Chapter 22

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Viper

The world stops spinning for a moment as I stare at Iris, her dark eyes wide and vulnerable.

Pregnant.

The word echoes in my mind, ricocheting off the walls of my skull like a stray bullet.

I blink, trying to process this bombshell that's been dropped on us.

"Viper? Did you hear me?" Iris' voice is soft, hesitant.

Her tattooed hand reaches out to touch my arm, and I realize I've been standing here like a statue for God knows how long.

I clear my throat, forcing a smile onto my face. "Yeah, baby. How are you feeling today?"

Iris has been in the hospital for a day now, and will likely be here for a few more.

At least now she has a private room.

Iris swallows hard, “I’m achy, but I’m okay.”

I can see the fear in her eyes, the uncertainty.

She needs me to be strong right now.

"Be honest with me baby,"

Iris bites her lower lip, a habit I've come to recognize when she's nervous. "I'm... I don't know. Scared, I guess. Shocked. I never thought I’d be a mother..."

I pull her into my arms, feeling her body tremble against mine.

My mind is racing, thoughts colliding like cars in a pile-up.

A baby.

Christ, I'm going to be a father again.

The realization hits me like a punch to the gut, and for a moment, I struggle to breathe.

Maybe this is my do-over, my chance to be a good father and not a fuck up like I was with Allegra.

I've got to be her rock right now.

I stroke her silky black hair, inhaling the familiar scent of her shampoo. "It's okay to be scared, baby. I'm here. We're in this together."

Iris pulls back slightly, her eyes searching mine. "Are you... are you okay with this? I know we never talked about kids, and with everything that's happened..."

The unspoken words hang heavy in the air between us.

The attack.

The pain she's been through.

The thought of that bastard Lyon hurting her, hurting our baby, makes my blood boil.

But I push the rage down, focusing on Iris for now.

I’ll deal with Lyon later.

"Hey," I say, cupping her face in my hands. "Listen to me. I love you. And I already love this baby. We're going to figure this out, okay? You and me."

A small smile tugs at the corners of her mouth, and I feel some of the tension leave her body. "Okay," she whispers.

I lead her to the hospital bed, helping her sit down.

My mind is still reeling, but I force myself to focus on the practical. "Have you seen a doctor yet today? We need to make sure you're both healthy."

Iris nods. "Not today. They said everything looked great yesterday, but they’re going to do ultrasounds once a day for every day I’m here."

Relief washes over me, but it's quickly followed by a fresh wave of anxiety. "Good. That's good. We'll need to set up regular check-ups, find a good OB/GYN..."

I'm rambling, I know, but I can't seem to stop.

It's like if I keep talking about the logistics, I won't have to confront the magnitude of what's happening.

A baby.

Jesus Christ, a baby.

"Viper," Iris says, her voice cutting through my spiral. "Are you sure you're okay with this? You look... overwhelmed."

I take a deep breath, forcing myself to meet her gaze. "I'm not gonna lie, baby. This is a lot to take in. But I meant what I said. I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere."

She nods, but I can see the doubt in her eyes. "It's just... I know you already have Allegra. And with your past, and my job... I don't know if I'm cut out to be a mother."

The vulnerability in her voice breaks my heart. I sit down beside her, taking her hand in mine. "Listen to me, Iris. You are the strongest, most incredible woman I've ever met. You're going to be an amazing mother."

"How can you be so sure?" she asks, her voice barely above a whisper.

I think about my own journey, about the years I spent behind bars, separated from Allegra.

The guilt and regret that still haunt me. "Because I've seen what a bad parent looks like," I say softly. "And you, Iris? You're nothing like that. You've got so much love to give."

Iris leans her head on my shoulder, and I wrap my arm around her.

We sit in silence for a moment, the reality of our situation settling over us like a heavy blanket.

"What about your business?" Iris asks suddenly. "Is it... is it safe for a baby?"

The question hits me like a bucket of ice water.

My world, the underworld of Tinsel Creek that I've clawed my way to the top of, suddenly seems a million miles away from this sterile hospital room.

From the tiny life growing inside Iris.

"I'll make it safe," I say, my voice low and fierce. "I'll do whatever it takes to protect you both."

And I mean it.

In this moment, I know I'll burn the whole city to the ground if it means keeping Iris and our baby safe.

The thought should scare me, but instead, it fills me with a sense of purpose I haven't felt in years.

"We're really doing this, huh?" Iris says, a hint of wonder in her voice.

I press a kiss to the top of her head. "Yeah, baby. We really are."

As we sit there, the reality of our situation slowly sinking in, I can't help but think about how much my life has changed since Iris walked into it.

From the moment I saw her at that gym with Allegra, I knew she was something special.

But I never could have imagined this.

A soft knock at the door interrupts my thoughts.

