Chapter One

"S ir, you can't go in there," the nurse says, trying to keep me from the room where I know my child is being born.

I've never hit a woman, but at this moment, I consider it. No one is going to keep me from my child.

The door opens, and Killer steps outside.

He frowns when he sees me, but it quickly turns to anger. "You? I will kill you with my bare fucking hands."

"I'm well aware, but we both know your daughter called me and asked me to be here. My child is in there being born. So are you going to stand in my way, or am I going to fight you until death if I have to in order to see my child?" I ask, my voice teetering on the edge.

I'm trying to stay calm, but if he doesn't move, I will do what I have to. The only way I am going to miss this birth is if I'm six feet under.

He looks like he's considering it, but then he sighs.

"We are going to have a chat about this, Colt. She's been asking for you. I mean, I assume you're Spencer."

"Yes, sir."

"Right. Get in there and don't make me regret it."

I don't waste another second. I fly into the room, cozying up to her side in a heartbeat.

"You made it," she cries.

I brush her sweat-soaked blond hair back from her face.

"Of course I did. I wouldn't miss it for the world."

"Oh good. Is this dad?" A doctor in a white coat walks in.

"It is," Kaitlyn whispers.

"You're just in time. Samantha says you are ten centimeters dilated. Do you feel like you need to push?

"Yep," she manages to breathe out.

"Good. Well, we are going to push then. I read you want to do a squatting birth. Let's get the bar ready."

I watch as they position a bar, then get her leaning on it. I put my hands on her, steadying her. Killer is on her other side doing the same thing while her mother stands next to him, whispering words of encouragement.

Then the doctor tells her to push. She screams, "I can't. It hurts," as she's pushing. When she's done, she cries.

I glance over at Killer, but he is at a loss for words too. Leaning down, I kiss Kaitlyn's brow.

"It's okay. You can do this. You are the strongest woman I know. You grew this amazing baby inside of you for nine months. Now they are ready to meet us. This pain will be over in no time, and when you hold our baby in your arms for the first time, none of this will matter."

She glances up at me, tears in her eyes, but she nods. Then she hunches over and pushes again.

She does this several times before the doctor finally praises her, telling her she did it.

Then the most beautiful sound rings in the room.

The cries of a newborn baby. My own eyes tear up as I look at Kaitlyn.

"Mama, you did it. You gave us that."

She smiles, tears freely falling. Then the nurse is at my side, helping her lie back. Killer averts his eyes as they pull her gown down, putting the baby right on her chest.

"Congratulations, parents. You have a baby boy."

I stroke the back of the baby's head as I stare. This is my child. The single most important thing in my life.

Then I look at Kaitlyn. Maybe not single. My little mama and my baby boy. My two loves.

I'll do everything I can to protect them. To love them. To give them everything.

Glancing back up at Killer, I see him with his eyes still averted. The baby is nursing now, but I cover her other breast.

"Killer, man. I covered her, but she is breastfeeding. Look at your grandchild if you want to."

He glances over, relief on his face when he sees his daughter is covered. Then he looks down at the baby. I don't miss the sheen in his own eyes at the sight.

"Perfection," he says gruffly.

"Daddy, are you still mad?" Kaitlyn asks.

"No, Princess. I'm not mad. How can anyone be mad with a miracle like that?"

I want to ask if I'm off the hook too, but Killer swings his gaze my way.

Yeah, I'm not quite off the hook yet. That talk we are going to have is going to hurt. In more ways than one.

I only hope that I make it out of it alive. I'd hate to know my child is the cause of a war between MCs. It won't matter that I was at fault.

My father will raise hell over my death. Hopefully, Reaper will be able to talk him down. I made him promise a few weeks ago that he wouldn't retaliate if anything happened to me by Killer's hand. I deserve it.

He didn't like it, but he made that promise.

Now I hope my father is smarter than he looks, because the next little bit is going to be one hell of a learning curve for us all.

All because of this little bundle of joy.

I wouldn't trade it for the world.

"Honey, we should give the two new parents some room. Let's go get some coffee," Liza, Kaitlyn's mother, says to Killer.

He looks like he wants to disagree, but after a moment, he nods. Then he looks straight at me with a glare. "You protect them both. You better be here when I get back," he says.

"I have nowhere I would rather be," I admit to him.

Normally, I would never give up so much information about myself. Especially not to someone in a rival club, but this is a unique situation. My hard-ass facade I normally wear isn't going to do me any favors. Not with Kaitlyn or her family.

My hand itches to call Fang and tell him to come in here. The urge to have someone who I know has my back around is strong, but I resist it.

Today isn't about me. It's about my son and his mother.

"Thank you for coming," Kaitlyn whispers.

I lean down, pressing a kiss to her lips. "This is the only place I need to be right now."

I mean every word of it.

As of today, nothing else in this world will ever take priority over Kaitlyn or our child.

What was I thinking when I decided having Colt be part of this child's life was a good idea?

