Chapter 21

Breaker – One Month Later

I watchas Noah climbs up the wooden play structure, making his way to the slide in the club"s backyard.

One month after spending the night with my girl, we"re back to me sitting outside her door again, the only difference is that she"s been messaging me daily.

They started out small, asking how my day was, wondering if Noah is talking to me, and then the frequency increased.

Yesterday, she messaged me that she missed me, which is big for her. Knowing what happened when she was a child helps me understand her reasons for running, and her messaging me every day proves how much she wants us. It"s fucking progress, but it"s not enough for me. I need her to open the door, but I know it will take time, and my call with Paul proves that.

I grunt as I hit the axe against the tree, needing to try and not think of my girl or the fact that my son is still ignoring me.

My bat has vanished, Sniper taking it, knowing I"d use the axe, and the fucker has a wood burner in his house and clearly needs wood. The bag sitting nearby with his name spray painted on it proves it was him, though I don"t know when he had the time. He"s barely been at the club lately. At the same time, Tech, the fucker, looks ready to blow since his ex, Nina, popped up like an unwanted poisonous flower, causing destruction in his new relationship with Brook.

I'm swinging the axe again when my phone rings. I sigh and walk over to my cut to grab it. We"ve already had church, so I know it"s not counsel business.

I furrow my brows when I notice that it"s Paul.

"Is Quinn okay?" I answer, making him chuckle.

"She"s good. I saw her this morning."

My brows raise at his words, and I ask, "She showed?"

He hums and admits, "She did. I hugged her, and to both our surprise, she hugged me back before crying."

I grit my teeth, hating that she cried and that I couldn"t be there to comfort her.

"She was open with you, though?" I ask.

He admits, "She was. We both finally talked about the past and the fact her mother purposely made her hate me, letting that hate fester over the years. I"m not going to sugarcoat it for you, son, it"s going to take time, but she wants you." My heart pounds at his words. "She admitted to being in love with you, fuck, she even showed up wearing your hoodie. She"s agreed to see someone to help with her fears and the trauma her mother caused. If you love her like I believe you do, give her time, but don"t give up."

I blink as Noah shouts at Crow to watch him, and Crow chuckles, doing as Noah asks. Today was Quinn"s last day at the school before summer break, so rightfully, he"s blamed me and now Lola, and refuses to even look at me. She"s due to leave in two weeks to settle into her new job, but should receive an email from the school sharing their disappointment that she wouldn't be joining their staff for the new school year.

I know she"ll be mad, but I honestly don"t care. Her job at the school here is safe; we"ve ensured it with the help of all the parents. Daisy's momma, Amanda, is front and center to ensure it, and yes, Quinn has let her lease expire, but she has a home here with Noah and me; most of her stuff are still hanging in our closet.

The sooner she figures that out, the better because, fuck, do I miss her…and I miss my son.

Crow pats my back as he sits beside me. "Talk to me, son."

I shake my head, watching Noah, and admit, "I feel lost."

He sighs and asks, "Has she messaged you today?"

I nod. "She said she has a counseling session today. Paul mentioned she"s not willing to speak to her mother, and even Jack is pissed after learning the full truth of what his sister endured."

Crow growls, "The woman needs to realize she didn"t just punish her husband for his actions, she punished her daughter, too. She traumatized her, and now her daughter struggles with relationships."

I nod as Noah goes to the monkey bars. I shout, "Be careful, Bud!"but he ignores me, making me sigh. "I miss her, and I miss my son."

He grips the back of my neck as Noah cheers for himself as he gets from one side to the other. Crow rasps, "Maybe speak to Smokey and Snake about going on the next club run to clear your head. Your momma and I will take Noah."

I nod, knowing he"s right. I need to leave, I need to get my head screwed on tight because I can"t fucking breathe. I"m ready to explode, and that"s something no one wants. The last time I exploded was when I lost my dad and destroyed half the clubhouse, and Crow had to take me away for a few days.

I'm looking back at Noah to see he"s running back to the ladder for the slide when Lola stands in front of me, pissing me off. She can see I"m watching my kid, and everyone knows I don"t like to take my eyes off him when he"s on the jungle gym.

"Lola, you need to move," Crow starts, but she cuts him off and snaps, "No…it"s been weeks, Noah hates me, and you, Breaker, won"t even look at me. I made a mistake, and if this is the only time I can get you to talk to me, then so be it."

