“I know we are. We just have to tell a certain someone all of our news.”
His nostrils flare as he inhales deeply. “Yeah.”
“We should tell him with Cherry there. She might be able to calm his reactions.”
“Good idea. You wanna do it now?”
“No.”
He chuckles. “Okay, let’s go.” His fingers lace with mine as he drags me toward the door. “C’mon, we got this.” The cheery expression on his face gives me hope. The thing about Wraith is he hardly ever exudes happiness, he’s always skulking around, always frowning, always brooding. But right now, he’s proud as punch to be announcing he’s going to be a father.
So, I need to pull up my big girl panties and let him have this. If he’s not scared of my brother’s reaction, I shouldn’t be either.
We head downstairs, everyone’s in the main room doing their own thing. I spot Zero sitting with Cherry. They are all loved up, and maybe a little too comfortable with each other in public. I snort out a laugh as we walk over.
Wraith knocks on the table.
Cherry pulls her lips away from my brother. She clears her throat while jumping off his lap.
“Mind if we sit?” Wraith asks before Zero can even grill him for interrupting.
“Please,” Cherry offers.
Zero groans in disagreement, but we slide into position anyway.
“This better be good, you interrupted a good thing,” he grumbles.
Cherry slaps his chest. “Don’t be an ass!”
Wraith wraps his arm around my shoulders, pulling me to him. “We have some news.”
Zero sits back in his chair letting out a huff. “Oh, for fuck’s sake, here we fucking go.”
“I need a property patch made up,” Wraith advises. He doesn’t seek permission, he’s telling Zero.
I gnaw on my bottom lip, holding my breath just waiting for the explosion that’s bound to happen.
Zero sits forward, eyes darting from me to Wraith. His hands moving to fists on the table. “You claim her?”
Wraith’s expression is straight. “Yeah, last night. Princess is my Old Lady.”
Cherry’s face lights up so fucking wide, her eyes are glowing with excitement.
Zero rubs his chin. “You didn’t ask my permission.”
Wraith lets out a huff. “Since when do bikers ask permission before claiming their woman?”
“She’s not just any Old Lady, Wraith.”
“You’re right. She’s not. But she can’t continually live under your shadow. She’s her own woman, Zero. She can make her own damn decisions.”
“She’s known for making irrational decisions in the past—”
“And you think this is one of them?” Wraith interrupts, and I can see the anger starting to appear in his eyes.
Zero’s lips turn up in the corner. “I don’t have to like it, but I guess I can’t tower over her all the fucking time. She needs to grow up one day,” he teases.
“You’re an asshole,” I blurt.
“As long as you make her happy, I’m okay with it.”
Calm washes over Wraith as he pulls the test out of his pocket from under the table. “There’s one more thing...” He places the test on the table, sliding it in front of Zero and Cherry.
Cherry’s head snaps up, her watering eyes meeting mine as she lets out a happy laugh. “Oh my God, are you?”
Biting the inside of my cheek, I nod, as she reaches out across the table pulling me into a hug. “Holy shit! I’m gonna be an auntie!” she squeals.
Zero stares Wraith down, that vein in his neck popping again. “You’re young, Prinie,” Zero grunts.
I furrow my brows as I turn to him. “I know.”
“You have your whole life ahead of you. At twenty you can go anywhere, do anything, see anything. Now you’re an Old Lady and a mom all in one night? Coincidence?”
Wraith sits taller, but I’m the first to speak. “Wraith claimed me last night. The test came this morning. He’s not sympathy claiming me, Zero, if that’s what you’re thinking. Wraith wants this baby more than anyth—”
“So, you planned it?” His voice raises a little higher.
Wraith sits forward, scowling at Zero. “Ease the fuck up, brother. We didn’t plan it. With all the testing Prinie’s going through because of Sava, she’s under enough stress as it is. I respect you as my president, I respect you as her brother, but if you don’t lay off, I’m gonna fucking lay you out.”
“The fuck are you talking about?”
My eyes glisten with unshed tears.
Wraith sinks back reaching for my hand. “Chills is doing testing on Prinie for HIV, hepatitis, all that shit because when she got the cut on her neck at the church…” he takes a deep breath, “… her blood mixed with Sava’s.”
Both their eyes widen so much I worry they might burst out of their heads, but it’s Zero I’m more concerned about. His face turns bright red as he shakes his head. “Why didn’t you fucking tell me?”
“Thought we’d give you the night to celebrat—”
“That’s not your call to mak—”
“Zero, it was my decision. This is hard enough to go through without having you going off about it. Can you just take it down a notch, please?” Prinie begs.
Cherry pulls her lips into a tight thin line as Zero sits back in his chair. He folds his arms over his chest like he’s mulling this over… hard. “You say you love her?” he directs toward Wraith.
“With everything I am.”
“You put your life on the line for her and my niece or nephew?”
“Every. Damn. Time.”
Zero stands suddenly from his chair sending a whistle through the main room. I tense as everyone looks our way. “Brothers, we got ourselves a new Old Lady. Our VP is making an honest woman of my bratty little sister. Princess is now the Second Lady of this club. Nessie,
