Chapter 7 Grim

D ecember 20 th —

“This fucking sucks,” Rael complained, sinking onto the leather couch beside me in the bar, watching his sons as they decorated sugar cookies and gingerbread people on a nearby table. Sprinkles and icing covered the whole surface, some of the sticky goodness smeared on their clothes and faces.

“Babysitting?” I asked with humor. “They’re your kids, Rael.”

He sighed. “It’s not the boys.”

Oh. I knew what he meant now. “Still receiving gifts?”

Rael snorted. “They’re not presents.”

“I’m gonna argue with you. They’re boxes with hidden goodies left on your doorstep addressed to you. That’s the definition of a gift, brother.”

“Don’t be a dick,” he whined, laying his head back.

“Don’t be a dick,” Gavin and Gage repeated in unison.

I snickered, nudging Rael. “Your twins are young and impressionable. You should watch your language, S.A.A.”

He sighed. Again. “I know.”

I almost felt bad for him, but Rael brought this shit on himself. Besides, I was still pissed at him for the shit he pulled over the summer. Trish could have been hurt. He never should have allowed her to leave when there was an active threat against her and the club. “You don’t have any idea who’s dropping the gifts off?”

“No,” he growled. “It’s a fucking mystery.”

“What about security footage? You’ve got the cameras recording day and night, right?”

“Already checked them. I can’t tell shit from the video. It’s someone wearing all black and covered from head to toe. I don’t think the body type is a woman. So I don’t know fuck all except for that.”

Hmmm. I didn’t know and preferred to stay out of it. Whoever Rael pissed off, and there were too many to name, had a reason for what they were doing. As long as no one got hurt, I saw no reason to get in the middle of it. My Reaper sensed another member or two of the club were getting even.

Karma was a bitch.

“You’re smirking,” Rael observed. “Fuck. You know, don’t you?”

I shrugged.

“Fuck, Grim. Tell me. I’ll make this shit right.”

“Nope. Not gettin’ involved. Already told you that.”

“Fuck. I can’t figure it out. Every member of the club is talking and laughing about it, especially that fart spray. I can’t tell shit.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t provoke your brothers and start shit,” I deadpanned. “Then you wouldn’t be in this position.”

“I know,” he grumbled.

Gavin threw icing and sprinkles at Gage, and he shrieked as some of it got in his eye. A shrill wail followed.

“Daddy!”

Rael rushed to his twins, scooping them up before heading to the bathroom. Judging by the mess, he’d be cleaning them up for at least fifteen minutes.

“HOW DO YOU THINK THE guys are doing?” I asked, trying not to moan as the masseuse rubbed my swollen feet. I didn’t have ankles anymore, I had cankles. “I’m still not convinced they could handle all the kids alone.”

Sasha snorted. “Bodie is probably covered in markers and crumbs from Maverick’s snacks.”

“I bet Rael fell asleep,” Nylah laughed. “The twins exhaust him. If not, he’s running ragged after them as they create another mess.”

“Gavin and Gage are a handful like Creed,” I agreed. “Do you think we’ll walk into a disaster?”

“Without a doubt,” Mimi agreed. She pressed her hands to her chest. “I need to pump. My breastmilk supply is crazy good, but I leak like a faucet all the damn time.”

She was thrilled, though. I could see it. “Patriot is so happy to have another son, especially a child that shares his DNA. He’s already talking about trying for another one.”

“So is Bodie,” Sasha sighed. “I love that he’s so enthusiastic.”

“Oh, they have no problem with that,” Bess agreed. “Papa just wants to practice all the time.”

Giggles erupted around the room. Yeah, we talked about this while we all lounged on massage tables. Who cared what other people thought? We didn’t. The Tonopah Ol’ Ladies weren’t going to censor our conversation just because we were in public. The only exception to that was any talk of the Reapers or club details.

We finished our afternoon at the spa and headed home. I could barely stand on my own, and Sasha laughed as she helped me get out of the car.

“You look like you’re going to go into labor any minute.”

“Tell that to my cervix,” I deadpanned. I was a week beyond my due date. My baby boy didn’t want to come out and meet his brother yet.

“I think you should say that to Grim.”

Ha. Or Ghrowl. He would enjoy trying to bring on my labor through sex. Grim would worry too much.

I noticed the decorations outside the clubhouse as we rode onto the lot, followed by a couple of prospects who stayed and provided escort to and from the spa. When I first met Grim, he didn’t celebrate many holidays. Now, the whole club participated in any event I wanted. My man spoiled me, and I loved it. My gaze flicked over the colorful lights strung up outside around the covered picnic area and the roof of The Crossroads. The festive décor made me smile. I loved this time of year.

