Hawk

6 - Back with my friends

Brooke

“Don’t be nervous, baby.” I nod at Hawk.

He brought me to the clubhouse, even though he informed me that we wouldn’t be staying here. His room isn’t ideal for a baby and us, but I begged him to let us stay here for a few days. I don’t feel safe anywhere else right now. This place is like Fort Knocks. No one can get in without being noticed and shot on sight if they are deemed a threat. Hawk sighed but agreed that we could stay for a while.

I know he has an apartment a mile away. I know there is plenty of room for Gabriel and me there, I've been there before, but I am terrified that my father will find me there. All it takes is Hawk to step out the door, just one moment for my father to find me alone and drag me back to the farm with him.

There are plenty of places where he could hide me from the world. Believe me, he would keep me a prisoner in his underground shelter for years and years, and no one would ever find me.

BlackJack said we could move in with him and Taylor until we’re ready to return to Hawk’s apartment, but Hawk shut that down immediately. He said moving back home with his parents would be like walking through fire shoeless. I thought that was a little over the top, but it made me chuckle.

After spending the night in the hospital, I thought we could return to the clubhouse and get settled in. Unfortunately for me, Taylor has called every member of the club and their other halves to throw a welcome home party for Gabriel and me.

As touched as I am, I don’t feel comfortable with the way I look right now. I’m covered in bruises that seem to have gotten blacker overnight. However, I don’t want to sound ungrateful; the woman has gone all out for my son and me. Taylor bought me new clothes, clothes for Gabriel, diapers, and blankets. She didn’t have to do that, but she told me she was only too happy to do so. Gabriel is her only grandson, after all.

“Let’s go through the back entrance. I want to show you something before we meet with everyone.”

I nod and take Hawk’s outstretched hand.

I love how he holds our son with such ease. My baby looks so tiny in Hawk’s massive arms, yet so perfect. He belongs there. He’ll always be safe there.

Hawk leads me through the back and down the long hallway that leads to his – our – room. As soon as the door is open, I gasp in shock. I let go of his hand and clasp mine over my mouth.

“Who did this?”

“Maria, Nova, Willow, Coral. Your friends.”

I can’t believe they did this. A beautiful blue crib is next to the bed, and a baby changing unit is against the left wall next to the bathroom door. There’s a baby bath beneath it and more diapers than I’ve ever seen in one place.

The dresser next to the changing unit is filled with clothes piled high. There are even baby toys in a small box. The bottles next to the bed are brand new and ready to use. The crib is beautiful, with blue blankets and a musical mobile with small animal figures hanging above the crib where my baby will sleep. Gabriel and I are so lucky.

“We’ll move everything to our place in a few days.” Our place. I like the sound of that.

I turn to look at Hawk; he's smiling at me while gently rocking our son. “I can’t believe they did this.” I really can’t.

“They love you, Brooke, and they are so excited to meet this little man.”

I can’t wait for them to meet him either. Nova and Willow are the President of Snakes Henchmen MC, Shepard’s daughters.

Maria is married to the Vice President, Jett, who just so happens to be Willow and Nova’s big brother.

Willow is married to Maria’s big brother, Hammer, the Sergeant-At-Arms. Nova is married to Hammer’s younger brother, Tank, who incidentally is not Maria’s brother, but he is her cousin. Their mothers were twin sisters.

Yeah, it can be confusing. It was initially for me, but I soon got used to it.

“Brooke!”

Nova’s piercing voice literally made my ears feel like they were bleeding for a second there. Damn, that girl can shout! I’ve only just walked into the bar, and I hadn’t even noticed her standing there.

I laugh loudly as she wraps her arms around me excitedly.

“I knew you’d come back.” She holds me at arm’s length. “Damn, you look like you’ve been in a car crash.”

“Geez, Nova, way to make a girl feel good. Hey, babe.”

“Hey,” I smile as Willow hugs me.

Maria pulls me away from Willow, and I swear, the woman is trying to choke me! “I’ve missed you so much.”

The truth is, I’ve missed her too. She became my best friend while I was here. We were as thick as thieves, or so her husband used to tell us.

Wrapping my arms around her tightly, I say, “I’ve missed you, too.”

“I can’t believe you have a baby!”

I laugh at the smile on her face. “I didn’t even know I was pregnant, Maria. Just knew the moment he was born that I had to get away from that place; bring him here to Hawk.”

“You did the right thing. God,” She grabs me again. “I’m so happy you’re here,” I cling to Maria for a moment. She has always been like a sister to me, and I love her so much.

It doesn’t take long before the guys are all hugging me and welcoming me back. It’s so nice being back here. Here is where I belong, with these men and women, my family.

“Aunt Brooke!” I laugh and scoop little Ember up in my arms.

This beautiful little brown-haired, blue-eyed girl belongs to Nova and Tank, almost five years old and so amazingly loving. However, I guarantee that she will one day be a woman to be reckoned with.

“You came back.”

I can’t even believe she remembers me. I’ve been gone for six months.

“I did, and I’m not going away again.” I laugh, and she hugs me tightly.

I’m then rushed by Noah, Willow, and Hammer’s little boy. They have two little boys, Noah and Connor. Connor isn’t as outgoing as his big brother. He’s firmly planted his one-year-old backside in his daddy’s arms.

Michael, Nova, and Tank’s little boy, just a few days younger than his two-and-a-half-year-old cousin Noah, hugs my legs. As does Daniel, Ghost and Avery’s two-and-a-half-year-old son, also just a few days between him, Noah, and Michael. Their youngest son, Vinny, is a year old and has grown so much in six months. He’s adorable!

I cry a little when Jessica, Maria and Jett’s sixteen-month-old daughter is handed to me. I missed her little face. She was just one when I last saw her, not long after her first birthday. I was with Maria through her pregnancy and when she gave birth to this beautiful little girl. I saw her enter the world. Maria and I were close from the day we met, and being there when Jessica was born meant the world to me. I hold that precious little girl to my lips and kiss her soft cheek as she smiles at me.

That’s when little Mark, Coral and Stryker’s little boy, a month or so older than Noah, Michael, and Daniel, grabs hold of my legs and hangs off me like a little spider monkey. These little ones are so trusting it melts my heart.

Then, of course, there are the older children, aged between six and fifteen, belonging to other club members. I hadn't realized just how much I'd missed them all.

“Where’s my sweet little grandson?” Taylor asks.

I turn my head to see where Hawk is.

I thought he was right behind me.

I smile as he walks toward me, our baby in his arms.

“Sorry, my son needed a diaper change.” He wraps his arm around my shoulder and kisses my head.

I take my son from him, ready for the onslaught of women to crowd me and coo over Gabriel, and, of course, it takes seconds.

All my life, all I have wanted is a family who would love me — the way these people love each other. There is no judgment with these people. Everyone is just who he or she is meant to be. They live and fight for each other every day.

This is all I have ever wanted. I feel safe. I feel loved.

This is where I belong.

This is where I’ll stay.