shit on the outside on the floor. Damn, I feel dizzy for some reason. What the fuck?

“Sit down, Rebel. Adrenaline can drop pretty fast. Hey, can someone grab me a bottle of water?”

I hear the little feet running down the hall. Atlas moves quickly to the doorway.

“Hey, guys, give me a few minutes then we can go. I’ll take you for ice cream if you wait and be good. We got a deal?”

They nod and the little ones run back to the kids’ room while the older one looks at his dad.

“All good, Dad?”

“Yeah, Son, she had a baby girl.”

The kid smiles then turns and leaves. Atlas turns back to me with a bottle of water in his hands.

“Drink all of this. Now to even up. I did you a favor helping your friend out, so when do you want to go to dinner?”

I look at him like he has two heads. What the fuck is he talking about? So I ask. He smiles that sexy as shit smirk my way. Bet he’s gotten a lot of women to spread their legs just with that. Sorry to disappoint, but it takes a whole hell of a lot more than a smile for me to open my legs.

“Don’t remember our deal? I help and you go to dinner with me. Can’t back out now. I’ll give you a day or two, but we are going to dinner, Rebel, or should I call you, Michelle?”

I feel nauseated when he says that name. No one, and I mean not a single soul, calls me that anymore. If anything, I go by Mya. I’ve even changed it legally.

“Atlas, don’t ever call me that name again. And as grateful as I am for what you did for Taz, ain’t no way in hell I’m going to dinner with someone who’s head won’t fit through any of the restaurants’ doors in town. It’s just too damn big and cocky.”

He throws his head back and laughs. Then his eyes get serious when he leans close.

“We’ll see, Rebel. Something you should know about me is, sweetheart, I always get what I want. See ya around, Feisty Rebel.”

I watch him leave as a weird feeling takes shape in my stomach. I’ve come too far to fall for a good-looking, sexy guy who’s full of himself. That ain’t ever happening. Though I didfeel my nipples harden and my girlie garden start to tingle. Fuck it, not happening, no matter how gorgeous his eyes are. He’s a dad of three boys and, shit, he could be married or have a partner. Besides, I’m good by myself. I’ve got my business, club, and sisters, which is all I need right now, or I try to convince myself as I get busy with cleaning up everything so I can go see my goddaughter.Mickie isprobably the closest thing I’ll ever come to having my own childis my thought as I pick up all the soiled towels and sheets.

TWO

---