A nurse enters, wheeling in a portable ultrasound machine. "Time for another check-up," she announces with a warm smile.

I feel Iris tense beside me, her fingers tightening around mine.

I give her hand a reassuring squeeze as the nurse sets up the equipment.

"This won't take long," the nurse assures us, lifting Iris's hospital gown to expose her still-flat stomach. "We just want to make sure everything's still looking good after yesterday's... incident."

I clench my jaw at the euphemism but say nothing.

The nurse squirts gel onto Iris's abdomen and starts moving the wand around.

The room fills with a rapid whooshing sound—our baby's heartbeat.

"Strong and steady," the nurse comments, her eyes on the screen. "Heart rate is excellent, and everything else looks perfect. You've got a fighter in there."

Relief washes over me. "Just like their mama," I murmur, pressing a kiss to Iris's temple.

The nurse finishes up, wiping the gel off Iris's stomach. "Any questions?"

I shake my head, and Iris remains silent.

The nurse gives us another smile before leaving, closing the door softly behind her.

I turn to Iris, studying her face. She's staring at the ceiling, her expression unreadable.

"Hey," I say softly, reaching out to cup her cheek. "You okay?"

She blinks, focusing on me. "Yeah, I just... it's a lot to take in."

I nod, understanding. It's been a whirlwind 24 hours. "I know, baby. But we're in this together, okay?"

"Listen," I say, pulling back slightly to look into her eyes. "I know this isn't how either of us planned things. But I promise you, Iris, I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure this kid has the best life possible. We're not our parents. We can do better."

Her lower lip trembles, and suddenly she's sobbing, her whole body shaking.

I wrap my arms around her, pulling her close to my chest.

The scent of her shampoo fills my nostrils as I press my lips to the top of her head.

"Shh, it's okay," I murmur, stroking her back. "I've got you."

I feel her fingers gripping my shirt, clinging to me like I'm her lifeline.

In this moment, I swear to myself that I'll be whatever she needs me to be— protector, lover, father to our child.

Another soft knock at the door breaks the moment. Rosa pokes her head in, a plastic bag in her hand. "Hey, I brought some Thai," she says softly, her eyes darting between Iris and me.

I give Iris one last squeeze before pulling away. "Look at that, baby. Rosa brought you some of that food you love."

Iris sniffles, wiping her eyes. "Thanks, Rosa," she says, her voice hoarse.

I stand up, smoothing down my shirt. "Why don't you enjoy some time with Rosa? I've got something I need to handle."

Iris's voice, tinged with worry, stops me in my tracks. "What are you doing, Viper?"

I turn back, meeting her eyes.

The fear I see there makes my chest tighten, but I can't let her know the truth.

Not now. "The less you know, the better, sweetheart," I say, trying to keep my tone light. "Trust me on this one."

I cross the room in two quick strides, cupping her face in my hands.

I kiss her deeply, pouring all my love and determination into it.

When I pull back, I rest my forehead against hers. "I love you, Iris. More than anything."

Her fingers grip my shirt, not wanting to let go. "I love you too," she whispers.

With a heavy heart, I step away and head for the door.

I pause, looking at Rosa. "We good?"

Rosa's eyes are hard, but I see understanding there too. "As long as you don't hurt her, we're good."

I nod, my jaw clenching. "I'd rather die."

The hospital corridor is a blur as I stride toward the exit, my mind already racing with what's to come.

My driver, Jake, is waiting by the car, his face impassive as always.

"Where to, boss?" he asks as I slide into the backseat.

"Crimson Reapers clubhouse," I growl, checking my gun beneath my jacket. "And step on it."

As we pull away from the hospital, I can feel the rage building inside me.

I'm showing up unannounced, and I don't give a flying fuck.

All I can think about is Iris, lying in that hospital bed, carrying our child.

I'll do whatever it takes to keep them safe.

The streets fly by outside the window, but I barely notice.

My mind is consumed with thoughts of Lyon, that piece of shit who dared to touch what's mine.

I flex my fingers, itching to wrap them around his throat.

"Almost there, boss," Jake's voice cuts through my thoughts.

I nod, steeling myself for what's to come.

The gun at my side is a comforting weight, a reminder of the power I hold.

Whatever happens next, I'm ready.

For Iris.

For our future.

And for the twisted satisfaction of making Lyon pay.

The car pulls up to a rundown building on the outskirts of town, two towns over from Tinsel Creek.

The Crimson Reapers' clubhouse stands before me, a testament to lawlessness.

A row of gleaming motorcycles lines the front, their chrome catching the light.

I step out, adjusting my suit jacket.

The weight of my gun presses against my ribs, a cold reminder of what I'm here to do.

Without hesitation, I stride toward the entrance, my jaw set in grim determination.

The heavy doors swing open under my touch, and I'm hit by the stench of stale beer and cigarette smoke.