You don't mean that. You're just frustrated, a little voice whispers in my ear.

He's an amazing man and has been so attentive, but it's only day two of our son's life, and all he knows is bickering between his dad and grandfather.

"She will be safer in my truck. Do you even have a car here?" Dad asks Colt.

Colt seems to take a deep breath before he responds, "I rented the safest vehicle they had on the lot, sir. They will be safe with me."

I give him credit. My father has been throwing it at him, but he has kept his cool. He is still standing his ground, but he hasn't thrown a punch yet.

It takes great self-control. Trust me. I know. I have had the urge to punch my father for the last ten minutes as he tries to decide what I'm going to do.

"Daddy, Colt is the father of my child. He wants to experience all the firsts. You got to drive me home from the hospital when I was born. Why are you trying to deprive him of the same experience?" I try to reason.

Dad's jaw clenches as he points at me. "You are my daughter, and that is my grandchild. I am allowed to be concerned for your safety. Not only will he be transporting you in a car that's not his, but he's a Lotus. He doesn't even have any of his brothers with him. That is concerning."

"I have one of my brothers around. He will be following us back to Kaitlyn's place. I don't need my entire club around me to keep them safe. As for the car, I looked it over this morning to ensure it was up to my standards to take them home. I understand your concern, sir, but this is my family now too. I take care of what's mine." Colt stands tall in front of my dad, not flinching away from the glare he's throwing at him.

"Daddy, this is my choice. I want to go with him. I need you to respect that," I add in.

My father sighs. "Fine, but I'm following, and my men will be surrounding you as well. You might be a Lotus, but she is still one of us."

I swear it sounds like Colt mumbles something like, "We will see about that." Before I can ask him to repeat himself, the nurse is there, smiling as she starts to wheel me down the hall.

Both men follow behind us until we get to the front door.

"I'll be right back," Colt tells me, kissing the top of my head.

As soon as he takes off at a run, my father starts in.

"Really? You chose him to have a fling with? Are you sure that's who you want raising your son with you?"

"If you would have asked me a year ago, I would have said no way. Should I have slept with him when I knew who he was? Probably not, but I did, and I don't regret it. We have a kid together. He was amazing throughout the pregnancy. He wanted to be as involved as I would let him. Not only that, but he showed up, Daddy. He's here right now. Why wouldn't I want to raise my child with a man who is willing to show up for him? You're letting your pride and your anger cloud your perspective."

"Kaitlyn," he starts, but I cut him off.

"I'm my own person, Daddy. I know you want to make all my decisions for me, but I haven't been that little girl in a long time. Now back off and let me have this. Leave Colt be. This is stressful as it is, I don't need you adding to it by bickering with the father of my child."

He shakes his head as Colt pulls up. "Alright."

Colt gets out, coming around to take the baby from me.

"Wait. I want to check the car seat," my father says as he goes to the back seat.

"Daddy," I warn, but Colt shakes his head, cooing at our baby now in his arms.

"Leave it, Kaitlyn. Let him have this," he says softly.

It only makes me like Colt more.

When I ran into him at the bar, I knew exactly who he was. He looked the same as he did back in high school, just a little bit older, and he wasn't wearing his vest or anything. Even knowing who he was and who he was with, I wanted a piece of him.

The chemistry between us was amazing. I quickly found myself thinking that I could actually like this man. Then I found out who he really was. It should have deterred me, but it didn't. It only made me want to indulge a little longer.

Little did I know that would bring us here. The same man I was falling for back then is standing in front of me. Seeing him melt for our child only makes me want him more, but how could we make it work?

He lives in Las Vegas, while I live here. I don't want to leave my entire support system to move back with him, and I know he doesn't want to live here. I remember him talking about his family life down here the last time he was down. He doesn't have a great relationship with his parents and didn't have the best childhood growing up. The memories here are hard on him, but is that a reason for me to walk away?

My parents are fantastic. Maybe a little overbearing, but great. When I was younger, I dreamed of leaving, but now that I have a baby, I just don't know. Even if it's for a man as great as Colt, and he is great. My time with him might have been short, but that doesn't change anything.

If only he were part of our MC and not our allies.

"Hey, you okay? Are you hurting?" Colt asks, pulling me out of my thoughts as he brushes a piece of hair away from my face.

I smile up at him. "I'm good. Just tired."

"When we get back to your place, you can take a nap. I just need you to hold on a little longer."

"But what about Kolby?"

Colt raises a brow. "What about him?"

"Shouldn't I be awake when he is?"

Colt shakes his head. "If you're tired and need a nap, you take one. I got this little dude until it's time for you to feed him."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm positive. You aren't doing this alone, babe. I'm right here, and I'm not going anywhere."

"What are you two whispering about over here?" Dad asks as he approaches.

"I was just telling him I'm tired."

Dad grunts. "Let's get you guys loaded up."

After getting Kolby and I into the vehicle, we roll out. I rest my head on the window, and I don't even think we are out of the parking lot before I'm fast asleep.