Chapter 2

GRIZZ

Luna. I like the way it rolls off her tongue. It suits her mystical vibe, and I don't know why she ever bothered to call herself Fable.

"Luna," I repeat, smirking a little.

She gives a small shrug of her shoulder. "My mum was a hippie."

"So, is the kid's dad around?" She shakes her head. "Why doesn't that surprise me? Is this why you've been avoiding the clubhouse?"

"It's not exactly good for my business," she mutters.

"The club's there to help," I tell her, knowing full well it's shit talk. None of the brothers are interested in the club whores' lives, but they sure as shit wouldn't touch her knowing she got caught out with a kid. Who knows if she did this shit to entrap some guy?

A realisation hits me. Lexi is right—we don't give a crap about them, but they're real people with lives, just like us. I sigh. "Axel and Lexi have paired the brothers up with the . . ." I pause, not wanting to offend her.

"Whores," she says quietly.

I give a slight nod. "And luckily, you got me."

"Why is that lucky?"

"Come on, Fable, I know the other women talk about me. I'm never short of offers," I say, smirking. "I'm here to help out and get to know you," I peer into the Moses basket, "and this little one, I guess."

"Well, we don't need you," she replies, her tone almost a whisper.

"It's not a choice," I tell her firmly. "It's happening."

She fixes me with an annoyed glare. Fable's always been cute and smiley, but I guess that was all roleplay for the guys. "Fine," she says, heading for the door. I frown, glancing back at the baby. "You can watch Ivy while I sleep." And then she disappears, leaving me alone with her kid.

I pull out my mobile and put a call into Axel. He answers on the second ring, sounding sleepy. "This better be good."

"Did you know Fable just had a kid?"

I hear some rustling and a heavy sigh. "Nope."

"That's why she hasn't been around the clubhouse."

He clears his throat. "Wait, start at the beginning."

"What are you doing asleep anyway?" I ask, checking my watch. "It's almost one in the morning and you don't usually leave the office before three."

"Yeah, well, some of us have old ladies to keep happy," he mutters. "How old's the kid?"

I peer at the tiny baby, who is now awake and fidgeting. "I dunno, a few weeks maybe. How can you tell?"

"By asking?" he suggests.

"I would, but she's gone to bed and left me with the kid."

A laugh escapes Axel. "Wait, you're babysitting?"

I frown. "Yeah, that's messed up, isn't it? I'm gonna go give her the kid back and get out of here." I disconnect and stuff my phone in my back pocket. Then I stare at the baby some more. It's cute in a scrunched-up kind of way. I go to pick it up and realise I've never actually held something so small before, so my hands hover over it, trying to work out the best way to grip without hurting it.

I gently slide one hand under its tiny backside, then use the other to support the upper back and head and scoop it towards me. "Jesus," I mutter, holding it to my chest. "What the fuck is going on?" It makes a small sound, and I move quickly in the direction Fable went.

There are two doors that lead off from the hall. The first is a nursery, and I take a minute to appreciate the effort that's gone on in here. There's a painted mural on one wall with lots of little woodland creatures. It's unfinished, and the paint pots are spread out on a sheet covering the floor.

I go to the next room and stop in the doorway when I see a fully clothed Fable curled into a tight ball, fast asleep. "Well," I whisper to the kid, "looks like she's really tired."

I shift the baby so I'm holding it against me in one hand while I use the other to drag a blanket over Fable before backing out and pulling her door to. I'll let her sleep for a little while.

I head back into the living room and settle onto the couch, grabbing the television remote. "I was meant to be balls deep in Siren," I tell the kid, who is now snuggled against me with its eyes closed, "and instead, I'm babysitting a kid I don't even know." I give my head a shake. "You've cockblocked me and you're not even mine."

I wakewith a start when the small bundle emanates a screech loud enough to wake the dead. "Jesus," I hiss, lifting it from my chest and staring at its red, screwed-up face. "Why are you making that noise?"

"She wants fed." I jump at the sound of Fable's voice, still not used to it. "She did well to sleep so long." She appears at my side, then she scoops the screaming alien from me and sits on the chair. I stare in amazement as she lifts her top and the sound immediately stops.

"You're breastfeeding?" I don't know why that surprises me, but it does.

Her cheeks redden slightly. "Just for a little while longer. I'll have to stop soon."

"Why?" The sound of the baby suckling fills the room and Fable looks down to watch, smiling. It's a beautiful sight.

"Because men don't want me leaking milk all over them," she says with a small laugh.

I frown. "Isn't it best for the kid?"

"She has a name," she tells me, a small smile still tugging at her lips. "Ivy. And they say breast is best, but formula-fed kids do just as well."

"But what do you wanna do?"

She thinks it over. "I like this bonding time," she admits, stroking Ivy's wispy hair, "but I need the money."

"How old is she?"

"Two weeks."

My eyes widen. "Two weeks? Are you even supposed to be back at work?"

Her smile fades. "Like I said, I need the money. Thanks for watching her last night. I shouldn't have done that to you. I didn't actually plan on falling to sleep. I thought you'd march after me, but when you didn't, I couldn't resist a little lie-down."

