The tech brushed my hand aside, bringing me back to the present. She lifted Nik’s shirt up to the bottom of her breasts, which I noticed were braless still. Fuck. Me. Then she tugged Nik’s pants down until I could almost see her pussy. I shifted, willing my dick to stay down, but it was already at half-mast. The tech squeezed KY Jelly on Nik’s stomach, then used a little wand thing to smear it around.
“Aw. There’s the little one,” the tech said, pointing to the screen.
“Can you see if it’s a girl?” I asked.
“Little stinker is turned wrong,” the tech said. “Hang on. Let’s see if we can get them to turn a little.”
She used her other hand to press on Nik’s stomach and slowly the baby began to move. She’d pause here and there to tap some keys and the picture on the screen would freeze a moment. The suspense was getting to me, but eventually I saw what I knew had to be a penis. Or the kid had three legs.
“Congrats, Mom and Dad! You’re having a baby boy!”
I saw the tears in Nik’s eyes and leaned down to brush my lips across her forehead. “Little Oliver. He’s beautiful, Nik. You did good.”
She nodded and sniffled, staring at the screen with wide eyes. Something told me this was exactly what she’d needed. Now that she’d seen the baby, could call them by name, maybe she could get back on track. Whatever she needed, I’d see that she had it. Anything. No matter the cost, I’d do what I had to.
“I’ll just print off a few pictures for you, then you’re good to go. You can schedule your next appointment at the front on your way out,” the tech said.
Once I had the pictures in hand, and the tech had wiped the lube off Nik’s stomach, I helped her right her clothes and stand up. I kept staring at the images on the way to the front desk and only half-listened as she set up her next visit.
“I’m sorry, Ms. Adams, but we can’t set another appointment without a payment method on file.”
This bitch! I was getting tired of her shit. I pulled out my wallet again and practically threw my damn card at her. It was taking everything I had not to reach across the damn desk and knock the shit out of her. I’d never believed in hurting a woman, but this one was tempting me to break that code.
“So put the fucking thing on file. What’s your damn problem?” Nik’s hand went to my arm and she gripped me tight. “Something wrong with her coming here?”
The bitch shook her head, going pale as she added my card information to the system. Then she handed it back and I put it away before dragging Nikki from there. I was seconds from stomping that bitch into a mudhole. Fucking cunt! I never thought of women like that, always tried to respect them, even the club sluts, but this one… I couldn’t believe the way she’d treated Nik.
“Ashes,” she said softly.
“I’m sorry, Nik. I shouldn’t have acted like that.”
“Why did you?”
“Because it pissed me the fuck off that she was treating you that way. Why didn’t your insurance pay? And why the hell didn’t you say something?”
She worried at her lower lip and glanced away. “Because the policy lapsed. I haven’t been going to work and I lost my job.”
I ran a hand through my hair. “Nik, what’s going on? I know you miss Bane, and I’m sorry as fuck we didn’t get there in time to save him, to keep you from getting hurt, but this is nuts. You have a kid to think about. How are you going to keep your apartment?”
She blew out a breath and looked up at me. “I’m not. I didn’t know how to tell Renegade, or anyone else.”
What. The. Fuck. “Start talking, Nik. Now, dammit.”
“I’m being evicted. I drained my savings to keep the utilities on and food in the fridge, when you weren’t buying my groceries that is, but I didn’t have enough for everything. I haven’t paid rent in two months.”
“When do you have to be out?”
“In three days.”
Jesus fucking Christ. This woman was going to be the death of me.
“We have to tell your brother.”
“No!” She shook her head so hard I worried she’d snap her neck. “He has enough on his plate.”
“Dammit, Nik! I’m not going to let you be homeless. I’m an asshole, but I’m not that big an asshole.” I knew I was going to regret this. “Come stay with me.”
She blinked at me, but didn’t say no. It was a start. I got her into the car and knew I had less than three days to convince her, and get all her shit packed up and moved. But it wasn’t just her. She had to think about baby Oliver. One way or another, I’d get her to the compound. I only hoped all hell didn’t break loose when Renegade found out his baby sister was in my house.
I was a dead man.
Chapter Two
Nikki
I’d packed my things and Ashes had shoved them into the back of my SUV. At least, the essentials. A truck would have to pick up my furniture and other belongings, not that I had any idea where I’d put any of it. As of right now, I was homeless. Ashes had insisted I follow him to the compound, or more specifically his house. I should have known when the Prospect at the gate’s jaw dropped that he’d go blabbing to my brother. It hadn’t taken Renegade long at all to show up.
“Why the fuck is my sister in your house?” he demanded, shoving Ashes against the living room wall.
“Someone needs to look out for her. You obviously aren’t,” Ashes said, his jaw tight and his eyes narrowed.
“What does that mean?” my brother asked, his voice a near growl.
I bit my lip and stared hard at Ashes, willing him to keep my secret. I’d known it would be in vain. He might be helping me, but he had a bond with Renegade that surpassed whatever friendship we might have. Although I often wondered if he was only helping me out of guilt. He’d apologized several times for his cousin’s part in what happened, but I didn’t blame Ashes in the least.
“She’s homeless, you ass,” Ashes said.
Renegade backed up and turned to face me. “What? Why didn’t you tell me you needed help?”
Ashes cast a glare his way and opened his mouth, but I held up a hand. I knew he was about to defend me, but it wasn’t necessary. Renegade might be a bit overwhelming at times, but I knew how to handle him. My big brother meant well, but he’d been a bit preoccupied lately, and I understood. Darby and Fawn -- and their unborn child -- were his entire world at the moment, and that was exactly as it should be. I didn’t fault him for it in the least. “You’ve have a lot on your plate,” I said. “I’m a grown woman, Renegade. I don’t need you swooping in to save me all the time.”
He folded his arms over his chest and looked down his nose at me. I already knew what he was thinking. The fact I was homeless proved I wasn’t doing so great in the adulting department, but losing Bane, watching those men beat him to death, had taken a toll on me. We hadn’t been close, our relationship having barely even started, but the brutality of it all still haunted me. Add in pregnancy hormones and I was a big, hot mess.
“It’s fine. Really. Ashes is going to let me crash here for a little while…”