Hawk is a terrible patient and listens to no one. He's been working out like crazy, but I have to admit that he's kept his weight off his knee. Hawk doesn't complain as such, but I can tell he hates not being with the Snakes and doing what he's used to. Unless he starts listening, though, he won't be riding that bike of his for a good long while.
We've all been invited to the clubhouse for a small get together, which means a huge one because everyone will turn up. Shepard said that no one was allowed to stay home, everyone better turn up, or he'll cut their balls off. Tank and Nova have something to say, and they want everyone to hear it. If anyone else is feeling the way I am right now, they're nervous as hell. Since finding out that something could be wrong with Michael, everyone has been on tenterhooks waiting for news. We're all hoping today will bring good news.
“Can you please try and look less grumpy,” I tell Hawk while looking through the rearview mirror at Gabe. I smile to myself. He has such a cute look of concentration on his face. He loves that frog toy dangling from the handle of his car seat. It's so sweet how he tries to reach for it.
“I'm not grumpy, Brooke, I'm frustrated.”
I smile to myself, and take Hawk's hand in mine, giving it an encouraging squeeze. “I love you.” Hawk kisses my hand and tells me that he loves me too.
With both hands back on the wheel, I get us to the clubhouse in plenty of time. I collect Gabe from the car, shaking my head, and chuckling as Hawk swears under his breath as he makes his way inside, leaning heavily on his cane.
“There's my grandson!”
“Hey, Taylor,” She winks at me while taking Gabe from my arms. He giggles; happily, he loves his grandma. “You look a bit peaky, are you feeling okay?” She hasn't looked well for days now.
“I'm fine,” She waves me away, which is typical for Taylor. She never wants to draw attention to herself. I only hope she isn't keeping something she shouldn't to herself. Meaning, I hope she isn't ill and not telling any of us.
I spot Willow at the bar and make my way over to speak with her. Hawk is with some of the others across the room. I think I'll give him some space, some time with his friends without me hanging off him. You can unintentionally smother a person if you're not careful. The last thing I want to do is smother the man I love.
“Hey, Will. Can I have a lemonade please, Tammy?”
“Sure thing.”
“Hey, Brooke,” I smile and take a seat beside Willow. I thank Tammy for my drink and take a sip. God, that's cold, just the way I like it. “How's Hawk?”
I roll my eyes and groan playfully. “Grumpy, frustrated. His knee will be fine if he gives it time to heal, but Hawk keeps pushing himself.”
Willow chuckles. “Hawk has never been any different. He was the same when we were kids. Hawk once sprained his ankle. We'd been playing down by the lake, and he slipped on some mud. Stay off it for a while; the doctor told him.” She rolls her eyes with a smile. “Typical Hawk wouldn't. Brooke, are you okay?”
I close my eyes and swallow hard. I then let out a slow breath. I hate this sudden nausea that takes over me all the damn time. “I'm fine,” I tell Willow as soon as it passes.
“How far along are you?” I stare at her unblinking. “It's okay, She chuckles. “I have two kids, Brooke, I remember very well what being pregnant feels like.”
“Please don't say anything, we're not even two months in yet. We're trying to keep it between Hawk and me, just until we reach the twelve-week mark.”
“Sweetheart, your secret is safe with me.”
I breathe deeply and nod in thanks. It's not that it would be a bad thing if people found out, it's just that I want to keep this just for Hawk and me while I can.
“Do you think it's too soon for us to be having this baby?” Not that I care if she thinks it is, but I'd like to gauge her reaction that way I'll get an idea of how others might react.
“Of course not. It's not like I waited long after Noah was born before I fell pregnant with Connor.” I smile at her because she's right, and that makes me feel a lot better. “Since I know your secret, I think it's only fair you know mine.” Willow scans the room around us, making sure no one is listening, or possibly might accidentally. No one is, so she leans into me. “Hammer and I are pregnant too.”
“No way!”
“Shh!” She laughs. “We found out this morning. We're keeping it to ourselves for now, just like you and Hawk.”
I flash her an excited smile and hug her tightly. “I can't believe it.”
