23. Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Tripp

One more fucking week and no sign of the cunt whose agenda was to harm my family. Scout pulled some strings and had her investigator friend, the same one who helped find out all the shit about Kip's soon-to-be ex-wife, look into June.

"Dad!" Star called out as the door to the hospital room opened. I turned and put my finger up to my lips before she woke my girls. "Sorry," she whispered. "Rough night?"

"They started baby girl's new meds last night and they didn't agree with her," I admitted quietly. It was fucking awful to watch her get so sick and know that there was nothing anyone could do. The only thing that made Coral feel even a little bit better was to be in her mother's arms. She didn't want a damn thing to do with me, and I guess I couldn't blame her. I'd been here a lot, but my daughter slept most of her days away. That in itself was worrisome because it felt like she was sleeping more, not less. I wasn't sure how I would handle it if she couldn't survive this fight, but there was no doubt in my mind that it would absolutely destroy my woman.

"You here by yourself?" I asked Star, wondering what she was doing here with no one following her in the room.

She shook her head. "Bagger is here, too. He went to talk to the nurses. We thought that maybe if he put his pretty face to good use and flirted a bit with the nurses they would remember seeing a strange woman around who didn't belong."

I laughed quietly and pulled my oldest daughter in for a hug. "You cool with that tactic?"

She shrugged and smiled up at me. "It's for a good cause. Besides, I'm the one he's going home with, so no harm for him to be extra friendly and hopefully get us some useful information. This bitch stays underground much longer, and I'll set the whole town on fire to flush her out."

"Let's hope it doesn't come to that."

"We're also here because I think you and Davina need a break from the hospital, especially if you had a rough night. We're going to sit here with Coral."

I interrupted Star then. "Not sure that's a good idea. Last night, the only thing that settled Coral was being in her mom's arms."

"We'll make it work, and if she is truly inconsolable, I promise to call you both immediately." My daughter turned worried eyes toward the woman I planned to build a family with. "She looks run down, Dad. Vina needs some time away from here, too. She needs a good shower, some decent food, and rest that she can't get with nurses, doctors, and visitors popping in and out of the room at all hours."

"That is for damn sure," I mentioned. The stiff neck that caused my headache was partly because we had one tiny fucking cot to share and because I was constantly startled awake all night.

"You both need some rest."

"Yeah, you look like shit," Bagger agreed as he walked through the door.

"Anything?" Star asked as she popped up on her toes to receive a kiss from her man.

"Nada. The bitch either hasn't been here or has found better disguises."

"Well, that sucks. I was hoping she'd be hiding in a broom closet or something."

Bagger and I both laughed at my daughter as she pouted about not being able to find my elusive ex as easy as opening the janitor's closet.

"Hey, what's everyone doing?" Vina asked as she walked up behind me.

"We came to give you a few hours off," my daughter stated.

"The whole night, if you're willing. We'll be here with Coral every minute," Bagger added.

"We're worried about you not getting proper rest, food, and well… You both look like shit."

"Thanks," Vina said as she rubbed her neck in almost the same spot that also bothered me. I pulled her close and started to massage the kink out for her. Immediately the memory of her massaging the knots out of my back, that first time we were together, came to mind. I smiled down at her and kissed the crown of her head. I knew exactly what to do for my woman, if I could get her to leave the hospital with me. I was going to return the favor for her.

When I finally convinced Vina that our daughter was in good hands and that we both needed this break, I took her to the truck I'd brought to the hospital.

"No bike?" She asked as I helped her in because the damn thing was lifted too high. Unfortunately, it was the only vehicle available that didn't pose a huge security risk. It was also one that June had never seen me drive, to my knowledge. That was important because I didn't have the manpower to have a babysitter sit on the truck to make sure it wasn't tampered with.

"No. Figured the truck would be safer since we don't have eyes on the bitch yet."

"I suppose you're right about that. I wish she would just choke on a fucking dick."

I sputtered out a laugh as I threw a glance her way. "Don't you think that's what she's been gagging to do?"

Vina rolled her eyes at me. "Obviously, she shouldn't choke on your dick. That would be too kind to her. She should choke on a nasty, infected, puss-filled-"

I cut her off there. "Yeah, we don't need to be that descriptive. I get the picture."

"I guess I could keep it to myself, if you're sure you don't want all the details of the revenge dick I picture that bitch choking on?" Vina teased as we pulled out of the hospital and headed toward the clubhouse. "Where are we going anyway? It feels like an age since I've been to my apartment."

