Chapter 10 Raptor

S ydney hooked her finger over her long, wavy hair, tucking a thick, silky black strand behind her ear.

Bet it's still as soft as I remember.

She had the most delicate features. A small button nose. Full, sensual lips. Long layers in her hair that brushed the top of her cheekbones when hanging loose. And those pretty, stormy gray eyes.

Her eyes had captivated me since the second I saw them, outlined by thick black lashes, and not the fake kind either. Every inch of her was natural and curvy, filling my palms when I caressed her soft, pale skin. Her eyes and that shy, sweet smile were my downfall. Even now, staring at her rounded belly and understanding with shock that she was pregnant changed nothing.

I would always think she was beautiful and desire her, I realized. Even if she hid this from us. Even if it fucking pissed me off.

She was nervous. I could see it. Maybe my expression gave my thoughts away. I wouldn't pretend I wasn't angry with her for hiding something life-changing from us.

Sydney was a hell of a lot different than the other woman we knew at the club. Maybe not more complicated, but that didn't mean shit. Like a breath of fresh air, she was honest and swept into the bar and each of our hearts like a mighty gale.

Yeah, we all cared about her. Too much. Way too soon. It couldn't be helped. One night was all it took to grow possessive over Sydney. We wanted her, needed her, and she wasn't leaving this clubhouse without learning the truth.

We had our secrets, too. Obsessing over her was only one of them.

But now it got a hell of a lot more complicated. Bringing a baby into the mix cocked it all up. I couldn't say I was disappointed though. A tiny spark of hope began to blossom in my chest. I had a chance to let something pure and beautiful into my life. Not just Sydney, but her baby too. Our baby. All four of us.

"I'm pregnant." She bit her lip. "With twins."

"Two babies?" I asked, floored by the news.

"Two fraternal twin boys," she confirmed.

Trojan sank to his knees, staring at her in awe.

War began to pace, but I could see how the news affected him. He didn't think he could have kids. He'd been told that all the abuse and trauma he suffered when he was young meant he couldn't father children. This would fuck with him.

I had a vasectomy over a decade earlier. I used to be married, and after my wife gave me two daughters, she said she didn't want any more kids. I got snipped for her, and then she fucking cheated, got pregnant by another man, and fucked me over. I hated her for a long time for what she did. My girls lived with her, but I tried to see them often.

I glanced at Trojan. He didn't seem as shell-shocked as I did. Or War. Had he known and not told us?

"I don't know which of you is the father," she admitted. "I'm sorry."

Sorry? Hell fucking no. We all stuck our dicks in her. She wasn't to blame. At least, not alone.

Trojan beat me to it before I could answer. "It doesn't matter who the father is. We're all daddies now."

Sydney sniffled, fighting tears. "Really? You all feel that way?"

"Yes," I answered without needing to think about it.

War didn't answer right away. His past was probably running wild in his head, creating havoc and fucking making him pissed. "I was there, so yeah."

She blanched at his words. "Ouch," she whispered.

He finally dared to look at her, and she probably couldn't see it, but I glimpsed a quick flash of fear. This scared the shit outta him. I hated that he'd been through a living nightmare. It stained everything around him.

"It's a lot for us to take in, Precious. Give us a minute."

She sighed and moved to Trojan's bed, perching on the edge of the mattress as she sank onto it.

Sydney needed to stay. That much was clear. She was carrying our babies. I wasn't missing any more of this pregnancy. I didn't think Trojan or War wanted to let her leave, either.

"No more separation," I announced. "You need to move into the clubhouse."

She shook her head.

"Why not?" I couldn't help but lose my temper, and it showed as I barked the words at her.

"Because I saw you. All three of you. I won't be the reason you're all not living the life you want."

The fuck?

Trojan frowned. "What are you talking about, Sydney? Saw us when? And where?"

She sighed. "In the bar. When I took the pregnancy test, and it came back positive, I drove here to tell you all right away."

War stopped pacing. He faced her, cracking his neck.

"You tried to tell us? What happened?" I asked, worried about what War would say or do next.

"I almost bumped into Blondie and told her I was looking for you."

Blondie? Who the fuck was that?

She noticed we all appeared confused. "The club girl with the dyed blonde hair, fake boobs, and winning personality."

Oh, fuck. Barbie. "What did Barbie say to you?"

She snorted. "Barbie. Right. Well, she said you were all getting ready to fuck Peaches and moved out of the doorway so I could see what she meant."

