In the hallway, he waited for Peer to arrive. The wait wasn't long. Too short for what he had to do.
Peer flung the towel in his hands over his shoulder. "What's up?"
"Walk with me for a few." He smacked his hand down on Peer's shoulder.
Used to keeping club business private, Peer came outside to the alley with him without questioning why he was being taken away from working the bar. Brage lit a cigarette and handed the pack to Peer.
His MC brother lit a smoke, inhaled deeply, and exhaled. There was no easy way to break the news to Peer and Brage found himself at a loss for words.
"Are you trying to break the news that Kelli called and said she's in labor?" Peer dragged heavily on the cigarette. "I'm prepared for that. She's told me the whole time she was pregnant that she was going at it alone and doesn't want me around. Not much I can do without any warning. She left Seattle. I don't even know where the hell she is. She won't tell me."
Brage flinched. He knew how Kelli screwed Peer over. To Norwegian men, family, especially their kids, were the most important thing in their life.
Deciding that breaking the news would only cause Peer thirty seconds of heartbreak before he faced his biggest challenge, he stubbed out his smoke and said, "You're needed in the clubhouse."
Peer followed suit and walked across the alley. Sometimes the most painful things in life had to be met head-on. The aftermath was easier to deal with than the actual shock.
He opened the door and motioned Peer inside. Following his MC brother, he felt the impact of what sat on the table waiting to become a part of Slag Motorcycle Club.
Peer slammed to a stop at the sight of a baby bundled up inside a car seat. Brage stood beside him in support.
"An Uber driver pulled up to the gate and handed the baby to Jon. There's an envelope with your name taped on the blanket," he said quietly.
He kept the information short. For Peer, he'd been handed too much to understand everything being flung at him. Brage gave him time to grasp the most important thing. The baby was Peer's.
Peer stepped forward, not stopping until he approached the table. Taking the envelope, he tore it open and unfolded a piece of paper.
Brage stayed back, giving him time. Holly and Nita, two women belonging to Slag members, hovered over the baby, not touching but clearly interested in getting their cuddles in.
The men had cleared the room, giving Peer time to adjust to the news. Brage knew Peer was waiting for the day he would become a father, despite him and Kelli living separate lives. But any man would be gutted having a baby delivered to him.
The door opened. Brage looked over his shoulder and lifted his chin to Roar. The president of Slag had taken off, looking for the Uber driver, to get more answers for Peer.
Roar gave a slight shake of his head. Brage pressed his lips together. It would be harder for Peer to face tomorrow without knowing why Kelli dropped off the baby.
Little mews reached his ears. He stepped forward. The baby squirmed, its face getting redder.
"Kelli doesn't want the baby." Peer shoved the letter in his pocket. "It's a boy."
"You've got help," said Roar, over the baby's cries growing louder. "First thing, did the baby come with any bottles or a —?"
"There's a bag." Holly picked it up from the floor and held it out to Peer.
"Go ahead and look." Peer stared down at the child.
While the women found bottles, formula, diapers, and some clothes, Peer continued standing there as if he hadn't soaked up what was happening.
Brage shared a look with Roar. Neither one of them could imagine having a child dumped on them without a woman involved.
"Let the women take care of the baby." Brage stepped away. "I'll get him a shot of whiskey."
"No." Peer turned. "I don’t want to drink."
"Okay," said Brage over the kid's wallowing. "He's got a set of lungs on him."
"He's not breathing right." Peer paled. "He can't catch his breath."
"He's fine. It's how babies cry when they're young. He's just hungry." Roar stepped forward and pulled the blanket back from the baby. "You want to hold him?"
"I don't know what I'm doing," muttered Peer. "Do something."
Roar scooped out the baby from the car seat, cradling the bundle in his large hands, and held the baby's face up to his neck. The baby settled into a soft hiccupping croon.
Brage had seen first hand how easy it was for Roar to get along with his sisters' children. They all gravitated toward their uncle when they visited Seattle.
The women returned, and Roar lost the nanny position to Holly who supplied a bottle and open arms. Brage remained with Peer in case he was needed.
Taking out his wallet, he said, "Nita?"
"What?" Nita continued gazing down at the baby
"Take this money and find a Slag member to help you. I need you both to run and grab shit for the kid. A crib, clothes, diapers, and whatever else you think he'll need." He handed over the money to Nita.
Roar approached, opening his wallet. "Here's more."
"I don't even know what stores are open at this time of night." Nita folded the stack of cash and put it in her pocket.
"Target and Walmart are open twenty-four/seven." Holly rocked on the stationary chair holding the baby. "You'll need wipes and a baby tub, too. Oh, and a pacifier."
"I'll get as much as I can tonight. You guys work on a list, and I can grab everything we need tomorrow." Nita squeezed Peer's arm. "We'll make sure he's taken care of."
"Grab the keys for the club truck. They're hanging in the kitchen," said Brage.
The baby quietly sucked on the nipple. Brage stepped away, giving Peer time to get to know his son. He'd never thought much about having