"Speaking of that," I said as I reached over and grabbed her hand for reassurance. "We should get you guys packed up and have your stuff brought to the clubhouse for now. The apartment isn't safe. Besides, when we bring our baby girl home, I want it to be somewhere we can all be together. I'll have a house built for us, but it will take some time."

"A house built," she parroted. "For us?" It was a question, and at the same time it felt almost like hearing a lost little girl ask if she really got to wake up to Christmas presents waiting for her.

"Yeah, sweetheart, for us. You, me, and our daughter. Want us together from here on out."

"Do you really think June knows where I live or that she would show up there?"

I hated that she felt the need to change the subject, but I let it go knowing that my woman had a hard time accepting that she was mine now. That was something we would work through before we went back to the hospital. I wanted Vina to know in no uncertain terms that she was mine. The claim had already been made within the club, and I was just waiting on her to catch up. Normally, I would have gone a pushier route with her, but with our daughter in the hospital, she was under enough strain already.

"We have someone watching your apartment as well as the office where you worked, just in case. Figured June might try to pretend she needs some legal help to get an in to get closer."

Vina shivered visibly before she spoke. "I honestly can't understand this level of crazy. Was she always like this? You used to date her in high school. Were there no red flags back then that she was completely off her rocker?"

I shook my head. "Not back then. At least, not the way you mean. There were probably red flags that we weren't a good match and I ignored them for far too long before Kim came around. She did not take things well after Kim got pregnant, but that was another story altogether. It felt like she was justified in her anger back then and the only really crazy thing she ever attempted was to get me to go home with her and leave the girl I got pregnant to fend for herself."

"That was red flag enough. Any woman who would willingly ask you to leave your responsibilities, especially a child, behind to tend to her selfishness clearly has problems."

I chuckled at that because my woman wasn't wrong. "We weren't right for one another. The relationship we had back then, it was kids in high school hooking up and in her case, defying her parents and rebelling as much as she was able. When push came to shove and it was time for me to graduate and start working more for the club, she couldn't handle the club business aspects, me living in a clubhouse where club girls were within easy reach, and…" I stopped there because Vina flinched.

"There's nothing wrong with club girls. June's issue was that she didn't think I would be faithful to her if fresh pussy was on tap outside my bedroom door 24-7."

"I hate to break it to you, Tripp, but most women would feel that way."

"Yeah, I suppose they would. You know who didn't?"

"Who?"

"Kim. She never had issues with the girls at the club because even though we technically got together because I cheated on my then girlfriend, she didn't think I'd ever step out on her."

"Did you?" She asked.

"Never. She was right. June and I were pretty much broken up before she left for Europe that summer. Even if we hadn't had the official talk yet. I had plans to tell her we were done when she got back. Not that it's an excuse. It's just how things happened back then when we were young and a whole lot more carefree and less careful than I should have been."

"I get it. Things seem complicated and fleeting when you're that age. I'm glad you had Kim in your life and knew happiness with her. It sounds like you were a great match."

I nodded. "We were and yet we also had to work to stay that way. Relationships are harder than people let on. There are times when you forget how important the other person is and that you need to make time for them. You take things for granted and before you know it, you're sitting at a distance wondering how things changed so much and why you're not close anymore."

"That happened with you and Kim?"

The shocked tone in her voice lets me know that the history of Kim and I that got shared around the club was a version that painted everything as perfect all the time. "Marriage is work. When we realized we were slipping away from one another because of my duties to the club and hers as a mom, it took a while for either of us to really put it together that we needed to make one another a priority again or end up another sad statistic."

"It's good that you were able to do that."

"Yeah, and that's why we're going to be honest with one another about what we want and how we're feeling. Vina, if you need a break, you need to tell me. I was trying to stay at the hospital to be strong for you and our daughter, but it never really occurred to me until Star pushed for us to get some time away today that the thing you needed most was to get away."

Vina sighed and then bowed her head, as if she was ashamed of herself. "I wanted to be there and be strong for Coral, too. It feels like I'm betraying her every time I have to leave."

"You're not, though. The only betrayal would be if you wore yourself down so much that you were no longer able to be there for her. I need you to start taking breaks every day. We'll work out a rotation for who is there with Coral and it will never be someone you don't approve of."

"You're right. Neither of us can keep going like this without taking breaks."

