Payne (The Soldiers of Wrath MC: Grit Chapter Book 3) (9 page)

V
icky had been released
from the hospital six days ago. After being in observation overnight, and making sure the baby was okay, she’d been discharged. She was happy to be home, but was taking it easy. She still had a couple of months left before she was full-term, and although falling had been an accident, her OBGYN was making her come in every two weeks instead of the monthly visits that she had been doing.

She lay in the bed she shared with Payne, rubbed her belly, and stared at the TV that was muted. Ever since she was discharged Payne was overly protective—even more so than normal. The thing was she loved that about him, but she also knew he had to get his head back in the game. His life was in the MC, as well, and if he wasn’t focused on that, he’d end up getting hurt, or worse, killed.

She’d even had to push him to go into the MC today. He’d been so worried about her and the Braxton Hicks contractions she’d had. Even if Vicky had assured him that was normal, women had them, and it didn’t mean something was wrong. Hell, she’d gone to the doctor just to make sure, too.

Her cell rang, and she saw Payne’s number flash across the screen. Smiling to herself, she answered it, knowing he was worried. He’d been texting her all day, and in a way it was sweet and cute.

“I’m fine,” she said as soon as the call connected.

Payne breathed out, but then chuckled. “You know me well.”

She smiled. “You’ve been checking up on me for the last two hours.”

“I worry about you and the baby.”

Her heart swelled at the thought.

“You should be focusing on work. It’s important.”

“You’re important,” he said without missing a beat.

“Careful or the other patches might see that as a weakness.” She grew warm at the idea.

“Fuck them if they think loving a woman is a weakness.”

God, she loved this man.

“But you’re good, really?” he asked, all seriousness in his voice.

“I’m good. In fact, I can’t wait until you get home so I can show you how much I miss you.” The growl that came through sounded animalistic, and she got wet instantly.

“Woman,” he said in a harsh growl. “You’ll be the death of me.”

She couldn’t help but chuckle. Truth was he’d be the death of her, too.

* * *

E
ver since Vicky
had gotten out of the hospital Payne had been even more protective of her. He didn’t want her straining herself, and didn’t want any undue stress put on the little guy she carried either.

“You with us, Prez?”

He glanced at Grim, who’d spoken. He looked at Grim’s twin, Reaper. Both men seemed a little on edge—more than usually—and that had everyone else on edge, too.

“I’m here.” Payne cleared his throat and tried to focus. “Let’s get down to the gritty details of the run.”

They’d be transporting a shipment of handguns to an MC in the next state over. They’d just secured a treaty deal with the club, while the other MC would be in the works in getting the Grit Chapter a handle on some semi-automatics. Payne and the crew would then trade those semiautomatics with another Soldiers charter, and so on and so forth. They’d get income from the MC, make connections, and have allies between several new groups.

“We’ll be going out tomorrow night to do the drop off,” Grim said, gesturing to his brother Reaper, and also to Pike.

Payne nodded. “Sounds good. I want an update when you get there, and I’ll let the brother charter know when you’re heading back.”

Grim nodded.

“Any other business?” Payne asked.

“No,” they all said in unison.

“Good, because I want to get back to my old lady.”

Damn, he was so in love with Vicky it was insane, but hell no would he change anything about it.

I
t was time
.

Vicky stared down at the floor where her water had just broken, and instead of panicking, she really wanted to clean up the mess that she had created. She reached out for the phone, knowing she didn’t have long to get to the hospital. The timing was all off. Payne had left her two nights ago to do one of his runs, and she had insisted on him going. Now, she wished she hadn’t told him to go, but to stay.

“Damn.”

She grabbed her phone, and quickly dialed Payne. When she got his voicemail she cursed again and called Clara’s number.

“Hello,” Clara said.

“Hey, babe,” she tried to sound clam. “I’ve got a problem.”

“You haven’t fallen down again, have you?” There was urgency in Clara’s voice.

“No. I’ve not fallen down.” She heard Clara sigh in relief. “My water just broke.”

“What?”

Vicky listened as Clara seemed to go crazy, clearly trying not to freak out.

“Calm down.”

“I can’t calm down. Your water has broken. That is a huge deal. Fuck! Have you called Payne?”

“I tried. He didn’t answer. I’ll try calling him again once I’m finished with you.” She chuckled as she heard Clara constantly cursing. “I take it you’ll be here soon.”

“Yes. Fuck yes.”

