Chapter 17

17

Sniper – One Month Later

I storm into Momma's house, trying to control my anger that's threatening to boil over.

"I can't have another baby like this, Theo. I can't," she cries.

I blink, sniffing hard, walking through the kitchen to the backyard, hearing the laughter and chatter. Rory's words fill my head, the pain that radiated from her, my anger taking over.

"Like fucking what?" I shout, "Into a life of love and happiness?"

I shake my head as I walk through the glass sliding door, and Autumn shouts, "Daddy!" and runs my way with the biggest grin, making my heart soar. I smile, catch her, and swing her up and around, before placing her on my hip. Again, I wonder what my woman went through and who Autumn's biological father really is, her words haunting me.

"Full of pain and lies…. I can't have another child like that," she whispers back, and I feel like I've just been punched in the gut.

I tear up, and I put my lips to my little girl's head, the thought of Autumn being conceived through pain killing me.

What the fuck happened to them?

What is she hiding from me?

"Son?" my dad questions, and I look his way. He's standing near the grill, his brows furrowed.

I shake my head, look at Autumn, and coax, "Why don't you go play in your new sandbox with Daisy before we go home, Princess."

She nods enthusiastically, making us all chuckle as I place her on the ground, and she runs off, her yellow dress swishing as she runs, her curly red hair going haywire.

Who the fuck is her biological father?

What did he do?

"What's happened, baby?" Momma asks, standing near me as Snake walks over from where his woman and daughter, Daisy, sit near the sandbox.

"Theodore," he rumbles, and I shake my head, reality hitting me.

Fuck, she really is looking into abortions….

Full of pain and sorrow, my eyes on my daughter. I whisper, "For the past year, my woman has refused to bring up her past, her family. All I know is that her momma died, and her father works in the Navy but left on a mission when she was seventeen…." I run a frustrated hand through my hair and admit, "I only know she's from New York because of Breaker seeing that missing person photo. She wouldn't explain it; she wouldn't explain how she knows the Huntsmen, fucking nothing, and yet…." I shake my head, looking at my family. "I just caught my fucking wife, who is thirteen weeks pregnant, looking at abortion options."

Momma gasps as my dad takes a step back, my brother rasping, "What the fuck?"

"She-she can't right?" Momma stutters.

I shrug. "It's her body, Momma; I've already made sure she's not left alone, fuck, there's a prospect on the house now. I don't know how I can stop her if she plans to go through with it."

Dad cuts in, "Can't you convince her to speak to Emily to help her get everything off her chest?"

I scoff, "She's been seeing Emily since moving to town." Their eyes widen, and I nod. "Yeah, I was shocked when Emily smacked my head, then had a go at me for lying to Rory, and then admitted she's her counsellor after I demanded to know how she knew my wife. I begged her to tell me what she's spoken about, but patient confidentiality. And she's not dumb; she got Tech to put some special shit on her files so even he can't access them, which is ridiculous. Why in the fuck did he agree to do that shit?"

Momma adds, "Maybe Emily will speak to me?"

I give her a small smile and ask, "Do you really want to put a woman you entrusted as mine and Snake's godmother in that position."

Momma winces and admits, "No, but I also don't want your wife to do something she may well regret, and we all know she will." She looks toward my daughter before looking back at me and whispers, "She is an amazing mother, that little girl is proof of that. It will kill her if she gets rid of this child."

My dad nods as Snake rasps, "You may not be able to lock her up completely, but I will if I have to. I'll be the bad guy, brother, I don't mind."

I bite my bottom lip, and then admit, "A part of me, a small part, wants to do that, but I also don't want her to hate the club any more than she already does. I think, fuck, I think I may need Tech to have a look into her past, and maybe we need to contact the Huntsmen if we don't find out the truth within the next two weeks. I don't want to break her trust any more than I already have, but I also don't want to lose my family because that's what she is to me, family, along with my little girl and the baby—they fucking complete me!"

Dad nods in agreement as Snake grips my shoulder in support as my eyes go to my little girl, whose giggling with Daisy, melting my heart.

I can't fucking lose my family.

Two Days Later

I look to my right, keeping one hand on the wheel and the other on my wife's knee. My eyes quickly take her in as she watches the world go by, her curly red hair down framing her face, the yellow skater dress suiting her, and her bump looking cute.

Fuck, she's perfect.

I look back at the road as Autumn's quiet giggles echo around us, along with Alexander's coos. I know my girl is itching to swat my hand away, I can feel the tension in her, but she won't, not with the kids in the back.

Today is Tech and Brook's wedding. Tech decided to take a leaf outta Smokey's book and surprise his girl.

He wants his ring on her finger, and he is not willing to wait for her acceptance of a proposal, and then plan a wedding, and I don't fucking blame him.

They've been through a lot, and the baby in the back is lucky to be alive, as is Brook.