I growl, snapping my head in anger, making her step back. "A mistake? You were the main fucking reason my girl was looking for jobs out of state after you started a fucking riot at the school. I don"t want to talk to you, Lola, and Noah doesn"t, either. He looks at Quinn like a mother, and I look at Quinn like the love of my life, and you knew that, but being the spoiled club brat you are, you thought you could do what you wanted, when you wanted. You"ve treated my mother like shit all because Crow fell in love with her." Guilt shines through her eyes. "You"ve had a fantasy about us I never fucking played any part in. You don"t want me because I"m me, you fucking wanted a brother, and thought I"d be the one to turn my head in your direction, but it never would have happened. You"re entitled, and even now, you"re not giving me the space I"ve fucking asked for. Instead, you"ve decided to stand in the way while I"m trying to watch my son play. Now do me a favor and move your ass, and leave me the hell alone!"

Her eyes widen before she looks at Crow, hoping he will stick up for her. Instead, he shakes his head at her.

"You heard him, Lola."

Anger shines through her eyes before a scream echoes through the quietness of the yard, a scream that will fucking haunt me. Lola jumps and turns around as I rush past her, knocking her out of the way. My heart stops at the sight of Noah lying on the ground, crying, and holding his head as blood seeps between his little fingers.

Fuck, fuck, fuck!

"For fuck"s sake, Lola, go and get Doc now!" Crow snaps, and I race to my son.

When I get near him, I skid and gently grab his hand, removing it from his head to check the injury, and panic hits. There's a large cut on the side of his head, from his ear to the middle of his head.

Crow places the clean rag he normally carries in my hand, and I press firmly to his head.

"You"re alright, bud, I"m here, I"ve got you…." I rasp as I hold him close.

Gripping my arm, he screams, "I want my mommy!"

My eyes tear up, knowing he"s not calling for Jingles—he wants Quinn. Crow grips my shoulder.

I kiss my boy"s head as Doc runs through the backdoor, Tats and a heavily pregnant Violet rushing out behind him.

"Oh Noah, sweetheart…." Violet gasps as they approach, seeing the blood, which causes Tats to grab hold of her.

Doc kneels. "Alright, brother, slowly remove your hand for me…."

I nod, doing as asked, as my hands shake and more blood seeps from the wound. Doc inspects it, and anger etches his features as he snaps, "What the fuck happened? He"s going to need a head C.T. and stitches."

I glare at Lola, who looks down, causing Doc to chuckle darkly. "Of course, Lola wanting what she wants, not caring about others, again. Let me guess, she stood in front of you, blocking your view, so you had no choice but to listen to her?"

I nod as she sniffles, while Doc guides my hand back to Noah's head.

"I didn"t do this; he fell," she whispers, her voice laden with guilt. She knows I need my eyes on him, but she decided to take advantage of the situation, and looks to be regretting her actions.

Crow butts in, "Which most likely wouldn"t have happened if you hadn"t stood in Breaker"s view of his son playing. Go home now, Lola. We"ll discuss your actions from over the past few years later, because this shit is stopping to-fucking-day!"

I don"t look at her; I keep my eyes on my inconsolable son as Doc rasps, "All right, brother, pick him up, and let"s get him to the hospital."

I nod and gently lift my boy as he cries for his momma—for Quinn.

When I get near Crow, I look at him and rasp, "Dad," making him look at me with so much emotion, and I state, "Call Momma, please."

He nods, his eyes tearing up as I walk toward the backdoor, knowing a prospect will be right out the front.

Tats grips my shoulder with pride, knowing how much Crow means to me to give him that title when I was so close to my own father.

He"s earned it.

Twenty minutes later, I gently place Noah on the bed in the E.R. as Doc rounds up a couple of nurses, and Momma and Crow rush in. Momma goes on the other side of the bed, and Crow comes on my side. She tries to console Noah, but his cries for his momma get louder.

Momma"s eyes come my way in horror, and I know what she"s thinking, but she"s wrong.

I go to grab my phone to call Quinn, hoping she answers, when I notice a message that came through during the incident. I furrow my brows. Crow and I look down at the screen, and my heart races as he squeezes my shoulder.

My Goldie: I love you, Alex, so much, but I"m scared.

I shake my head, my eyes tearing up, everything hitting me hard as Noah screams in pain and fear.

I need my girl.

I press her name and bring the phone up to my ear, my tears are threatening to fall when a ringtone echoes in the room with me, and I look up in time to see Quinn rush into the room. I instantly sigh in relief.

Her tearful eyes come my way before Noah grabs everyone"s attention.

I look in time to see him squeezing his hands toward Quinn as he cries, "Momma!" making my mother sob in realization. Quinn"s tears fall before she rushes over to us. I stand near Noah"s head as Crow goes to Momma, while Quinn leans over, letting Noah grab hold of her as her other hand grips mine. Instantly, feel at home.