Chapter 23

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Iris

I can't believe I'm here, stuck in this damn hospital bed, swollen and uncomfortable as all hell for yet another day.

Pregnant.

The last few days have been a whirlwind of doctors, tests, and the knowledge that I'm carrying the child of a man I shouldn't even be thinking about, let alone carrying his offspring.

But here we are, both of us tangled in a web of our own making, with no way out in sight.

The nurses keep telling me how "lucky" I am, how my pregnancy is progressing without a hitch, and I should be grateful.

But as I stare down at the small but growing bump on my stomach, I can't help but feel a flutter of something I've never felt before.

Protectiveness, maybe.

Love?

Nah, it's too soon for that.

But whatever it is, it's there, growing with each passing second, and I'm terrified.

The door to my room swings open, and in walks Viper. I can't help but admire the way his muscles ripple under his shirt as he strides in, carrying a bouquet of my favorite flowers.

"Hey, gorgeous," he says, flashing that cocky grin of his that used to get under my skin, but now sends a shiver down my spine.

"Hey, yourself," I reply as he sets the flowers down and sits down on the chair next to my bed.

"So, the doctors say you're good to leave today, huh?" he asks, picking up my hand and running his thumb over my knuckles.

I can feel goosebumps erupting on my skin, and I silently curse my traitorous body.

"Yep, looks like they trust me to not keel over dead the moment I step foot outside," I joke.

He chuckles, his dark eyes twinkling with amusement. "I doubt that, but just in case, I got this." He reaches into his back pocket and pulls out a small, intricately carved wooden box.

"What's that?" I ask, my heart hammering in my chest.

Viper opens the box to reveal a breathtakingly beautiful necklace.

A delicate silver chain holds a glorious sapphire, the color of his eyes, surrounded by a halo of diamonds. "It's not much, but I wanted you to have something as beautiful as you are, baby.”

I can't help but gasp at its beauty, and I'm at a loss for words.

Viper's cheeks redden ever so slightly under my gaze, a rare sight that makes my heart swell even more.

“It’s not the only thing I got you, though,” Viper hands me a smoothie and I couldn’t be happier.

I’ve been craving one so bad these last few days.

The cool sweetness of the smoothie slides down my throat as I take another sip, savoring the blend of tropical fruits.

Viper sits beside my hospital bed, his muscular frame somehow making the tiny plastic chair look even smaller.

The smoothie was a sweet gesture and so is the necklace, one of many he's made since I've been here.

"So, how are things going at the club and the house?" I ask, trying to sound casual despite the underlying anxiety gnawing at me.

Viper's dark eyes meet mine, a hint of amusement dancing in them. "Everything's running smoothly. The girls have really stepped up in your absence."

I nod, but the worry persists. "Viper, what does all this mean for me? Am I... am I getting fired?"

The words tumble out before I can stop them, my fingers tightening around the smoothie cup.

To my surprise, Viper lets out a deep, rumbling laugh. "Fired? Is that what you're worried about, Iris?"

I feel my cheeks flush, a mix of embarrassment and relief washing over me. "Well, yeah. I mean, I can't go back to managing the club or house right now, can I? A pregnant woman isn’t exactly great for business." I gesture vaguely at my still-flat stomach, where our child is growing.

Viper leans forward, his tattooed arms resting on his knees. "Actually, I've been thinking. It might be a better idea for you to start working at your studio."

My heart skips a beat. "My studio? You mean Ashton Designs?"

He nods, a smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Exactly. It's time you got back to what you love. I didn’t get the place for you to let it sit there empty."

Excitement bubbles up inside me, but doubt quickly follows. "Really? But what about the house and the club? Who's going to handle everything?"

Viper's expression turns thoughtful. "I've been considering some changes. I'm thinking about having Rosa handle the Desire House, and Candy take over at Satin Dreams. Candy would step into Rosa's current role, and Rosa would take over your responsibilities."

As he speaks, I can feel my pulse quickening.

The idea of returning to tattooing, of feeling the buzz of the machine in my hand and watching my art come to life on someone's skin—it's intoxicating. I want it so badly I can almost taste it.

"That... that actually sounds perfect," I say, unable to keep the grin off my face. "But are you sure? I mean, it's a big change."

Viper reaches out and takes my free hand in his, his touch sending a familiar warmth through me. "I'm sure, Iris. You're talented as hell, and it's time the world saw that. Plus," he adds with a wink, "I think being a badass tattoo artist might be slightly more kid-friendly than your current gig."

I laugh, feeling lighter than I have in days. "God, I can't wait to get back to it. I've missed it so much."