They deserve all the happiness in the fucking world, and I'm willing to help as much as possible while also ensuring my girl doesn't do a runner.

She's on Alexander duty while also acting as maid of honor, and obviously, she's not going to reject the idea because, well, she loves Alexander and Brook.

Brook gave her the chance to flourish and reach her dream of working with animals. Alexander, well, much to the dismay of the old ladies, Brook made my girl his godmother. They've become real close since she started working at Summer's Vets, and my girl also watches Brook's brother and sister when needed.

It's just a shame she won't talk to me. She talks to everyone else but me. I haven't allowed her on her own since I walked into our living room and caught her looking up abortions, and she's angry at me.

Before, I had relaxed on the prospects, only having one to escort her to work, or I'd take her and pick her up, but when I saw that screen, fuck, I felt like someone had shot me in the gut.

She's thirteen weeks pregnant , and she's thinking of terminating the pregnancy for reasons I can't even understand.

Have I gone about things the right way? Fuck no, I know that, but I panicked when she said she hated MCs. I know I should have said who I was, I know I should have, but fuck, the woman has me in knots.

From the moment we locked eyes, I knew she was mine, I just knew it, and even though it scared me, I still pursued her, and I still gave her my heart.

I still guaranteed we'd become a family.

This woman and our little girl complete me. The baby is just an bonus, a light of happiness I don't want to lose.

I chew the inside of my cheek and squeeze my girl's kneecap, looking her way.

She looks at me, her green eyes popping with the mascara. I rasp, "I love you, you know that?"

Her eyes soften. I'm showing her my vulnerability, and she knows it. I can't help it; I'm scared.

She nods and replies, "I know, I love you too, that hasn't changed, Theo."

I give her half a smile but soon grin as I notice her eyes look down at my black button-down shirt.

I bite my bottom lip, then turn right onto the Summer's farm, Brook's family residence, where the surprise wedding is being held.

If Rory still loves me, then maybe I have a chance to win her over, right? I mean, she'll forgive me, right?

Fuck, I hope she forgives me….

Sighing, I pull up next to my dad's bike. He grins at seeing Autumn waving like mad, shouting Grandpa through the window, and walks over to help her out. I chuckle, climbing out myself, about to round the truck to grab my girl, but as stubborn as she is, I hear her door open and then shut, and I groan.

Dad chuckles. "Still not talking to you?"

I smile at him and admit, "She admitted to still loving me, so that's something, right?"

His eyes soften as Autumn places her head on his shoulder, and he nods. "It's definitely something to hold onto."

We both look toward my girl and see her paying all her attention to Alexander, her lips tilting.

"Fuck me, that smile…." I whimper.

I rarely get to fucking see it nowadays.

My dad hums and states, "If she goes through with an abortion, I think it'll kill her, son. Your momma was right, that girl loves kids…."

I nod. "I know, Dad. I'm trying my hardest to ensure she doesn't go through with it, and she's hating me because of it."

He squeezes my shoulder, and I look at him to see his attention is now elsewhere, making me grin.

He grins at my daughter and says, "All right, my Pumpkin Princess." Autumn giggles, and my dad continues, "Are you ready to walk down the aisle with a bunch of big dogs?"

Autumn nods enthusiastically, making us laugh. The kid is more obsessed with animals than Brook and Aurora, which is saying something.

Fuck, the only reason Aurora hasn't adopted several animals is because of the size of the apartment. That can change now, though, and I'll make sure of it.

They can have fucking goats for all I care, as long as they're happy.

Shaking my head, I look toward my girl. Her eyes are solely on our daughter, a small smile on her face, and mine instantly softens.

It's this look that she has right now that makes me believe nothing truly bad would have happened with Autumn's conception, but my gut is telling me something bad is about to happen, something that's going to tear me apart, and I just fucking hope I can stay standing by the end of it, so my girls are not left alone, that my baby is going to be okay.

The feeling intensifies in my gut, and I swallow hard and walk over to my woman as my dad goes to where Brook's sister Josy and brother Ollie are standing, along with the five German shepherds, and Sammy, Brook's Labrador.

Autumn is in love with Sammy, and I will admit, I'm currently in talks with Brook about adopting him, and she's happy to do it, knowing he'll be at the club all the time.

I take advantage of Aurora holding Alexander and wrap my arms around her from the side, placing my face into her neck. She tenses but doesn't try to move away. Instead, she leans into me, causing hope to build.

"I'll walk through the heavens and the earth for you, my Firecracker. Whatever you're hiding, you have two weeks to tell me, or I'm getting Tech on it," I inform her, refusing to break her trust again, and her whole body freezes.

Slowly, I kiss her neck and inhale deeply, taking in her scent, before slowly guiding her down the aisle, all while repeating in my head….

Two weeks.

Two weeks.

Two weeks….