Insolent (Crimson Elite 4)

“Like clockwork,” he hums into the phone.

“What do you want?”

“Look, I grew a pair, and I’ve been elected the one to tell you. You need to come back to the club. We need you here.”

“It’s not that easy.”

“It is, you need a sitter.”

“No.”

“Too bad. I’ve already organized four girls, and they will meet us in our office today at nine. Don’t be late, or I’ll hire one myself without your input.” He hangs up and leaves me sitting here.

Honestly, I thought the only thing I ever cared about in life was work. How fucking wrong I was. What I care for most right now is asleep on my chest, and his little hands are clinging to my shirt. He’s all that matters, and I’ll only accept the best. There are no compromises when it comes to my son.“Give Raven the baby.”

Raven offers me a small smile as she looks to me.

Falcon, on the other hand, is pointing with a stern expression of ‘do it right now’ on his face.

“The baby has a name, asshole.”

“Give Charles to Raven.”

“I’ll take really good care of Charles, you don’t have to worry,” she says quietly.

I pass a sleeping Charles to her, and she instantly begins rocking him in her arms and making sure his blanket is well wrapped over him.

“He’s so beautiful.”

“No ideas, woman,” Falcon says shaking his head.

She answers him but doesn’t look up. “Oh, ideas are already formed, man,” she emphasizes the word, giving it straight back to him.

“Hurry up, let’s get this over with and pick a nanny before you make my woman even cluckier.” We start walking off as Falcon throws over his shoulder, “I’m down for the practice tonight.” He laughs as we walk into my office.

I’ve been neglecting this place. My life has become way too busy with my son to worry about how everything’s going here. I shouldn’t be like that, this life supports him, and I will need a job to be able to give him the best of everything he will ever want and to leave him a legacy.

“You didn’t pick strippers, did you?”

“No, though I contemplated it. Creed may have threatened to off me when I did, though.”

I nod my head, sitting at my office desk. “At least someone has sense. Who picked the women?”

“El did.”

Creed’s other half, the only one who he truly lets in. He would murder every single soul on this planet if it made her happy. Plus, they’ve recently had a baby, so her judgment I trust more than the others’ as she’s been a lifesaver through all this. When I first took Charles home, she came over every day to help me. I owe her a lot.

“Good, send the first one in.”

He walks out and steps in with a small brunette. She blows gum into a bubble, and it pops before she notices me. I think she’s embarrassed because she smiles a grimace as she sits down.

“No,” I say looking to Falcon who’s shaking his head.

“Lou, why don’t you tell him what you do?” Falcon ignores me, while she looks between us both with a startled stare.

“I run a day care.”

“That’s nice. Now, next.”

Falcon shakes his head and guides her out.

When he returns, he’s by himself. “What the actual fuck was wrong with her?”

“She’s young and silly. Not happening.”

Falcon runs his hand through his hair and walks out. He steps into my office with another girl, who’s just as young as the first one, and I shake my head, confirming another absolutely not.

He goes to open his mouth as Ma walks in—Creed’s mother.

“Five days a week for the next few months,” she says, her eyes pinning me. “Then you have to find someone else.”

I nod, she smiles and steps over kisses my cheek and walks out, just like that.

“She wasn’t even one of the ladies El chose,” Falcon groans.

Ma has been the best woman in my life since I was a scrawny teenager. I trust my son’s life with her, she’s the perfect fit. At least for a few months anyway, until I can work out something else.

Ma walks back in with Charles in her arms. “You work. I’m going shopping, and I’ll take Charles with me.”

“Car seat,” I say standing.

“Have one,” she replies.

“Blanket.”

Her eyes narrow at me. “I’ve raised a baby before, Darby, now stop stressing. And if I need anything, I will call you.” I step over, kissing Charles’s forehead before they walk out.

“You’re a real bitch now, aren’t you?” I slap the back of Falcon’s head as Echo and Creed walk in. They each slap the back of his head as well for good measure before they all take a seat in my office.

“You’ve been absent, so some of the staff has changed,” Echo says pulling out a file and placing it on my desk. “Johnny had to leave and won’t be back for at least another two to three months, so we had to replace him, fast.”