Willow pulls away. “Do you think I'm stupid?”
“Why would I think that?”
Willow sighs. “Because Noah will only be three, Conner two when this baby is born.”
“And all three will grow up incredibly close, just as I hope my two will. You are happy about the baby, aren't you?”
“So happy,” She smiles. “Hammer already thinks the baby will be a boy.”
“Hawk thinks the same.” I chuckle. “Whatever our babies turn out to be, they are going to be so loved.”
“Amen to that, sister.”
“Can we have everyone's attention for a moment, please?!” Willow and I turn in our seats. Tank and Nova are standing in front of the unlit open fire. Little Michael is in his mother's arm, just where he likes to be. Ember is around here somewhere, playing with the other kids. “Thank you all for coming. As you all know by now, Michael has been unwell lately,”
“Better now, Daddy.” We all laugh and aww at Michael.
“That's right,” Nova kisses her son's head, and my stomach turns over with nerves for them. I hope they were given good news.
“Put us out of our misery, Tank!” CueBall is eager to know if everything is okay as much as the rest of us.
“Well, the good news is that Michael doesn't have leukemia.”
The cheers are deafening, and I'm crying happy tears along with all the other women. People are hugging and congratulating Tank and Nova. I am so relieved for them. I do hear something about immune deficiency, but everyone has a smile on their face, so I'm assuming it's not too serious.
I'm not going to be able to get near Tank and Nova anytime soon to congratulate them personally, so now is a good time to go to the bathroom. I'm feeling dizzy, and I don't want to give anyone else the chance to figure out that I'm pregnant.
In the restroom, I stare at myself in the mirror. I have an uneasy feeling inside of me – a feeling I can't quite put my finger on. Something doesn't feel right, and if I'm honest, it hasn't for a few days.
Shake it off, Brooke. Nothing is wrong; you're just feeling like this because of how things were last time you were pregnant. You're safe with Hawk now, and nothing is going to go wrong.
I really hope not.
Chapter Twenty-One
Hawk
It's been weeks, Ghost. You can't ignore the girl forever.”
“Watch me.”
Red rolls his eyes, annoyed. We're all annoyed with this childish shit.
Right before the Coyotes rolled in last month, Ghost said he'd talk to Cordelia if everything went okay, and he wasn't killed. We all knew he wouldn't be killed; Ghost is the kind of prick that would survive world war three. If he survived the Mafia, he could survive anything. That's why we all knew deep down that he had no real intention of seeing Cordelia.
“Do you have any idea how lucky you are?” I keep my eyes on Wrench around drinking my beet. He hasn't been in a good mood for days. I know some of it has to do with Hank Webster and the fact he's been mouthing off around town. For weeks, he's been quiet. However, like every other asshole in this world, he let his daughter believe she was finally free before coming out of the woodwork again.
I know not to ignore the ramblings of any man, let alone the ramblings of a racist. Those things could mean your death if caught off guard.
Okay, Webster wants me dead and his daughter back where he thinks she belongs. He'll get nowhere near her; I'll kill him first. I have eyes on him at all times. If h
e comes within a mile of Brooke, I'll know.
Webster's racist ramblings in town have gotten to Wrench. As soon as Miss Helen, the elderly lady who runs the ice cream shop, a sweet woman who loves all of us, told me what she'd heard, my brother almost lost his shit. I know that has more to do with what the old bastard said about my son than it did about me. I can deal with it, Gabe is a baby, for Christ's sake!
Of course, I let Shepard know what had gone on, and he told me that it's time to deal with this once and for all. Tonight, we'll make a plan of action. Every man will talk this thing through, throw ideas into the hat about what to do about that family. There isn't just Hank to think about; it's his sons and wife, and how the hell we deal with them too.
I don't particularly want to go over to the Webster's farm and kill Hank, his wife, his sons, and their entire families. I don't want the mass murder of Brooke's whole family on my conscience. However, Hank Webster cannot be allowed to continue to bad mouth me to the people who look up to us.
Whatever comes of the meeting, Hank Webster will not see this week out. There will be no second chance for him.