Chapter 12

12

Sniper – One Week Later

I laugh, watching Autumn try to intimidate the penguin on the other side of the glass, bobbing side to side, giggling. She's wearing her penguin leggings and a white T-shirt with, as you can guess, a penguin on it.

The girl is obsessed.

She walks toward the glass, putting her hand on it, and I grin and look toward Rory, expecting her to be taking a million fucking photos like she normally does, only to see her looking at her stomach with a furrowed brow, and I snort; it's the eighth time I've caught her doing it.

She glares my way, and I grin, confirming, already aware of her problem. "Firecracker, you're not showing yet; you're only five weeks pregnant. You wouldn't have even known if you didn't feel sick."

She scrunches her nose in a cute way, looks down at her stomach again, and snaps, "I swear I'm showing, Theo." Her eyes widen as she looks at me. "Oh no, the baby's going to take after you, aren't they. I'm going to give birth to a ten-pound baby."

I can't help it. I laugh, but instead of getting mad, she rolls her eyes and looks toward our girl, who instantly distracts her as she gasps, "Oh, Theo, look at her…."

Awe erupts from her, making me smile as she grabs her phone and takes several photos.

I shake my head. I won't admit it to her because, well, her hormones are all over the place right now, but she does look like she has a small bump already, and she's only five weeks.

If this baby is ten pounds, then I'm fucked; she's going to kill me.

Chuckling, I walk her way, coming up behind her and wrapping my arms around her. She leans back against me, my hands going to her belly, my chin to the top of her head, and we watch Autumn with the penguins while Aurora takes photos.

Fuck, I love my life….

"I can't believe she's three," Aurora whispers a few minutes later, and I smile.

Today is our girl's birthday, which is why we're at the aquarium. All she wanted was to see the penguins, and her wish was my command.

I hum, watching our daughter, my thumb gently rubbing my girl's belly.

Guilt fills me, but I will it away because I won't fucking lose her. I can't.

I wanted her in my home by now, but every time I try to bring up the MC, she changes the fucking subject, and before I knew it, one week turned to two, then three, and suddenly, five fucking months have passed, but now we're expecting a baby, a baby I guaranteed would happen, a baby we cannot bring home into that apartment.

I squeeze her tighter to me. Fuck, she's going to skin me alive when she realizes not only did I lie about who I am to get her to marry me, but that I also messed with her birth control pills, taking notes from Breaker, who did the same with his woman, Quinn.

I mean, Quinn was pissed for a little while but was fine, eventually, so surely this would be the same, right?

Nope, not the same , a voice whispers in my head.

Fuck's sake, I even forgot to tell her I had a blood brother. I think I'm still in the doghouse after Amber stopped us in the street, after which I repeatedly lied to Rory.

She thinks Amber just saw me naked coming out of the shower, when in reality, I fucked her with Breaker several times.

Worst fucking mistake.

I place my face into my girl's neck right as my phone vibrates. I silently curse, knowing it's the club.

It's family BBQ day, and I know my momma will have my ass if I don't show up, but it's our girl's birthday, for Christ's sake.

I groan, kissing my girl's neck, and she whispers, "Got an emergency, huh?"

I nod in her neck and rasp, "I'll be back before Autumn wakes from her nap."

She hums and says, "Okay, but just so you know, you're still in the doghouse."

I chuckle, kissing her neck before looking at Autumn to see her yawning.

"Hmm, perfect timing, Princess," I mumble, and Aurora chuckles, walking out of my hold and going to our girl. I rush after her, grabbing Autumn before Rory can and lift her. Autumn's head goes to my shoulder, and I raise a brow at Rory, who huffs and walks out of the penguin viewing room.

I chuckle and follow her, stating, "We need to go to the gift shop first, Firecracker…."

She looks back at me with a smile and heads that way, while I silently promise always to make her smile.

An hour and a half later, and I walk into the club, fucking pissed off.

It's my girl's birthday, and I know she's sleeping, but I should be with them or, fuck, they should be coming here with me so the whole club can celebrate, but they can't because I lied and I'm already in the doghouse as it is, though buying Autumn the biggest penguin stuffie opened the door a little.

I notice Tats instantly, he's talking to his dad, Iron, who, in my opinion, should be fucking grateful his son gave him a second chance.

I walk over to them, and Tats raises a brow at me, his brown eyes looking at me knowingly, and I groan, knowing I'm going to have to give him something, especially when he, along with my brother and father, are the only ones who know the shit I've done.

I look at him and ask, "Remember the woman I've been seeing?" He nods. "Well, I'm in the doghouse."

Iron looks at me in shock because, yeah, I get it, I was a player, the biggest one in the club, but Aurora, yeah, she's everything.

"You finally told her you're part of an MC?" he asks with a raised brow as Iron is mid-drink.

Beer sprays in front of us, and Iron coughs as he chokes. Tats laughs, and I snort because that shit was fucking funny.

I shake my head and rasp, "No, she hasn't found out yet, but we did bump into Snake's ex, Amber, who decided to ask my woman if she'd seen how big my cock was yet."

Tats' eyes widen, and he asks, "How'd you explain that one, then?"

I wince. "I lied, told her she was my brother's ex-girlfriend, and had walked in on me in the shower once."

Iron laughs as Tats sighs. "Brother, you fucked her with Breaker."

I cringe and inquire, "I fucked up again, didn't I?" causing Tats to sigh again at my stupidity.

He replies, "Yeah, brother, you did. Not only does she still not know you're in an MC, a lifestyle she's completely against, but now you're lying about the women you've been with. I honestly don't think there's anything more you could do to screw up at this point except for fucking cheating."

Fuck…. I look down, biting my lip, and Iron snaps, "Please tell me you didn't fucking cheat on the girl."

