Page 68 of Embracing the Consequences

Marcos froze, arm halfway extended, and frowned. “Like he knew all along he was my father?”

“Not in the sense of who you were exactly, more that he suspected Carlita lied about the paternity test to stay with Vince for his money and that you were out there somewhere, another son of his,” Johnny elaborated. “He never saw Carlita again after she told him Vince was the father.”

Marcos was speechless as Johnny handed him the journal.

“You can have that.” Johnny nodded toward the book.

“Thanks,” Marcos said, tucking it into an inner pocket on his cut.

Kara smiled at her boys. After all the twisting turns life had thrown their way, she was glad for the peace between her brother and her guys. She was grateful they could get along and appreciated the fact that they all seemed to do it for her sake. Most of all, she was glad to have each and every one of them in her life and that they were all healthy and whole and together.

“Alright, Miss Kara.” The jovial doctor grinned as he walked into the room, clipboard in hand.

Kara forced a smile. She’d been in the hospital two days now. She was hungry, exhausted, and irritated. She just wanted to go home and sleep in her own bed.

“I’ve got good news!” He beamed. “Discharge papers are right here. I passed your nurse on my way and let her know. She’ll come help you pack up.” He glanced around. Her boys had already packed up everything they had brought, which wasn’t much since they hadn’t even planned on being there this long.

The doctor chuckled a bit. “Alright, well in that case, I have one last thing, a gift if you want it.” He smiled. “I have the blood test results. I can tell you the sex of your baby, if you’d like?”

“Yes!” All three of her guys shouted immediately.

Kara laughed. “Oh, I don’t know.” She hummed, looking over at her boys with a playful smirk. She could see their faces falling.

“Babe, puh-lease!” Kevin said, standing up from his chair and walking toward her.

“I’ll get on my knees and beg if I have to,” Derrick added, also walking over.

“You owe us,” Johnny said, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Oh?” Kara snapped and crossed her arms over her chest. Leave it to Johnny to get her riled up. “How the fuck do I owe you?” she demanded.

Johnny smirked, knowing damn well he was getting under her skin. He fucking lived for it. He nodded as a smirk tugged at his lips. “For your father.”

Kara rolled her eyes as understanding dawned on her.Because I didn’t let them kill my father. She laughed and shook her head. “Alright, Johnathan. You win, as always.” She turned to the doc with a smile. “Let’s hear it, Doc. What are we having?”

The doctor had a wide grin on his face when he glanced around the room and said, “It’s a girl!”

Kara cracked up as, one by one, each of her men fell to their knees around her bed. Their astonished looks of disbelief would be forever burned into her brain.

They had a whole new life to look forward to, and Kara could not wait.

Kara looked around thebackyard at all the people she had come to love over the last year. The Ravager Knights mingled with the Devil’s Psychos, old ladies mixed with some of her girlfriends from the office and college, kids ran around or were passed around from parent to parent.

Her men were not too far away, tossing bags in a game of cornhole.

Music played and laughter rang through the air. The scent of the roasting pig carried on the wind, making everyone hungry.

Kara had her feet propped up on a lounge chair, as her ankles were swelling in the unseasonably warm early spring. Her nephew Lucas sat beside her talking a mile a minute. “Do you think we can go swimming after dinner?” he asked.

Kara laughed. “You don’t have to wait until after dinner. Go now. Get the kids and go!” she suggested.

“Heck yes! Yo, Ryan!” Luke yelled and went chasing after a boy further out in the yard.

Maya laughed next to Kara. “They won’t get out once they’re in.” She smiled.

Kara laughed. “Then maybe I’ll get some peace and quiet.”

“You won’t.” Maya shook her head, her smile in place. “They’ll be screaming and roughhousing in three seconds.”

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