We’ve put plans in place in case I do go into labor and he’s not here with us. Talon will make sure I get to the hospital and Bronwan or Jaelyn will be in the room with me. Death has made sure I’ve got a bag packed and ready to go just in case something happens. There isn’t one for the baby yet because I haven’t ordered anything for him. I don’t want to get things without Death being with me. We’re in this together and I want him to help me pick out what our son wears and other things we’ll have for him. He doesn’t agree with it, but knows where I’m coming from. So, nothing has been done to get our boy anything else.
Shaking my head of the thoughts, I look at the counters in front of me. The island is covered in bowls with various batters filling them, I’ve got more bowls on the counter filled with frosting for cupcakes and a few cakes. Both ovens are going and it’s pretty warm in the kitchen. While I make cupcakes, cakes, miniature cakes, and muffins, I’m also cooking a few things for samples at the shop. New things I want to be able to offer for catering jobs. People tend to not know what they want unless they actually see the food and know it’s something we can offer them. So, by preparing more samples to offer, we’ll be expanding our menu. Jaelyn loves the idea and is fully on board with everything I’ve tried so far.
Plus, the guys here at the clubhouse are also my taste testers. A select few of them get to have a taste of anything new I make so we get their opinion on the food first. These men aren’t going to lie to us or tell us what they believe we want to hear. If they don’t like something, we know. When they love something, we get nothing but praise from them. Talon and Sabotage especially like the days they’re on guard duty because they get full plates of food and often times request more food to really make sure they’re able to truly taste test the food. I can’t help but laugh at them when they want more and more depending on what I’ve cooked that day.
“When are you gonna start orderin’ shit for the baby?” Talon asks me as I stir a few things on top of the stove.
“When Death gets home. He knows I haven’t ordered anything for him. We just talked about it last night. I don’t want to pick everything without him. I’ve done enough in his house since he’s been gone,” I tell him, my voice almost a whisper as tears fill my eyes. Yeah, I really miss him and want him home with me.
“Okay, Kels. I’m sure he’ll be home soon. I’ll call Judge in a little bit to find out what’s goin’ on. I know Death misses you guys like crazy and is tryin’ to get home to you every single day,” Talon tries to assure me, his voice gentle.
“There’s nothing we can do until his job is done, Talon. Judge and the club need his help and he’s been working every day to get it done. I don’t know details, nor do I want to. I just know every day gets a little bit harder without him here. There’s so much to do and not a ton of time left to get it all done. At the rate we’re going, we won’t have anything for our boy when I go into labor,” I tell him, a few tears sliding down my face.
“You’ll find out more tomorrow at your appointment. I’m taking you with Boxer, Sab, and Shank. There will be some Prospects goin’ with us too. You’ll get to see Death tonight and tomorrow durin’ your appointment. I know it’s not the same though. Trust me, if I could go, I’d take his spot over in a second. Judge wants him or Sabotage though. They’ve got better skills at trackin’ and shit than I do. Than most of us do,” he says, a smile on his face. “Death was so proud when he brought in his first guy. The guy had fucked over the club in multiple ways and tried to rape an ol’ lady. My brother didn’t sleep until he caught the guy hidin’ out in some kind of shelter. Death showed up and the fucker tried to use a woman as some sort of hostage situation. Instead of goin’ in guns blazin’, Death talked him into lettin’ the girl go and then knocked his ass out so he could get him back to the clubhouse. He was only a Prospect at the time.”
I smile at another small piece of information about the man I fall for every day. Our conversations are my favorite part of the day because it’s not all about sex. We learn about one another and share stories. He’s told me things I never would have guessed about him while I’ve told him more about growing up, my time with Vince, and having Brent. I was all alone when I had him and I don’t want it to be the same way now.
“Thank you for sharing that, Talon. I love hearing about Death and the way he was before I met him. The small parts of him that make up the man he is and the one he tries to hide from the world,” I tell him, pulling out a pan of cupcakes to cool on the racks before I frost them.
I work in silence as Talon messes with his phone, plays with Brent, and talks to a few guys who make their way in the kitchen to see what I’m doing and if anything is ready for them to sample. I make several plates for them. Today I’m making chicken parmigiana, some finger foods, fried mushrooms, and a few other dishes I’ve been playing around with the recipes of.
I’m about done for the day. Everything I’ve baked has been frosted, packaged, and stacked on the counter for the guys to take to the shop. All the food I’ve cooked has been packaged as well. One of the Prospects will be picking them up in a few minutes to gather everything and take it to Jaelyn. I’m so damn tired and just want to spend time with Brent, soak in a warm bath, and wait for Death to call me.
“Kels,” Bronwan calls out, making her way into the kitchen and straight to her husband for a kiss.
“Hey, Bron. What are you doing here today?” I return, a smile on my face in greeting.
“I came to collect you, of course,” she says, a mischievous smile on her face.
“For what?” I question my friend, not sure what the hell she’s talking about because I’m not supposed to leave the clubhouse.
“It’s a surprise. We’re not even leaving here. Just need you in the common room,” she says, walking up to me and grabbing my hand and leading me from the kitchen.