"I don't mean to keep bringing up my former wife, but it was something Kim and I figured out later than we should have. We have to prioritize ourselves, each other, and the kids as if they're all separate things that need equal attention because they are. In our case, we also have to add in the club and your job, assuming you want to continue to work."

"I love my job. I love Gloria and Mr. Avery too. They've been there from the very beginning with Coral and me. Mr. Avery was the one who took me to the hospital when I went into labor. I can't… I couldn't leave him in the lurch. It's bad enough that I've had to take so much time off to be with Coral and then the lockdown because of June. I'm surprised he hasn't replaced me yet. I make a lousy paralegal when I'm not there to do my job."

"I think Mr. and Mrs. Avery are doing just fine while they wait on you to come back."

"How do you know that?"

"I talked to them. Someone had to explain why they had strange people camped out near their office and home. Mr. Avery called the cops a couple times. He thought it was someone he was suing on your behalf trying to intimidate him."

"Oh no! My mind has been so full of getting Coral well that I didn't even think of that. And Gloria never mentioned anything when she came to visit either."

"She probably didn't want to add to your worry. I took care of it and they're both on the lookout for June now, so that's an extra set of eyes."

"It's still hard to believe that you have an ex that is this…"

"Crazy?" I finished for her.

"Psycho," she filled in at the same time.

"It makes me want to kick my own ass for even entertaining a friendship with the woman, let alone the possibility of anything else."

Vina patted the hand I had settled on her thigh. "She was different to your face. It's what psychos do. They charm, they lie, they do whatever it takes to reach the goal they want. They eliminate the people who hinder that or find ways to sweeten up the ones who have to help with their efforts."

"You sound like you know from personal experience."

Vina sighed and turned to look at me. "I had a shitty upbringing and if it's all the same to you, I'd rather not spend our one night away talking about my miserable existence prior to me getting involved with the Savage Vipers."

"Fair enough, but eventually, we will talk about it."

"I imagine there will be plenty of time to discuss both of our families in depth."

She had me there, since I'd never willingly told anyone else about my upbringing, mom, or my father and brother – both of whom were formerly members of the club. They were probably both rolling over in their graves knowing that I was the president of the Savage Vipers MC. Then again, they had both been locked up before I ever even started prospecting for the club.

When we got to the clubhouse, Vina looked a little shellshocked to be there again.

"It's all good, I promise."

She shook her head, but I could see a sheen of tears in her eyes. "Sorry," I know it's ridiculous, but I never thought I'd be back here again."

"If it bothers you, we can go somewhere else. I'm fairly certain the apartment Mack and Viv rent out is free again."

"No, we don't have to go anywhere. Being at the clubhouse isn't a bad thing, Tripp. I just never thought… I always dreamed of making this place my home, you know?"

"You did?"

She looked up at me with a sheepish grin on her face. "You weren't the only one who had dreams of what it would be like if only that other person noticed you and took you seriously."

"I always noticed you."

"Maybe, but you didn't take me seriously because of my position as a club girl."

"It wasn't just that."

"Then what?"

"Your age, sweetheart. You're closer to my kids' ages than mine."

"We're only 14 years apart, Tripp."

"Yeah, and you're only what? Five years older than my son?"

"Whatever. I assume you realize that it doesn't matter now?" She phrased it as a question as if it was important for me to answer.

"You're right. It isn't something that matters now. It shouldn't have mattered then, but I panicked."

Davina laughed. "I think we're all entitled to a little panic from time-to-time. Lord knows, I panicked when I hauled ass out of the club after that test came up positive."

"Prez!" Someone called out. When I looked around and couldn't pinpoint who it was, I decided to nip shit in the bud.

"Listen up!" I yelled. Everyone got quiet and turned their attention to me. "As you can see, I have Davina with me. In case any of you missed the fucking memo, she is my woman. We've had a little bit more to worry about beyond getting her a property patch and ink, so it hasn't happened yet, but you will all treat her as if it already did." A few catcalls and hoots and hollers went up, but I held my hand up to silence that shit too.

"When the time is right, we'll celebrate our union. For now, we're both exhausted and in desperate need of some sleep. Aside from the food I'm about to order, I don't want to be disturbed for anything unless someone is coming to tell me they found the woman we've been looking for."

I didn't wait for responses from anyone and continued through the clubhouse and back down the hall to my room.

"You just claimed me in front of your club," Davina said, sounding as though she was in shock.

"Already claimed you with my club before. This is just the first time you heard it. Not the first time I told you that you were mine, though."