I flinch that he'd think I do something like that. I look at him, admitting, "No, I would never do that. I've fallen madly in love with her…."

Tats grunts. "Then spit it out, brother. What have you done that's worse?"

I wince again and ask, "How about marrying her without her knowing the truth?"

Iron drops his bottle in shock, and Tats looks at me like I have two heads, before looking at my left hand, where my silver wedding band is.

He's quiet for a few minutes, processing before finally chuckling. His eyes look toward my momma, and then he mutters, "I don't know what you should be more scared of right now. The fact that your woman is going to have your balls, finding out you've basically lied to her for the past what year…." I nod, and he continues, "Or the fact your mother is going to kill you for stopping her from having her dream of watching at least one of her sons get married."

My eyes widen, and I can physically feel the blood drain from my face.

Snake had to tell Momma he eloped, the fucker.

I look toward my momma, then back toward Tats and his dad. "Fucking hell…it gets worse, brother."

And it fucking does….

Iron snorts. "How in the fuck can it get any worse than this?"

I swallow hard and admit, "My wife has just found out she's pregnant."

Okay, so I'm the cause of it, but they don't need to know that right now. I'm already up shit creek without a paddle.

"Fuck, son. Never mind about speaking to anyone, just pack your shit and run now, because when she finds out, you're a dead man walking," Iron chokes out, and I wince again, knowing damn well he's right.

My girl's a fucking spitfire when mad, hot as fuck, but scary, and add the hormones….

Fuck. I'm fucked.

"Oh, crap Jayden!" Violet's panicked voice snaps us out of our conversation, and we all look at her. Her eyes are wide as she looks at the floor where there's a puddle.

I open my mouth to question her just as Tats snaps out of his shocked state, drops his bottle, and rushes toward her, not seeing the chair in front of him.

It all fucking happens in slow motion, one minute, he's on his feet, and the next, he's tripping on the chair, sliding across the table, and falling on the floor on his back.

The room is quiet except for Violet's giggles, and I snort.

I fucking knew it, and honestly, Tats should have as well; I mean, he has pink in his hair, for fuck's sake.

"Please fucking tell me, Violet, that you are really in labor, and you didn't just trick me." Tats exclaims, and Violet full-blown laughs, making me and Iron chuckle.

She stutters, "I-I'm sorry. Meghan said it was funny to-to watch, and-and she was right."

Tats groans as Iron, who's trying to hold in his laughter, asks, "Fuck. Slicer's woman from the Untamed?"

She nods happily, and we all wince. Those women are a fucking nightmare, and with Violet now in touch with them…. We're all fucking doomed.

"Fuck, brother, never mind my problems. Yours are ten times worse," I whisper in horror, and help him up.

He takes a deep breath and shakes his head, rolling his shoulders. Suddenly, she gasps again. But he points at her. "Nope, not falling for it, Shorty."

She clears her throat, her eyes are wide and panicky. Everyone shouts for him not to fall for it, but my eyes go to the puddle on the floor, and I squeeze Tats' arm.

She's not joking this time.

Tat's rasps, "Doc…."

Doc jumps into action.

The clubhouse becomes manic as Vi doubles over in pain, screaming, "I feel pressure!" and Tats rushes over to her, quickly picking her up bridal style and heading to Doc's medical room. I smile, knowing they're finally becoming a family, pranks and all.

An hour later, after being questioned by my flipping mother about my whereabouts, I walk into the apartment and smile.

Autumn is still passed out on the couch where I left her. I walk to the kitchen and notice my girl baking Autumn's penguin cake, and I have to admit, she's done fucking well.

When she mentioned it, I told her I could get someone to bake the cake for her, you know, Olivia, who owns a bakery, or heck, even my fucking brother, who's the best chef I know, but she was adamant she wanted to do it.

She let slip that she hadn't been able to properly celebrate Autumn's first or second birthday, but she wouldn't explain more.

I know I don't want to break her trust any more than I already have, but my patience is running thin.

I'm going to end up speaking to Tech soon, I know it.

"Are you going just to stand there and stare?" she asks, a smile lacing her voice.

I grin, leaning my shoulder against the door frame, and tilting my head.

She's put her hair up in a messy bun, her light blue, strappy dress—I begged her to wear after buying it for her, hugging her figure lovingly.

She's fucking magnificent.

I hum and admit, "I quite like the view."

She looks at me, her cheeks are a little red but her smile is wide, making me smile back.

"Did you sort out the emergency?" she asks, and I swallow hard.

I fucking hate lying to her.

Clearing my throat, I admit, "I had to go to the clubhouse." She stills, her whole body tensing. I continue, "Tats, a brother I grew up with and went to school with," not a lie, "his woman played a prank on him." Aurora turns toward me, furrowing her brows, and I continue, "She pretended to go into labor, and the fucker ended up tripping over a chair in panic, slid across the table, and landed with a very heavy thud on the floor before she started laughing."

I know she doesn't want to, but her grin breaks out.

I nod. "She ended up actually going into labor a few minutes later." Her eyes widen, and I smile. "They had a very beautiful and very healthy baby boy, Freddie Anton Rodriguez."

Aurora's eyes soften, and she whispers, "That's good."

I nod and comment, "This is the first time you've not cut me off when I've spoken about the MC." I tilt my head. "Talk to me, Rory…."

She flinches, wrings her hands together, opens her mouth, and hope builds. She's about to tell me her past when we hear, "Momma, Daddy," and I sigh.

Dammit….

I smile at my girl and say, "I've got her. You finish the cake."

She nods, looking way too relieved for my liking, and I walk into the living room, my heart in my throat, questions running around my mind, and one of them, the one killing me….

Did a brother hurt her?