I push to stand. "No problem. Look, why don't you come to the clubhouse? Lexi might be able to help, and I'm sure Duchess will."

She shakes her head. "I have my family around here. I'm fine."

"Here's my number," I say, picking up her mobile and inputting my number. I call my phone so I have hers too. "If you need anything, call me." As I'm typing in my name, a message pops up on the screen from someone called Nate and my thumb catches it by mistake, opening it.

Nate: Freebie. I'm bringing Dan now. Full works, Lu. I owe him big.

I pass her the phone. "Sorry, you got a text," I tell her, watching as she reads it.

She does well to compose herself, forcing a smile and laying the mobile on the table beside her. "Thanks again," she says just as Ivy pops off her breast, giving me an eyeful. I immediately look away, and Fable gives an awkward laugh. "Sorry," she mutters. When I turn back to her, she's covered.

"Who is that?" I ask, pointing to her mobile, because the message isn't sitting right with me.

She waves her hand in the air like it's nothing. "Business."

"It looks as though you're paying off someone else's debt."

"No, nothing like that. You should go. I have to get back into mute mode," she says, laying Ivy in her basket.

"And what about her?" I ask, nodding at the sleepy baby.

Her eyes fall to her daughter, and for a second, she looks sad. She takes a deep breath. "She's fine. She'll sleep now for an hour or so."

"You're just gonna be fucking in the other room while your kid sleeps in here?" I ask, unable to disguise the disgust in my voice.

Fable's expression hardens and she presses her lips together in a tight line. "And let Axel know I'm good without the bodyguard, or spy, or whatever it is you're doing here. Goodbye, Grizz."

I leave the flat, slamming the door behind me. It's selfish, but a part of me wants the kid to wake up so she can't be used the way she's clearly about to be. I'm crossing the carpark towards my bike when three men come around the corner laughing and joking. They're high and drunk, it's obvious by the way they're stumbling about and shoving into one another. I throw my leg over the bike and put on my helmet, watching as they go inside Fable's flat.

I grip the bars tight until my hands ache and then I start the engine and ride away.

It's none of my business what goes on in Fable's life, and she clearly doesn't want to have me involved.

LUNA

I gently rock Ivy,who woke the second Grizz slammed the door. Prick. The sudden raucous sound of laughter has me groaning in frustration. I thought a few hours of uninterrupted sleep might help, but I feel groggier now than before. I hear the front door open and then my brother appears in the doorway.

"Nate," I mutter.

"Get that thing to sleep," he mutters, dropping onto the couch. His two friends stay in the doorway, leering at me. "Then go do your thing. You got them both, right?"

I inwardly groan, but turning them away and making Nate look bad will cause all kinds of stress I don't need. It's been this way for so long, I know the drill. Denying my brother isn't an option. Ever. So, I force a smile and lay Ivy in her basket before heading for the bedroom.

This is my job. I repeat it as a mantra.

Reaching into the bedside drawer, I pull out two condoms, and before I can speak, Danny is on me like a dog. I hate kissing. It's something that stuck ever since I watched Pretty Woman and realised Vivian had a point—kissing is too intimate, and it should be for the one I love. However, it's easier said than done with eager men, so I wince while Danny takes full advantage of my mouth. His friend comes up behind us, and I feel his hands groping my breasts as his tongue runs along the side of my neck.

I gently press my hands to Danny's shoulders, and he pulls back, panting with need. "Easy," I say. "Let's just calm down."

He grins, his eyes turning cruel. "Easy," he repeats as his hand wraps into my hair, pulling my head back. "I'll show you fucking easy."

His friend unfastens my bra. "No," I say, trying desperately to keep it on. "I'm still feeding," I snap, batting his hands away.

"Even better," he whispers in my ear while grabbing my wrists and pulling them behind my back.

I don't knowhow long I lie on the bed after they've left, but it's only when I hear Ivy crying that I come back into my own body and push myself to stand on shaking legs. I take my dressing gown from the floor and pull it on, catching a glimpse of myself in the mirror and immediately looking away in disgust.

I swipe an angry tear away and go into the living room. Ivy is kicking her legs and screeching, so I instinctively pick her up and hold her to me. Her mouth roots around, trying to find a source of food, and I shudder. I don't know if I'll ever get the feel of those men from my body and I haven't showered, so I head to the kitchen and get out a bottle. She squawks louder, getting impatient as I scoop formula into the bottle and add boiling water.

"Shhh," I hush, gently rubbing her back while her mouth furiously roots around my shoulder. My breasts begin to leak milk and it forces more tears from my eyes. "Please," I whisper, "just give me a second."

Once I've given the formula a shake, I run the bottle under the cold tap, praying for it to cool quickly while sobbing harder at Ivy's screams.

It's almostmidnight when there's a knock on the front door. I freeze, wondering if Nate's brought more friends around, which he does often when he can't pay for his weed. My mobile alerts me to a text message.

Grizz: I'm outside, let me in.