As I picture myself back in my studio, surrounded by the hum of machines and the scent of ink, I realize just how much I've been craving this.

It's not just a job—it's a part of who I am, a way to express myself that I've been missing.

"Thank you, Viper," I say softly, giving his hand a squeeze. "This means more to me than you know."

He brings my hand to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss to my knuckles. "You deserve it, Iris. And I can't wait to see what you create."

Viper leans in, his presence both comforting and electrifying. "Hey, look at me," he says, his voice low and reassuring. "We've got plenty of time to figure all that out. You focus on resting and setting up your studio. The rest will fall into place."

I take a deep breath, trying to let his confidence wash over me. "You really think so?"

"I know so," he replies, his cocky grin making an appearance. "Have I ever steered you wrong?"

I can't help but laugh. "Well, there was that one time with the tequila and the?—"

Before I can finish my sentence, Viper leans down and captures my lips in another kiss.

It's soft and sweet, a stark contrast to his usual intensity, and I melt into it, forgetting for a moment about all my worries.

Suddenly, the door to my hospital room swings open with a bang. "What the hell?"

Allegra's voice cuts through the room like a knife, and Viper and I break apart, startled.

I feel my face flush with heat, partly from embarrassment and partly from the lingering effects of Viper's kiss.

"Allegra," I start, my voice shaky.

This isn't how we planned to tell her, but I guess the cat's out of the bag now. "We were going to talk to you today, actually. About us."

I glance at Viper, silently pleading for help.

His jaw is set, his eyes locked on his daughter, and I can see the tension radiating off him in waves.

We both knew this moment was coming, but now that it's here, I feel completely unprepared.

Allegra's eyes dart between us, her expression a mix of confusion and disbelief.

I take a deep breath and force myself to continue. "Viper and I... we're together. In a relationship." The words tumble out of my mouth, sounding strange even to my own ears.

For a moment, silence hangs heavy in the room.

Then, unexpectedly, Allegra bursts into laughter.

It's not the reaction I was anticipating, and I find myself exchanging a bewildered look with Viper.

"That is the funniest thing I've ever heard in my entire life," Allegra manages between fits of giggles. "My best friend, in a relationship with my father. Good one, guys. You almost had me there for a second."

I open my mouth to respond, but Viper beats me to it.

His voice is low and serious, a stark contrast to Allegra's laughter.

"It's the truth, Allegra," he says, running a hand through his dark hair. "And I for one am terrified to talk to you about this because you and me are just starting to fix things."

Allegra's laughter dies abruptly, her eyes widening as she realizes we're not joking.

I can see the moment it truly sinks in, her expression morphing from amusement to shock, and then to anger.

"Wait a second," she spits out, her voice rising. "So you were giving me shit for being with Jaxon, and the entire time you've been fucking my best friend?"

I wince at her crude language, feeling a pang of guilt.

It's true that Viper had been less than thrilled about Allegra's relationship with Jaxon, and now here we are, in a situation that's arguably even more complicated.

"Allegra, it's not like that," I try to explain, my hand instinctively moving to my stomach. "We didn't plan for this to happen. It just... did."

But Allegra isn't listening.

Her eyes are locked on her father, blazing with fury and betrayal.

I can see the hurt beneath her anger, and it breaks my heart.

This isn't how I wanted things to go, not at all.

"You fake whore!" Allegra snarls, her words slicing through me like a knife.

I recoil, stunned by the venom in her voice.

My best friend, the girl I've shared so much with, is looking at me like I'm her worst enemy.

The sting of her words brings tears to my eyes, but I blink them back furiously.

Viper's reaction is immediate.

He stands up, his tall frame imposing as he faces his daughter.

The muscles in his tattooed arms flex, a physical manifestation of his restraint.

"Apologize," he demands, his voice low and dangerous. "Now. Iris has been through more than enough over the last few days. You have no right to speak to her like that."

I want to shrink into the hospital bed, to disappear from this nightmare of a situation.

But I force myself to sit up straighter, meeting Allegra's gaze.

I won't let her see how much her words have hurt me.

Allegra's lip curls in disgust. "Go fuck yourselves," she spits out.

Her eyes dart between us, a cruel smile spreading across her face. "Maybe I'll go fuck your ex since you're fucking my dad."

My breath catches in my throat.

The thought of Allegra with Lyon makes me feel sick, and not just because of our history.

To my surprise, Viper lets out a bark of laughter. "That'll be hard to do since I shot apart his dick," he says, his tone casual as if he's discussing the weather. "He's a monk now."

My eyes widen in shock.

I stare at Viper, trying to process what he just said.

"Are you serious?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Deadly.”