Probably because she’s been through hell without even realizing it. She’s not allowed out of sight. If Corrine isn’t in the playroom at the clubhouse or near Stoney one of the prospects are close by.
Sometimes being around the little girl gives me closure for losing Laura then again no one will ever replace my baby.
She’ll forever be my angel and if Raven ever wants children then I know Laura will be watching over them.
Fuck when did I get all sappy and shit?
When you opened your fuckin’ heart asshole.
Oh yeah, for Raven and only her.
Chapter Seven
Raven
“How are you being so calm about this situation Raven?” Rachel asks as she sits in the chair next to Vicky across from me, a few minutes after the guys left.
“Because I know she’s lying,” I state nonchalantly. I love Rachel. She's an amazing person. She might not be like me or Vicky, but she’d been willing to leave her children with her cousin in order to go kill the man ready to sell his own daughter.
“I wish I were able to have the strength to believe in someone so much,” Rachel murmurs as she glances toward the door while playing with the baby monitor in her hand.
“What do you mean?” I ask. I know Rachel’s had a lot on her mind. I could read her easily and she’s constantly got love, confusion, and hurt wrapped around her.
Instead of answering right away, Rachel shakes her head vigorously. “I’m sorry. It’s been one hell of a year and I’m not at my best right now. Seeing that skank here doesn’t help,” she says and I can tell she’s on the verge of tears.
“Rach, let it out,” Vicky says, grabbing her hand and supporting her softly as I nod in agreement.
“What’s going on?” Momma B demands as she takes a seat on the other side of me. If there were any women out there that I’d be scared of she’d be one.
“You’ve missed quite a bit Momma B,” Vi states.
“Let me guess, this has something to do with that skank sitting on the other side of the room. She claimed to be pregnant by one of your guys,” Momma B snarks.
“Yep, Blaze,” I mutter.
“Of course, she’d go after Blaze, and I can see his balls finally dropped and he claimed your ass,” Momma B says, causing my mouth to drop and Rachel and Vicky to giggle.
“Great, now I’m the butt of y’alls jokes,” I grumble. “How about we return back to the subject of what’s going on with Rachel.”
“We’ll get to that in a minute,” Vicky declares waving a hand in the air. “I want to know how the hell this happened.”
Groaning, I tilt my head back and stare at the ceiling. “I honestly don't know how it all happened. I guess you can say I was pretty trashed last night. It started with going on a date and Blaze intervening yet again. I’d intended to finally get laid. Didn’t matter to me that he wasn’t the one I really wanted. I just needed to forget. Anyways, I was out at a bar when Blaze stepped in. Somehow, we ended up married, me tattooed with his name. When I woke up this morning Blaze was wrapped around me.”
“Well damn, that’s like some Hangover shit right there,” Rachel says.
“You got that right. Then again Ela called me this morning telling me to be here. Said you were going to need me. Now explain that shit.” God, I love my best friend. She doesn’t hold shit back from anyone. How everyone thought she was this meek woman is beyond me. Then again Victoria can be a very good actress when she wants to be.
“I don’t know what she knows. I haven’t spoken to her in a few days,” I mutter.
“Now that you’re a married woman what are you going to do?” Momma B smirks.
“Ugh, same as always. But I must admit something about Blaze has always had a way of bringing a sense of calm around me,” I say glancing at my best friend. Seeing her give a slight nod, I know she understands what I mean.
“I get what you mean. Bear is the person who keeps me grounded. Back when I first met him, I guess you could say I was a wild child,” Momma B states.
“And you’re not still a wild child raising hell and causing mayhem?” We all laugh at Rachel’s remark.
“So what, I’m still wild at heart. Only now I know the difference between crossing the line and not. The night I met Bear I’d been with a bunch of my friends and saw him standing with a few of his brothers. Feeling bold I waltzed right up to him, snatched his beer out of his hand as he lifted it to his mouth and put it to mine, all while holding his gaze.” That’s one hell of a way to approach one of these men.
“What happened?” Vicky asks.
“I’d told Bear I was gonna be his, wrapped my arms around him and kissed him thoroughly. From that day on no matter what has happened between us we’ve been together. He’d said anyone who had the balls to approach him the way I did was a woman he could love.
“We married two days after meeting and I’ll tell you all now, marriage isn’t easy. You have to work for what you want. Fight for it. There’s been times I wanted to give up, thought I couldn’t handle the clubwhores constantly trying to gain my ol’ man’s attention. But he never gave up on me. He didn’t want anyone else. The day Rage was born he stood by my side the same as the day my daughter was born. God rest her soul. When Jane died, we held each other because it’s like losing a piece of yourself.” Momma B stops to wipe her eyes. Strength is pouring off of her as she pushes away the sadness at the mention of her daughter.
“Bear is a lucky man,” Rachel says reaching over to grab Momma B’s hand.
“I know I’m a lucky man.” The sound of Bear’s voice startles all of us. I hadn’t even known he’d approached our table; I was so in tune with Momma B’s emotions.
“What are you doing here?” Momma B demands.
“Checking on you,” he smirks leaning down to kiss his ol’ lady. For an older man he’s hot as hell with his salt and pepper colored hair. I can appreciate what Momma B sees in him. He’s the type of man I’ve always been attracted to. Same as Blaze.
They are the type of men who carry their strengths with them wherever they go.
“I’m fine. We were all just chatting. Did you need anything?” she asks when he lifts his head.
“Nope. I figured I’d sit with you all while I wait for the guys to get back,” Bear states as he plucks Momma B out of her chair and sits her back in his lap. “Don’t mind me. You all continue your conversation. I’ve got what I wanted.”
Giggling the four of us shake our heads at the man.
“Where were we? Oh yeah we were moving away from my drama onto Rachel’s,” I declare ready to stop talking about me and Blaze for the moment.
“I don’t know how to explain it,” she sighs.
“Try starting with one thing then move to the other,” I offer.
“I guess you can say, I’m conflicted. I love Stoney more than anything. He’s the other half of me. It’s just this whole mess with Boss. Our kids are around the same age. I don’t want to sound like a whining bitch, but it scares the hell out of me that he’ll wake up one day and want to leave me and convince her to be with him,” she murmurs.