Chapter 7 Sydney

" Y ou need any help?" Clarise asked when I opened the front door of the house, bringing in an armful of groceries. We needed much more than I anticipated when I decided to make the trip.

Mental note: Don't wait until the cupboards are bare to buy food.

"If you want to start putting things away, I'll go out for the rest.

"Deal."

I heard her move into the kitchen as I walked back out, making two trips to stack all the bags on the counter. A few rested on the table as she dug through them. "Just need to grab my crackers," I announced before returning to my truck.

Saltine crackers and gingersnap cookies had been a lifesaver since that first day I got sick. My stomach had felt queasy for months, and smells still bothered me. I couldn't stand fish. Scented oils and perfumes, too.

It had finally gotten better once I reached about twelve weeks. Now, at about fourteen weeks, I didn't need the crackers or gingersnaps as often, but I still stocked up whenever I went to the store. Who knew if it would come back? Twins sort of made things unpredictable.

As if the thought conjured a bit of nausea, I had one of those empty stomach burps that preluded a vomiting session and groaned. I needed a cookie.

One of the biggest triggers for me had been going too long without eating. My body didn't like it one bit. I reached for the box of gingersnaps and opened it, taking a giant bite of cookie. Chewing, I grabbed a few more and then closed the box, shoving it into my handbag before draping the strap across my shoulder. As I backed out and shut my driver's side door, the rumble of motorcycle engines caught my attention.

It couldn't be. Not after all this time.

I stood still as three riders rumbled to a stop in front of Clarise's house. Blinking, I couldn't get beyond the surprise of their arrival. Why now? How did they find me? The engines silenced as I swallowed the last bite of the cookie. Three big bikers rose off their seats and headed my way—a heavily inked trio of outlaws in black leather, dark denim, and shitkicker boots.

I couldn't tell anything from their stiff posture or carefully guarded expressions and wondered if they came here for more than the memory of the night we shared.

Raptor stepped toward me first. "Hey, Sydney."

"Hi." Um, this is awkward. "How did you find me?" Why was that the first question I asked? It certainly wasn't the one I wanted to know the most.

Trojan shrugged. "Not hard when you're best friends with a club princess."

"You have a point."

War remained silent, but I felt his bold perusal slide over my body. He didn't hide the attraction in his gaze or the hunger inside his vivid green eyes. Underneath it, also far too obvious, was anger. Was he pissed that I left without saying goodbye?

"We have unfinished business," Raptor announced.

We did? How about that naked girl on the bar and all their eager dicks? I wished I could believe they wanted me as badly as they tried to convey, but I knew how many women were available to them. That club had a constant display of tits and ass. I had a hard time believing I was special to any of them.

"I don't see how," I finally replied.

War seemed agitated. His jaw clenched. Raptor scowled.

Trojan moved toward me, his brows drawn tightly together in a frown. "We probably deserve that since we never reached out to you."

Yeah, but I did. Sure, it was six weeks later, and for pregnancy results, not sex, but I had momentous, life-changing news. These bikers had already moved on, eager to fuck another willing woman and get their dicks wet. It was crude but true.

Did I enjoy myself last time? Oh, hell yeah. Would I do it again? No. It had nothing to do with the pregnancy. It was the reality that life in a biker club meant my guy couldn't or wouldn't be faithful. I saw firsthand how it meant nothing to them to switch off partners.

"I called you," War revealed, breaking the tense silence.

No. I would have remembered that.

"You said you weren't interested. To stop calling and lose your number. You fucking hung up on me." He sounded pissed.

Wait. I tried to think back over the three and a half months since I'd been to the clubhouse. Not once did I ever receive a call like that.

"It was about a month and a half after you left," he added as if to jog my memory.

My eyes widened. "Oh. That was you ?"

"Yeah." His eyes blazed a wild green.

"I thought you were a telemarketer."

"You would've known if you didn't rush off the call."

Yeah. He was right. "I'm sorry about that. I really didn't know it was you, War."

Some of his anger faded. "Would it have changed anything if you did?"

"I don't know," I answered, being honest.

He seemed to accept that answer.

I cleared my throat. "I still don't understand why you're here now."

It was almost comical and a bit too endearing. They showed up like lost puppies longing for affection. But they weren't innocent, and I couldn't let their charm sway my heart.

I had more than my life to think about. Two tiny souls depended on me now. I had to be strong and think of their future. Raptor, Trojan, and War deserved to learn about this pregnancy, but I didn't want to reveal it yet. There was time. I wasn't showing much yet. My baggy tee hid my slightly rounded tummy.

"We'd like you to come back to the clubhouse," Raptor clarified, "and pick up where we left off."

As the personal fuck toy of their trio. There was a slim, open window for that, and it closed the day I took that pregnancy test. The positive result changed my life. "That's not enough."

All three of them blinked like it had never occurred to them that I would answer that way.

"I'm not a club girl, or sweet butt, or whatever else you call the women who like to fuck you and expect nothing in return. That's not me. I had a fun night, but now I have to face reality. There's no place for me in the biker lifestyle."

War stomped off, sat on the seat of his bike, fired up the engine, and rode off like hellhounds were barking at the heels of his boots.

"You're wrong about that," Raptor replied before swinging a leg over his seat and following War.

Trojan stood long after the engines faded. His hands shoved into the pockets of his jeans; he gave me a small smile. "It's good you know what you want. Don't let anyone ever dictate shit to you, Bright Eyes. Make your own path."

That was what I intended to do. I had enough people in my life wanting to dictate my decisions or judge me for my choices.

"Would you ever consider coming back?"

"Why? I fail to see how I could mean anything more to you than the women you already have around."

He sighed. "If you knew us better, you'd realize how wrong you are. I can't make you give us a chance, but I hope you will. You want time? Space? We'll give it to you."

"Thank you, Trojan."

"But it's not the last time you'll see any of us, baby."

Before I could do more than blink, he approached me, dropped a kiss on my forehead, and moved to his bike. God, his confidence and swagger were almost too much. On any other man, I would find it unattractive. But Trojan? It was part of his personality. Same with that panty-melting grin.

He winked as he dropped his ass on the seat. "Stay safe, Bright Eyes."

I stayed on the lawn, watching him ride down the street, in no hurry to disappear from my sight. Neighbors stared.

Trojan ticked his chin at a few of them. Only one little girl waved back. People sure liked to judge, didn't they?

"Damn. Who were those bikers?" Clarise asked as she joined me.

"My baby daddies." It would be funny if it weren't so brutally true.

"Are you fist fucking me?"

"Wow." Clarise's colorful language still shocked me.

"Oh, fuck," she laughed. "Don't act shocked. Anyway, how are you not dropping your panties for them again?"

"That's not happening."

"I don't see why not. They can't knock you up again."

"Oh my god. Why are you like this?"

She snorted. "Think of all the great orgasms you're missing out on."

I already did. It wasn't worth doing if Raptor, War, and Trojan could fuck anyone they wanted whenever they felt like it. I was a jealous girl, and I didn't share. If I ever went back, they'd have to keep their dicks in their pants. It was sex with me or no one.

Wait. Was I considering it?

Clarise burst into laughter, clutching her side. "Sydney, you should see your face. You're just as hot and bothered and ready to go as they are. I've never seen men that eager for pussy they had to chase down."

"Stop talking." I shook my head. "You're terrible."

"Becca would agree with me."

"Don't you dare tell her."

"I can't promise shit."

Yeah. She'd tell her as soon as my bestie arrived.

With a shrug, I followed Clarise inside, but not before I let a small smile creep over my lips.

If Trojan, War, and Raptor wanted me, they'd have to work for it.