Laughing, I make my way to the common room with her. I gasp as soon as we enter. Taking in the normally plain room, I’m surprised to see balloons, streamers, plates, cups, and so many other things decorating this room. Everything is decorated in blues and greens. The tables have tablecloths on them, there’s two long tables filled with nothing but gifts, and the bar is covered in all sorts of food and drinks. Sitting around the room are the Rebels, Jaelyn, Hartley who I’ve never really interacted with, and Bronwan stands next to me.
“What is all this, Bronwan?”
“This is your baby shower. I know you and Death are waiting to buy what you need until he gets home. You really have nothing. He might have called me and asked me if I could get a few things for you. So, instead, we put this together. I know you’re missing him and you want him included in as much of the pregnancy as possible. This is big for both of you. Now, you get stuff you need for the baby and can go through it once he comes home,” Bronwan says, making my eyes fill with tears. “No crying today. You’ve got a family behind you now and there’s nothing we won’t do for you. You’ve stepped up despite not wanting to when Jae had the triplets and it’s time for us to step up for you.”
“She’s not wrong,” Hartley says, standing from the table with her daughter in her arms. “You didn’t once ask for help and took everything on your shoulders. While being pregnant and thinking you were going to have to do everything alone. Not to mention the situation you have going on. This is something we want to do for you, Kelsey. I know I don’t know you that well, but we’ll be changing that. Us ol’ ladies need to stick together.”
“Why the fuck are we here again?” one of the Rebels asks. I’m pretty sure it’s the bitch I put on the ground when she touched Death at the Fourth of July party.
“You’re here because the club is giving you a place to fucking stay, food, money, anything you want. Kelsey is in an ol’ lady and you will fucking respect her. I find you disrespecting her and I’ll beat your ass before letting Death hand out any punishment he sees fit. Not thinking you want to deal with him when it comes to Kelsey. He’s possessive as fuck and already in a shitty mood because he’s not here with her. That’s your choice to make, though,” Hartley addresses all the Rebels at one time while glaring at them.
The first thing we do is eat the amazing food Jae brought from the shop. Everything I’ve been working on over the last few days fills the top of the bar. I fill a plate for myself and sit down with the other ol’ ladies. We talk and laugh without paying much attention to the Rebels. I’m sure they want nothing to do with me because I’ve taken another one of their guys from them and it’s one less cock they have to ride whenever they meet.
Once we’re done eating, Bronwan gets some games set up and I can’t help but laugh at the women as they shout and holler about how big my stomach is, the name of our son, and so many other things. I honestly almost piss myself I’m laughing so hard with the outlandish guesses some of the girls are making about the baby’s name. Their reasoning is Death isn’t a normal guy and they can’t see his son’s name being anything but crazy and out there. I happen to love the name we’ve chosen for our son.
Before opening up the gifts everyone, including the guys, have gotten us, I make my way to the bathroom in the hall off the common room. Taking care of business, I step up to the sink to wash my hands when the door opens behind me. I’m glad there are a few stalls in here in case I was still going to the bathroom. This time I know it’s the bitch I put on her ass at the party. She glares at me while stepping up at the next sink.
“I bet you think you’re really fucking smart, don’t you?” she growls out. “Trapping Death into making you believe you’re carrying his baby when we all know you’re not. Then you get him to claim you as his ol’ lady when he’s never wanted one. You’re nothing more than a stupid slut and I can’t wait until your lies and manipulation come to light. Death will have no mercy on you and I’ll be back riding his cock. You don’t fucking deserve a man like him.”
“And you do? You spread your legs for any man in this club yet you think he’s ever going to want you at his side? That’s not who he is. The men I’ve interacted with are never going to choose you over someone else. They don’t want someone everyone they consider a brother has been with. Don’t take your jealous tendencies out on me when you have no shot at being nothing more than a Rebel while you’re with the club. You chose your path in life and it’s time to accept the consequences of your decision. I was fully prepared to leave here and not have anything to do with Death. He made his decision and you can suck it the fuck up now,” I tell her, knowing there’s more to her words than what she’s letting on. If I anger her enough, maybe she’ll tell me something no one else knows yet.
“Of course I deserve him. I know what it means to be a member of this club. These men are hard as fuck and need someone strong at their side. Not a stupid bitch who would rather do drugs than anything else. You have so many drugs running through your body it’s a wonder you’re even able to stand right now. Instead, you trap a guy who was always meant to be mine. Stupid fucking bitch,” she says, her voice now cold and hard.
“Ah, now I get it. You’ve been fucking Vince when you’re not here at the clubhouse. So, you know what a lousy fucking lay my ex is. He’s the one spreading the rumors about me being a drug addict so you can’t even deny what I’m saying. No one else would ever say that about me. And just so you know, I’ve never done drugs in my life. You wanna ride Vince’s cock, that’s fine. He’s going to fucking beat you, take everything you have, and leave you all alone. The man has threatened his own son. A baby who’s not even a year old. That’s the kind of man you’ve climbed in bed with. Now, let’s see what Death and the rest of the guys here think about you fucking someone they’ve been looking for. I’m guessing you’ll be tossed out on your ass quicker than you can spread your legs again. I think I’ll go have a little talk with Talon,” I tell her, meaning every word I’m saying.