Hanging up the phone, she was still smiling as she put a call through to Payne, and finally got through to him. So far there hadn’t been any contractions, which was a good thing, but she supposed it would come soon enough.

“Hey, babe. I’m missing you,” he said, the smile in his voice.

“I miss you too. Um, something important has come up.”

“What?” Payne asked, nervousness starting to coat his voice.

“My water has broken. Clara’s on her way, and I don’t know where you are—”

“Wait, your water has broken, as in the baby is coming?”

“Yes. Our son is ready to come out, I guess. I wanted to let you know I’m heading toward the hospital. Or I will be when Clara gets here.” The pain started to build inside her, and she rested her hand against the wall. “Oh,” she moaned softly.

“Vicky, babe, fuck, I’ll be there as soon as possible.”

“I didn’t know I was going to be this close to giving birth.”

“I shouldn’t have gone,” he said.

“Stop it right now. Oh God…” She couldn’t finish as the pain just seemed to increase. “I’ve got to go, Payne.”

She hung up after saying a quick goodbye, and gripped the wall, trying to fight through the pain.

Clara burst through the door about ten minutes later. “We’ve got to go,” she said frantically.

Bridget was beside her, and together, the two women helped her into the car, easing her into the backseat.

Bridget climbed in the back as Clara shot away from the house.

“I didn’t clean up the mess.”

“Payne can clean it,” Clara said. “We’ve got to get you to the hospital.”

“Just breathe,” Bridget said.

“That’s not helping.” Vicky took a deep breath, and suddenly felt the need to push. “I’ve got to push.”

“No fucking pushing!” Bridget said. “I’m not designed to bring a baby into this world, and you will not push. Not yet.”

“Payne needs to be here.” Vicky wanted him close when she gave birth to their son.

“He will be. You just keep that baby inside you, okay?” Clara said.

“I will.”

“That’s right.”

She closed her eyes, gritted her teeth, and tried to stay calm even as her body was fighting against her. She didn’t know how much more she could hold inside. The baby inside her wanted out, and she really wanted to push.

“What name did you decide?”

“I don’t know. We didn’t. We couldn’t decide.” She kept taking deep breaths.

“We’re almost there, Vicky. Don’t panic.”

She wasn’t panicking. “I’m going to be a mom. That is crazy. Don’t you think that is crazy? I’m going to be a mom, and Payne’s going to be a daddy. He’ll be a good daddy.”

“He will,” Bridget agreed. “He’ll be surrounded by all of his loving uncles and aunties.”

“He’ll be spoiled,” Clara said.

Vicky nodded. “I can handle that. The whole club will be there for our son.” She pressed a hand to her stomach and stroked over the rounded bump. “You hear that, sweetie? You’re going to be so loved, and everyone is going to love you so much. No one is going to know what to do without you.”

They pulled up outside of the hospital, and everything became a blur.

* * *

P
ayne rode like a mad man
. There was no way he was going to make it with this fucking traffic. All of his men were following him as he sped. He shouldn’t have left his woman. He missed her already, and he knew he wasn’t going to get there in time to witness the birth of his little boy.

Come on, Payne. Get there.

He broke the speed limit, and finally he was there, pulling up outside of the hospital. Rushing through, he saw Bridget was waiting for him, and without directing him, she simply turned and started walking.

“Is she okay?” he asked.

“Yes.”

Down a long corridor, and up a flight of stairs, a left, then a right turn. He was frantic.

“Is she okay?”

Before Bridget answered, she stopped at a door, and turned to smile at him. “Why don’t you go and see for yourself?”

He paused, suddenly feeling sick.

“Payne?” Vicky said.

All it took was her voice, and he turned toward her. She looked exhausted but so fucking beautiful, radiant. In her arms was a little bundle. A blue blanket covering his son.

Their son.

“Come and meet our son,” she said.

He stepped into the room, and tears filled his eyes as he stared down at what they had created together. So perfect, so beautiful, and he felt this overwhelming love suddenly consume him.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t here.”

“It’s okay,” she said. “You came back to me in one piece. That’s all I wanted.”

“We stayed with her,” Clara said. “Bridget and I. We wouldn’t leave her side. We both knew you’d want someone with her while you were getting here.”

He looked up at Clara and nodded. “I owe you both.”

“No, you don’t. We love Vicky and the baby.” She patted his arm and smiled at them. “Congratulations.”

He kissed Vicky’s head and ran the tip of his finger down his son’s cheek. This was what living was all about. He’d been missing out on so much.