I frown before going to the door and opening it enough for me to peek out. I stare at him, and he stares back at me. "Well," he says impatiently, "let me in."

"No."

"What do you mean, no? Let me in, Fable."

"Luna. My name is Luna."

He shrugs. "Okay, Luna, let me in. It's fucking cold."

"Why are you here?"

"I told you already, Pres's orders. I went to Zen and Thalia said you called in sick."

"And I told you I don't want a babysitter. Go and watch over someone else." I try to close the door in his face, but he gets his foot in and it bounces back. "Fuck, Grizz, go home."

He gets his shoulder in and then begins to push the door until I can't hold it any longer, so I give up and move, letting it slam back against the wall. He gives a satisfied smirk and steps inside, closing it behind him. "Are you sick?"

"No, but in case you hadn't noticed, I've just had a baby and I didn't feel like fucking tonight, so if that's why you're here, piss off."

He raises his eyebrows, and for a second, I wonder if he'll yell. The bikers can get pissed if you take the wrong tone with them. Instead, he eyes me with concern, and somehow, that feels worse, so I go into the living room to break the moment.

He follows, leaning his shoulder against the door frame. "I just thought I'd check on you, make sure you're okay."

"As you can see, I'm fine."

He takes a step inside the room. "I think I preferred it when you didn't speak," he says cautiously.

"And I preferred it when Axel wasn't so nosey. Why is he really sending you guys out to check up on us?"

"I told you, Lexi came up with it. They want us to be a happy family."

"I have a family. I don't need another."

Ivy begins to cry from the bedroom, and we both turn our heads in that direction. "Fuck," I mutter. I only put her down half an hour ago, but she's been unsettled all day.

"You want me to get her?" asks Grizz.

I scowl. "No, just leave."

I go to the kitchen to get another bottle ready. A minute passes before Grizz appears holding Ivy. He's gently stroking her tiny head, and I marvel at how much smaller she looks cradled in his large hands. I give my head a shake. "I told you to go."

I begin running the bottle under cold water. "You made the switch," he comments, and it makes me want to cry again. I'm not ready for bottle feeding and neither is she.

"Yeah," I say, my voice almost a whisper. I turn my back fully in case my tears fall.

"Weird," he responds.

"Why?"

"Well, this morning, you said you loved breastfeeding, and now, you're bottle feeding."

I shut off the tap and spin to face him. "Why do you even care?" I snap, and Ivy jumps in his arms. "Just go home and do what you do best—fuck a whore."

He lets me take Ivy from him but watches me with cautious eyes, like he's suddenly her protector. "I'm good here," he says, following me back into the living room and taking a seat. I move farther along the couch and place the teat into Ivy's mouth. She moves her head from side to side before finally sucking. "Did you pay the debt?"

I glance at him and then realise he's talking about this morning's text message from Nate. "Yah know, if anyone's talking shit about the club, it'll be London," I tell him, because let's face it, that's why Axel's got his beloved bikers on whore watch—someone's talking.

"What makes you say that?"

I shrug. "She's in everyone's business."

"If you know something, you should just come out and say it."

"I'm not talking to anyone about the club. I have too much going on in my life, so tell Axel I'm clean. Check my phone if you don't believe me."

He grabs my phone, and I roll my eyes. "Nate texts you a lot," he comments, scrolling through my phone.

"He's my brother," I snap.

"Makes sense," he mutters. I hate how he does that without elaborating, so I wait a beat before turning to look at him again.

"What does?"

"You're doing favours for your brother. Drugs or gambling?"

"None of your business." I watch as he stares at my phone while tapping something into his own phone. "What are you doing?"

"Taking Nate's number."

My heart speeds up and I try to reach for my mobile, but he moves it away. "Why?"

"In case I need to call him."

"Why would you need to call my brother?"

"To arrange to meet him."

"I don't understand," I mutter. Ivy spits the bottle out and immediately cries. I sigh heavily, placing it on the table and lifting her to my shoulder to wind her.

"Feed her," he says firmly.

"I am feeding her."

"Feed her properly." I frown. "Breastfeed her."

"No. Look, I don't know what your problem is?—"

"Prove to me you haven't stopped feeding her because those fuckers hurt you this morning," he barks, and I freeze. "Feed her."

I swallow the huge lump forming in my throat. If I don't feed Ivy, Grizz is going to call Nate, and that won't end well. "Weed," I whisper, answering his earlier question and hoping to avoid this confrontation. "He gets into debt over weed."

"Feed her, Luna."

I bite my lower lip, fighting back my tears. "But I don't mind," I whisper, the words sounding foreign as they come out broken. "He's my brother."

"Feed. Her," he says more firmly, and I can tell by the tone that he's losing patience. Ivy cries harder, and I'm unable to stop the fresh tears falling down my own cheeks.

I lay her in my arm and use my free hand to lift my top. Sickness swirls in the pit of my stomach, and I shudder as her mouth immediately roots around for her source of comfort. When she latches onto my breast, I cry out. It comes without warning, and I instantly stick my finger into her mouth so she'll release my breast. I hand her to Grizz and rush off to the bathroom.