Page 61 of Devil's Dilemma

I don’t know how, or why, I just do. And however Mel will have me, as a friend if not a lover, I’ll be by his side as he grows. I couldn’t feel more for that blob on the screen if I was his true father.

“I didn’t expect that,” I tell her in the car, after we get in but I’ve yet to start the engine. “I didn’t expect he’d be so well formed. He was a recognisable baby.”

“Thank God,” she says with feeling, and follows her heartfelt statement up with, “I’ll tell you what I didn’t expect.”

“What?”

“You to cry.”

“If you say one word of that in the clubhouse…” I growl.

“If I promise I won’t, will you take me there now?”

I turn to her completely thunderstruck. She’s looking a bit nervous as if I’m going to refuse. For a moment I can’t say anything. My arguments to persuade her to filling my head, I find it hard to change direction. I ask to make certain I’ve understood her.

“The compound?”

She gives a small smile. “I thought going back would remind me of Skull, then I thought your brothers would soon forget me. But they haven’t, have they? Everyone who’s visited has tried to persuade me back. The club’s still got prospects doing the odd jobs. Because I hadn’t been, I kind of lost the nerve to go. But now? Now with the physical evidence of my baby inside, knowing he’s healthy and everything looks alright, I suddenly feel confident. You were right, Ro. This baby’s got more than grandparents, he’s got you and his other uncles and aunts who deserve to know him.”

“Fuckin’ got that right, darlin’.” The corners of my mouth turn up. “I was actually under orders from the prez to kidnap you if I had to.”

“You were?” She sounds surprised Demon would give a damn.

“Too damn right,” I confirm. “You’re one of ours, Mel. Ain’t nothing changed.”

She draws in a sharp breath, and I look at her concerned, but it’s to find she’s smiling.

Inside, I’m delighted it’s the first place she wants to go.

As soon as she steps in through the door to the clubhouse, she can be left in no doubt I’d told her no lies.

“Mel! ‘Bout fucking time,” yells Ink delightedly. His words are echoed from all quarters.

“Alright, alright. She’s been fuckin’ welcomed. Now what the fuck is she having? Some of us have got money riding on this,” Lizard grumbles, while pulling her in for a hug, his actions softening his words.

I glance at her once he lets her go. We hadn’t discussed whether she wanted anyone to know. But there’s a big wide grin on her face, and she gives me a slow nod.

I’ve got permission, so I waste no time, opening my mouth to give a hearty shout of, “It’s a boy.”

Half cheers, half groans, and dollars change hands. Mel’s taking it all in good fun and laughing.

“Congratulations, Mel.” Demon’s stepped up to her, expectantly holding out his hand palm up.

Mel stares down, wondering what he’s doing. It’s not positioned as though he expects her to shake it. I know exactly what he wants, so I slide the envelope out of my cut and extract the photo.

“Jeez. Hehasgot a dick,” Demon’s says, holding the picture close.

“Let me see…” Beef takes it out of the prez’s hands. “That’s a dick? Hope that’s going to fuckin’ grow.”

“Beef!” Steph, who’s hanging onto his arm snorts, while grinning accurately in Mel’s direction. “Of course it will grow. Just like the rest of him. How big is he now, Mel? Describe him to me. What does he look like? Can you see fingers and toes?”

Letting go of Beef, with one hand on Max’s harness, she beckons Mel to follow her into the kitchen where the rest of the women are getting dinner prepared.

The fact there will be another baby boy on the compound seems a topic of awe for my brothers. Maybe because in some ways it makes up for the loss of Skull. Something of him that will still remain proving that part of him lives on. As I watch and listen while they pass that photo around, I wonder if at some point in the far future, that baby will become a man taking his seat in church. One never knows.

“Hey, where’s that picture? We haven’t seen it yet.”

Paladin takes it from Mace and passes it to Jay, who spares a quick kiss for her man, then disappears back into the kitchen.

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