My eyes scan the dimly lit interior, searching for one face in particular.

I holler, my voice echoing off the walls. "Where the fuck is Lyon?"

The room falls silent, a dozen pairs of eyes turning to stare at me.

I can feel the tension crackling in the air, thick enough to cut with a knife.

My hands clench into fists at my sides, itching for a fight.

Within seconds, a tall, broad-shouldered man emerges from a back room—Jaxon.

His face is a mask of confusion and irritation. "What the hell is this about, Viper?" he demands, stepping closer.

I meet his gaze unflinchingly. "Your piece of shit brother attacked and raped Iris at Satin Dreams," I spit out, barely containing my rage.

Jaxon's eyes widen in disbelief. "That's ridiculous," he scoffs. "Lyon might be a lot of things, but he wouldn't hurt her like that."

Something inside me snaps.

I close the distance between us in two quick strides, getting right up in Jaxon's face.

I can smell the whiskey on his breath as I growl, "I've got the fucking proof. I saw the video evidence with my own eyes."

Jaxon opens his mouth to respond, but before he can, movement catches my eye.

Lyon emerges from the shadows, his face a mix of arrogance and poorly concealed fear.

My vision goes red.

Everything I've been holding back since I saw that video, since I held Iris in the hospital, comes rushing to the surface.

Lyon is here, within reach, and all I can think about is making him pay for what he's done.

The moment I lay eyes on Lyon, something primal takes over.

I charge at him like a bull seeing red, my fists clenched and ready.

The first punch connects with his jaw, a satisfying crack echoing through the clubhouse.

Lyon stumbles back, but I don't give him a chance to recover.

I'm on him in an instant, raining down blows with all the pent-up fury I've been holding onto. "You fucking piece of shit!" I roar, punctuating each word with another hit.

Lyon fights back, landing a few solid punches of his own.

I feel my lip split, taste the metallic tang of blood in my mouth, but I don't care.

The pain only fuels my rage.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see some of the club members moving to intervene, but Jaxon holds up a hand.

"Let them sort it out," he says, his voice tight with tension.

We grapple and slam into tables, sending bottles and glasses crashing to the floor.

It's messy, brutal, and exactly what I need.

With every punch I land, I think of Iris in that hospital bed, of the pain and fear in her eyes.

It drives me to hit harder, to make Lyon feel even a fraction of what she's going through.

By the time we separate, both of us are breathing hard.

Lyon's face is a mess of blood and bruises, his left eye already swelling shut.

I'm not much better off, but the pain is nothing compared to the satisfaction of seeing him broken.

I straighten up, wiping blood from my chin with the back of my hand. "Listen up, you fuckers," I say, my voice carrying across the now-silent clubhouse. "Things are changing around here. You're running drugs for me now. I've made a deal with an old friend of mine, Manuel Costa, and we're in business together."

The room erupts in murmurs and shocked glances.

I can see the fear in their eyes at the mention of Manuel's name.

Good.

They should be afraid.

They know exactly what kind of big dog he is.

Jaxon clears his throat, his gaze moving from me to his battered brother. "Lyon," he says, his voice dangerously low, "did you attack Iris?"

Lyon spits blood onto the floor, a twisted grin spreading across his face. "It wasn't an attack," he sneers. "Iris belongs to me. I was just taking what's mine."

The words have barely left his mouth before Jaxon's fist connects with his face.

He grabs Lyon by the hair, yanking his head back. "You dumb fuck," Jaxon snarls. "If Viper is partners with Manuel, you could've signed all of our death certificates."

Lyon laughs, a harsh, manic sound. "There's no way he's working with Manuel. He's bluffing."

I step closer, my eyes locked on Lyon. "Wrong move, asshole. I don't bluff. You hurt my woman, which means you attacked one of the bosses. And now," I pause, letting the tension build, "I'm going to take something from you."

Jaxon's grip on Lyon's hair tightens.

He looks at me, his expression a mixture of frustration and authority. "What do you want to do?" he asks. "How do you want to solve this?"

Instead of answering Jaxon, I lock eyes with Lyon, my voice dropping to a deadly whisper. "I'm taking your dick, because you don't deserve it, you disgusting fuck."

Lyon's eyes widen in panic. He turns to his brother, desperation etched across his battered face. "Jaxon, do something!"

Jaxon's expression remains impassive. "What's it gonna be, Lyon? Your dick or your life?"

"This is ridiculous!" Lyon sputters, but I've had enough of his bullshit.

In one fluid motion, I grab him by the throat and slam him against the wall.

The impact knocks the wind out of him, and I use his momentary disorientation to my advantage.

I reach down, yanking at his zipper and boxers in one rough motion.

Lyon's screams echo through the clubhouse. "Jaxon! Brothers! Help me!"