Grim ordered Rael to put up the inflatable biker Santa Claus with several presents, a snowman, and a few reindeer. He also had to decorate the inside with the prospects. Nine months after Rael took me to the pharmacy after Grim ordered me to stay at The Crossroads because of Razr’s threats, he still had to do shit for Grim. Rael managed to keep on his president’s shit list the whole year.

Most of the guys got a kick out of seeing Rael grovel. Grim never relented. Well, he was coming around in the last few weeks.

Sasha held onto my elbow and glanced at my belly. “I could swear you’re ready to pop.”

“Ugh, don’t say it like that.”

She giggled as we reached the clubhouse door. We headed inside and. . . into chaos.

Wrapping paper, tape, and rolls of ribbon were scattered across the floor. Food scraps. Crumbs. Candy wrappers.

Holiday cookies from the bake-off we recently had. Open bags of chips and pretzels. Multiple strands of lights, some plugged in and twinkling, others unlit. Bows had been pressed all over the common room on furniture, kids, and some of the club members. A few toys and unwrapped presents were now on display. Two games were open. One already had pieces missing.

The only thing I didn’t see? Alcohol.

All the dads looked dazed, slumped back on several of the leather couches. Not a child remained awake. They had all probably crashed after the sugar rush wore off. Gavin and Gage slept on a blanket close to Rael’s feet. Creed must have been upstairs, tucked into bed. As I caught the big tree in the corner, covered in spray-can cheese sauce, I frowned.

“What in the actual fuck?” I asked as my gaze slid over Grim.

He opened his mouth and then promptly shut it. No defense.

Rael shrugged, a look of defeat on his features as he snuck a glance at Nylah.

Bodie held his son and pretended to nod off.

Patriot scratched the back of his neck. He finally leaned back, accepting defeat after Mimi’s glare. At least he held the baby, peacefully sleeping in his arms.

Papa was the only man left standing. He ate popcorn from a bowl, tossing buttered pieces into his mouth. “I arrived in time for this shit show. I’m plannin’ to watch how it ends.”

Bess shook her head, amused.

“I asked for one night, Dex.”

He cringed. “My goddess, the love of my life.”

Rael snickered.

Patriot cuffed him on the back of the head. “Shut the fuck up.”

“Ow. Fuck. I didn’t say anything.”

“You were thinkin’ about it.”

I rolled my eyes. Would Rael ever grow up?

“I want this cleaned up by morning.”

Grim nodded. “It’ll get done.”

“Not the prospects either.”

Bodie sighed. “We’re fucked.”

Yeah, probably.

“Babe, why don’t you go put your feet up? You probably need to relax. I’ll make you a cup of hot cocoa.”

I opened my mouth to reply when I felt a sharp pain in my stomach, and then it hardened. Oh, ouch . My eyes slid shut as I breathed through the contraction, recognizing what my body was doing since I’d gone through it already with Creed.

There was a tiny pop, and then fluid gushed out of me in front of everyone. A clear puddle appeared below my feet. My water broke! My eyes closed as I sighed. Now I had to change clothes.

Grim rushed to my side as my eyes opened, searching his anxious but excited expression.

“Babe, our son is finally coming.”

“Yeah,” I agreed. “Finally.”

His lips tipped upward into a grin. “We need to get to the hospital.”

“It’s an hour away.”

“That’s why we’re leaving now.”

“But I’m all wet.” Yeah, I realized how that sounded a little too late. Luckily, no one snickered.

“Okay. We’ll do that real quick, and then we’ll be on our way. Yeah?”

“Alright.” Another contraction ripped through me, and I held my stomach, breathing through it.

“Babe. We need to hurry. He’s not waiting.”

No, I didn’t think so either. Now that he decided to be born, my son wasn’t wasting time.

Grim began shouting orders as people scrambled. Parents rushed to their kids, and club members hopped to do their president’s bidding. I felt my world tip as Grim picked me up.

“Hey, my mate.”

Ghrowl.

“Yes?”

“Time to meet our baby.” He winked and pressed a kiss to my forehead. “I’ve thought of a name for our son.”

“Oh? Tell me.”

He glanced at Papa, who froze. Somehow, he already knew what my G.G., Ghrowl and Grim, would say.

“Colter.”

The room around us silenced as everyone stopped talking and moving. Members all glanced at Papa, who sniffled. Years ago, Papa lost his son in a terrible accident. He’d been young. Only seventeen.

“Papa, is that okay? I’d love to name our baby after your wonderful son and honor his memory.”

Papa’s hand hovered over his heart, and he nodded. “Yeah.”

I clutched at my belly and groaned as Grim raced toward the door, abandoning the idea of grabbing clothes and helping me change. We didn’t have the time.

“Hey,” he whispered as we left The Crossroads, and he gripped my hand. “You’ve got this, Babe. I fucking love you.”

“I love you, too.”

He kissed my temple. “Merry Christmas, my Trish.”

The next contraction hit, and I never got the chance to answer.