Chapter Seven

Delany

I didn't know what to expect when Dr. Jackson asked me to step into the hall with her. I thought she needed to tell me something about Harlow. Instead, I stared at several bikers, and one was very fucking familiar.

To say seeing Harlow's dad after all this time shocked me, was an understatement. I honestly didn't know what he was doing here, but I didn't care. All I wanted right now was to know if he was a genetic match to my daughter and whether he was willing to donate his bone marrow.

I still couldn't believe, after all this time, he just appeared out of thin air. What the hell was he doing here, anyway?

"Momma?"

"Yeah, baby?"

"Who's that?"

Turning, the man of the hour stood at the door, his eyes transfixed on my daughter. God, it wasn't until that moment that I realized how much Harlow resembled her dad.

They were nearly identical.

Slowly getting to my feet, I stepped in front of my daughter, disrupting his view.

"Are you here to cause problems, or help?"

"Help."

"What about them out there?"

"We only want to help Delany. I give you my word."

"I don't know you well enough to trust your word. All I know is the note you left. I don't even know your name."

"My name is Storm."

"That's not your legal name."

"Jason Calloway. You know my mom, Stacy, and I believe you are good friends with my sister, Robin. My mom owns Calloway Bar & Grill."

"Jesus. You are the CEO of Calloway Investments."

He nodded.

"Well, this is just perfect," I sneered. "Not only is my daughter's sperm donor the CEO of the very company that fired me, but he is also a damn biker. How does that work, Mr. Calloway? Suit during the day, leather and bikes at night? Are you going to tell me you are a caped crusader next?"

"I will explain everything, but right now, we need to talk about our daughter."

"No!" I growled, marching over to him. "You don't get to do that. You don't get to appear after two and a half years and act like you have a right to anything. Harlow is my daughter. I was the one who went through eighteen hours of labor without you. I was the one who stayed up all night, pacing the floor because she wouldn't sleep. I was the one who spent hours upon hours in doctor's offices and emergency rooms worried sick. I'm the one who rocks her to sleep, gives her baths, reads her favorite books. You know nothing about my daughter. Nothing."

He clenched his jaw.

I knew I had hit below the belt, but I refused to let him walk in here and assume he had any kind of say.

Harlow was my daughter.

Not his.

"I know you are angry. You have every right to be. But let's get one thing straight, Delany. It takes two to tango, and you were a very willing participant when I was fucking your tight pussy and giving you all those orgasms."

"I was drunk."

"So was I."

"You should have worn a condom."

"You should have told me you were a virgin."

"Momma," Harlow whimpered, right before she started throwing up again. Rushing back over to her, I grabbed the plastic basin, holding it for her as I pushed her hair out of her face.

Looking up, I wasn't surprised to find Jason gone.

Shaking my head, I tried to soothe Harlow as she retched into the small basin. When I thought she was done, I placed the basin on the small rolling table next to her bed, then reached for the rag I kept close.

Wiping her face, the door slammed open again, as a frantic-looking Jason Calloway stood, panting as he shouted, "Not messing around, Tessa. Fix it!"

Dr. Jackson walked in, shaking her head. "She's sick, Storm. Kids throw up."

"Give her something to make it stop."

"Nothing works. Whatever we give Harlow only makes it worse. The only thing that will help is a bone marrow transplant, and we won't know if you are a match for another forty-eight hours. Till then, chill out. Just follow Delany's lead. She knows what's best for Harlow."

"Tessa?" my daughter whispered.

"Yes, sweetheart." Dr. Jackson smiled, walking over.

"I'm hungry."

"I know, sweetie. Let me go see what I can find. How about some Jell-O?"

"Orange?"

"Sure thing," Tessa said, turning to Jason. "Listen to Delany and do not upset Harlow or you will have me to deal with too. Got me?"

Jason nodded as Dr. Jackson left, leaving us alone.

After giving Harlow a drink of water, I tucked her back into the bed, making sure she had her teddy with her.

Getting up, I grabbed the basin and the washcloth and walked over to the adjoining bathroom, dumping the contents of the basin into the toilet before flushing. Standing in front of the sink, I rinsed the basin and the washcloth before heading back to Harlow, only to find Jason sitting beside her, his trembling hand hovering over her little head, almost as if he was afraid to touch her.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I shouldn't have left like I did. Nothing I say will excuse my actions that night. All I can say is that I'm here now and I hope we can find a way to work together and move forward."

I really didn't know what to say to that. I believed his words were sincere, but I didn't know him. All I knew of him was his past actions, and that wasn't saying much. While I accepted my part in Harlow's existence, I was trying to give Jason the benefit of the doubt. For the last two and a half years, he'd lived his life thinking everything was as it should be and now, he knew it wasn't. Had I known he was Robin's brother, I would have reached out. Hell, I never met Robin's brother. I wasn't around growing up like the rest of my friends, and when I did return to the city, everything was different, new.

"She's so small."

I nodded. God, my baby girl had always been small. Even as a baby, she was tiny. Just a little bitty thing, but she was perfect.

At least, I thought she was.

"She looks like me."

"Yes, she does," I whispered.

Jason looked at me. "I really am sorry, Delany."

"I know, but it doesn't matter. Right now, all I can concentrate on is Harlow."

He nodded, then, getting to his feet, he reached into his back pocket, before handing me a small piece of paper. "That is my personal number. The number at the bottom is the direct line to the club. You can't reach me on my cell, call the club. They will know how to get hold of me."

Taking the small note, I nodded but said nothing.

"Look, Delany," he started, looking anxious and nervous. "I don't know what to do or say here. I'm still trying to process everything. I was a bachelor an hour ago. Now I'm a father. That's a lot to take in."

I stood rooted to my spot, refusing to say a word.

"I'm going to get out of here. As soon as Bane gets the results and if I'm a match, Bane will set everything up. Don't worry about the medical bills. I'll take care of it."

"I don't want your money."

"Wasn't offering," he growled, his eyes snapping to mine. "Don't need a fucking DNA test to know she's mine, and I take care of what's mine. Just call if she needs anything."

With that, Jason Calloway, the CEO of Calloway Investments, left.

I thought it funny because for the second time since we've met, he left me a note.

Only this time, I had his number.