“Everything will be alright, brother,” I say, trying to soothe him, but it doesn’t work. When his knee bounces, I sigh, concern hitting me for him.
He and Lake have been through so much shit, their problems just aren't as serious as they thought at the time. I fucking hope and pray they can overcome this, not just for their relationship but for their daughter as well, especially with Lake wanting to give her up for adoption.
“Will it,” he asks, “Everything just seems so fucking stupid now, all the arguments, the insults, the reason why I lost my shit and now look where we are, because of me and my stupidity.”
Fuck he’s spiraling.
“Don’t be so hard on yourself, Jaylen. Years of being told not to trust Cherri’s daughter were bound to fuck you up a little. Then finding out you fell in love with her before either of you connected the dots,” I mutter, but he shakes his head and chuckles, “Even if I had known who she was, I still would have made her mine. I only walked away the day we met because of fear. If she hadn’t come after me, I can guarantee I would have gotten you to find her.”
I grin as he looks at me because, yeah, he would have done. We brothers, as soon as we realize a woman is ours, then that’s it, we’ll do everything in our power to claim them and keep them, no matter their relationships.
Luna with the Furies MC, Skylar being Blade’s illegitimate sister that his Mama actually raised, and Lake being Cherri’s biological daughter.
Then there’s my Raya, who is adamant that we were a mistake, my sister's rich best friend.
“I’ve missed her, brother,” Viper admits as he looks at the door, “And not just this past week, I’ve missed her for five months and the reason I was always a dick when we bumped into each other is because I hated how much I missed her. My head wasn’t able to understand she wasn’t after my cut like every brother claimed.”
“It will all be alright,” I reply, needing him to see that they’ll make it, that the club will make sure of it. He sighs as he drops his head, exhaustion noticeable.
“Do you still see a future with her, brother?” I ask, and he’s quiet for a moment before he finally admits, “I never not saw a future with her,” I nod and confirm, “Even though she slept with someone else?” knowing Lake wasn’t in her right mind.
Apparently, some guy slipped her the date rape drug to make her more compliant. She allowed him to take her from behind at the Dive. The idiot gloated at the strip club where Viper was drowning his sorrows and he beat him to death which is why he went nomad. He was a ticking time bomb and needed to leave.
Viper growls, and I chuckle and say, “I’m just saying, can you get past that?”
More importantly, can Raya get past it? That's what I’m basically asking, because if Viper can after having a full-blown relationship with Lake, then surely Raya can with me.
He sighs, “Yeah, I can. I licked Kitty out, something I completely regret, and vomited afterwards. I wasn’t even drunk like she was, so yeah, I can get over it. I love her so fucking much, I was just angry that she never told me about her connection to the club. Then, I was even more angry because I knew I blew it way out of proportion that day in the diner. Especially when I knew she had no idea I was club and things just escalated too far,” he sighs and admits, “I allowed my anger to take hold and I took it out on her instead of having a rational conversation with her, and now, I need to try and convince her that things will be different, that she can be a mama.”
“You will, brother, she loves you, and hopefully being here, that will make her realize it,” I reply before the door opens, and he quickly stands, making me chuckle.
Lake slowly walks in, her eyes going to me first, and they widen a little as I smirk, so she knows exactly what I want before she rolls her eyes, making me grin.
She knows I’m here because of Raya, but also because I want to make sure she’s alright.
I watch as she looks at Viper, and relief shines in her pretty dark green eyes as they tear up and she whispers, “You’re here,” and I smile as Viper replies, “Where else would I be, shorty?”
Her eyes tear again as he walks over to her, getting in her space, and I watch with a small smile as she grips his shirt while he kisses her head.
Fuck, I want that with Raya, so fucking badly.
How could I have been so blinded?
“You look tired, shorty,” I hear Viper whisper, and I look as he cups her cheek, looking over her, and he’s right, she does look tired.
Is she struggling with therapy?
Lake smiles sadly as she admits, “I’m not sleeping very well…”
I furrow my brows. We made sure she had everything she needed unless…
The shirt on her bed pops back into my head while Viper nods, coming to the same conclusion as me, before he says, “Come take a seat,” and I know he’ll grab it for her before he returns next week.
Fuck, Raya didn’t want to give it away to Viper how much Lake needed him, not wanting to break her trust, but he already realized she slept in his shirt the day he found her in the shower.
Lake gives him a tired smile as he gently wraps his arm around her waist, helping her sit, while I watch her closely.
She has gained weight and looks healthier, but lines have appeared underneath her eyes.
