Page 86 of Hawk's Cry

I cross over to them. She taps the bed and I slide on, putting my arms around them both. “Wraith tried to keep you and I apart. It didn’t work. Fuck, Liv. I feel sorry for him now. I fuckin’ know how horny teenage boys behave. What if Wizard and Amy have a boy?”

“Oh, God. Eli. Don’t make me laugh so hard, I’m sore. But that would be fate, wouldn’t it? History repeating itself. The prez’s son hooking up with the VP’s daughter.”

“I’m not the VP now,” I remind her, unable to take my eyes off the baby who’s my daughter, who I already love with every fibre of my being.

“You will be,” she says firmly.

She could be right. Over the past month I’ve rediscovered my place in the club and have made progress in strides with the support of my brothers around me. I’ve seen the therapist a number of times. Now I’m a father. A father. I’ve no choice but to step up, if only to make sure no boy ever goes near her.

Gingerly I reach over and pull down the blanket to look at the face that already looks perfect to me. “She’s beautiful.”

“Layla,” Liv says, decisively.

“Not Sage?” I knew that’s what she’d suggested, when I’d been ignoring everything. Over the past few weeks we’d had discussions, but of course, my suggestions had all been boys’ names. Layla’s come out of the blue, but as I try it out, I’m happy with her suggestion. “She looks like a Layla to me,” I agree.

“Have you got over the shock now?” She grins at me. “Because I think it’s time we let everyone know.”

“Do we have to?” I ask, knowing what I’ll be in for as soon as I open the door.

“We can’t hide in here forever.”

No, we can’t. I kiss Liv, then Layla. Then…

“Oh fuck, this is ace.” Wraith’s clutching his stomach. “This is what you get for defiling my little girl.” He can hardly speak for laughing.

“She’s beautiful.” Sophie rocks her granddaughter in her arms having gone straight for the baby the moment I’d let them in.

“My turn,” Sam demands.

“I’m not fuckin’ old enough to be a grandad,” my dad complains.

“Where’s our niece?” Zoey, Hilda and Eliza demand as they rush in through the door together.

“Hey, girls. Give your sister some space.” Sophie tries to corral her daughters up, but unsuccessfully.

It’s utter confusion for the next hour as brothers, old ladies, and all the club’s grown and teenage children come in to meet our new addition. When Wizard and Amy appear, I snarl at them.

“You’re keeping any son of yours a-fuckin’-way,” I tell them, loudly. My words only serve to make Wraith crack up again.

Then his face falls as he realises Layla’s his granddaughter. “Better bide by what he says,” he growls in warning.

Wizard’s eyes are dancing when he holds up his hands. “We don’t even fuckin’ know what we’re having yet,” he complains.

“As long as it isn’t a boy, we’ll be fine,” I warn him. “And if it is, we’re keeping them apart from the fuckin’ start.”

“I’ve got a shotgun,” Wraith stage-whispers beside me.

Amy rolls her eyes, pushes past and goes to Liv. “Men.”

“Men,” my wife agrees, grinning widely.

When finally the nurse comes in and clears the room, I’m left with Liv and our daughter. As my wife drifts off to sleep, I gaze down at the bundle making gentle snuffling noises in the crib.

Over-brimming with emotion, I gently touch her cheek. “You, little madam, are going to be the death of me. I know that already.” I could deal with a son, be strict, impose rules and set limits. This baby girl already has me wrapped around her little finger, and I know I’ll never be able to deny her anything.

Except a boyfriend. She’ll live as a spinster, I’ve decided that. If Wizard and Amy have a son, they won’t have a chance to grow up together like Liv and I did.

Who am I kidding?

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