Son of a bitch! She saw Peaches naked on the bar and all of us standing there, staring at her body with lust-fogged brains. Only we didn't stick around. We weren't even tempted.

"We never fucked her," Trojan promised. "War and Raptor couldn't do it. I couldn't either. Not after you, Sydney. We didn't want the same used-up pussy after being with you. It's the fucking truth."

THEY DIDN'T FUCK PEACHES . Wow. I didn't expect that.

"Well, that doesn't mean you won't be tempted later." I sighed. "I wanted you all to know that I tried. I didn't set out to keep this from you, but after Barbie and Peaches, I was done."

Trojan sat beside me. "I can see how it would look. And fuck, it was how things were before you came to the clubhouse. We shared women, uh," he trailed off, realizing what he was about to say.

"Often," I filled in for him. "I get it. It's your lifestyle. I just won't let it become mine."

Raptor joined us, taking the empty spot on my right. "Explain this so we can fix it. There's more."

"My ex," I sighed. "Daryl cheated. He hurt me. I won't be treated like that again."

War approached, stopping only a foot away, and I looked up, catching his furious expression. "When you say he hurt you, give detail."

Damn, he sounded murderous.

"He was physical a few times, but that came later in the relationship. Daryl used me. He stole twenty-five thousand dollars from me." Just thinking about it upset me.

"The fuck?" War roared. "Tell me everything he did to you. Every fucking detail."

I stared at him with a frown. "Why do you care?"

His lip curled into a snarl. "Because you're the mother of our babies. And he's gonna fucking suffer for this."

"But why do you care, War? You've made it clear you're not happy about any of this."

His neck popped as he cracked it, then rolled his shoulders, finally dropping to one knee. "Because you're mine. Ours," he corrected. "I'm an asshole, but it doesn't mean I don't want you here. You belong with us, Sydney."

I shook my head. "Not good enough. You want honesty from me? You can't hold back either?"

War nodded. "Alright, Beautiful Ball Buster, here it is. I fucking care because you've taken up residence right here." He tapped his heart. "No one gets in there. Nobody."

I opened my mouth to reply but decided I wanted to hear the rest first.

"Club girls don't mean shit to me. I don't give a fuck about any of them." War reached for my hands and held them, holding my gaze as he swallowed. "I don't let people in because I've got a fucked up past. Things were done to me, Sydney. Dark, evil shit I don't want to taint you with, okay?"

I frowned. "But—"

"No, Beautiful. It's not gonna touch you. None of it." He squeezed my hands. "Or the babies. We'll protect and keep you all safe. Give us a chance, and we'll make you happy. Give me a chance, Sydney. I want to be a man you can count on."

When he asked like that, how could I refuse?

None of it was some overwhelming declaration of love, but I didn't need that from them. It wasn't realistic. They didn't know me well, and I certainly hadn't spent much time around them. But for our babies, I had to give this a real shot.

"Okay."

"Yeah?" His features softened.

"Yes."

"Then you'll stay with us, Sydney? Live here at the clubhouse?" Trojan clarified.

"I'll give it a chance." I cleared my throat. "That means no pussy."

"What about yours?" Trojan asked with a wicked grin.

"It's up for discussion."

Raptor whooped and lowered his head, pressing his lips to mine. His hand rested on my stomach. The babies chose to move at that moment, both kicking as my stomach wobbled. He jolted. "Wow."

War's eyes widened. "Shit. Does that hurt?"

"No." I pulled War's hand against my belly. "Feel."

"Holy shit," he exclaimed. "They're ferocious in there."

I laughed. "Yeah. They're hungry." I yawned. "And I'm tired."

War picked me up and settled my back against the mattress while Raptor covered me with a blanket. "What do you want to eat?"

"Chicken nuggets, fries, red grapes without the seeds, and lemonade. Wait. A cheeseburger, too. With everything."

"Got it. Just need one more thing from you."

"Oh?" I asked, already burrowing beneath the blanket as my head rested on a pillow.

"Gotta know who made you cry and why."

Raptor and Trojan turned toward him.

"She was crying?"

"When?"

"Found her like that," War explained. "Sydney?"

I sighed. "My parents. My dad is a preacher. They're very traditional and religious."

"And they don't approve of you or your choices?" War asked.

"No. Nothing about me is good enough for them."

My eyes fluttered and closed. A soft sigh fell from my lips.

Someone kissed my forehead.

"For what it's worth, we like you just as you are," Trojan announced.

"We'll be back soon, Little Heathen," War murmured.

I had a feeling that nickname would stick.