Once I had the door shut and locked, I looked at Davina and smiled. "Why don't you get undressed and lay face down on that bed?"

"I might fall asleep on you if I do that."

"That's okay, sweetheart. It's time for me to pamper you for a change." I moved to toss my cut on the desk before I grabbed my phone out of my pocket and started scrolling for the diner that was closest to us. "Gonna order some food for us. You in the mood for anything specific?"

Vina chuckled. "Anything that doesn't come out of a vending machine or hospital cafeteria will be welcome. I would almost consent to eating Brussel sprouts if someone cooked them up for me." I laughed along with her because I couldn't stand the tiny little cabbage wanna-bes either.

"They said forty-five minutes, so that's how long you get with me trying to loosen these muscles. Then I'm going to feed you, and then we're going to take a nap."

She looked a little disappointed as she asked, "Is that all?"

"Nope, you didn't let me finish. At some point, I'm going to wake you up from that nap and make love to you. Then we'll take another nap, and eventually I'm going to wake up again and want to fuck you into next week. I hope you're ready, sweetheart."

"Oh God!" She mumbled. "So ready, Tripp. So damn ready for you."

After her massage and some good southern cooking from the diner, we both fell asleep.

When I woke, it was to my beautiful woman staring into my eyes. "I thought you'd never wake up."

"You could have coaxed me awake easily enough." I reached out and moved her hand onto my already hardening cock.

"I wasn't sure how much nap time old men needed," she teased as her hand flew up and down, spreading my precum all over my head and shaft.

"Is that so?" I asked before I flipped her over onto her hands and knees. "Are you wet for me, sweetheart?"

She nodded her head, and thank fuck for that, because I was like a starved man and the only thing that could possibly quench my appetite was her. I sank my cock deep into her pussy and groaned in relief that it was finally back where it belonged.

"Make it hurt so good, Tripp," Vina demanded. "Want to feel you later when I can't have you inside me."

"You must have forgotten that you can have me whenever you want me now, Vina. No need to miss my cock inside you."

She moaned loud and low as I thrust harder into her while keeping a firm grip on her hips. Every time I pushed forward, I pulled her back to meet me. My thighs slapped against hers in a wickedly fast cadence as my beautiful woman grew slicker between her legs. She drenched me in the best way. "Are you a squirter, sweetheart?"

"No." Her answer was pushed out abruptly with my last thrust. "Yes," she whimpered on the next thrust as we both felt her gush. "May… Be…" She moaned as her body became a boneless mess in my hands.

"Stay with me, sweetheart. We aren't nearly done yet." I circled my hips as I thrust in that time and then tipped Vina's hips just the slightest bit again. When I hit her spot that time, she went absolutely nuts, wailing and crying out for more.

"God! Yes, Tripp. Fuck me just like that."

"Like this?" I asked as I dragged my cock across the sensitive patch inside of her again only to slam home once more.

"Yes, Yes, don't stop."

"Never," I answered as I continued to rock into her with a damn near brutal force. She would be wearing my finger marks on her hips for a couple days as it was, but her pussy had also taken a pounding already and she continued to beg for more.

"Tripp," she whined my name until it was nothing but an unintelligible moan. Her pussy gushed on me once more to the point where I knew the mattress was most likely ruined for the night.

"Holy fuck, sweetheart. That's the hottest fucking thing I've ever seen."

"Mmmm." I was certain that was the only thing she was capable of saying as I rode her body down into the bed and gave a few last thrusts that brought my orgasm out and had me flooding her pussy with a hot load of my come.

A knock on the door startled us both out of our post-orgasm haze.

"Who the fuck is it?"

"Grady, Prez. Wouldn't have bothered you and the misses unless it was important."

"Is it Coral?"

"No, it's the bitch. She's been sighted."

"Be there in five," I announced as I crawled off Davina and moved to grab us both a towel out of the bathroom.

"Can I come too?"

"You want to hear the update about June?"

"Of course. She's been terrorizing my – our – family. I need to know where she is and if someone is able to snatch her up."

"Our family. Don't forget that shit," I stated as I leaned in and took her mouth in a punishing kiss. "You can come with me. You're right. She isn't just a club problem, and you deserve to know what's going on. Get dressed and you can hobble your way to the office with me."

"Hobble my way…" Vina rolled her eyes as she mimicked me, and my fucking heart felt like it might explode and melt inside my chest all at once. I was gone for the woman, and her teasing nature even if she still didn't fully realize it.