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Blade
I’m hypnotized by her beauty. I get lost in her breathing and the scent of her. I never thought I could love something so much, but seeing her lying here in my arms is the most precious thing in the world. She’s nearly bald except for a tiny bit of fuzz on the top of her little head. Annabel Marie Hopkins. She couldn’t be any more perfect. Of course, I gave her my last name, she’s mine.
“Her looks haven’t changed in the last thirty minutes,” Lola teases me through her yawn.
We’ve been home a little over a week and I just can’t stop looking at her. The guys all came by and saw her but it was Diablo that shocked the shit out of me. If I thought he was protective of Lola, I was dead wrong. Annabel is his. Where she goes, he goes. He follows me from room to room when I take her to get a bottle or just to sit out on the porch. I never knew a dog could sense these things but he is for sure her big brother.
“I just can’t believe she’s finally here in my arms. You know, it’s the best feelin’ in the goddamn world, Lola. Just look at how perfect she is,” I tell her, feeling my eyes tearing up again. I’m not much of a crier but for this little girl, I will be.
“She loves you too.”
Looking up at Lola as she lies on the bed, I can’t stop smiling. Life is perfect. This is everything I could have wanted and more. I now have a family that I have to provide for and care for. My time as the president of the Soulless Bastards MC is coming to an end and a new chapter in my life is opening. I can’t say that I didn’t see it coming because I did. I always knew it deep down but having them here with me, that makes it all the more real and I couldn’t be any happier.
“I knew I loved her when she was inside of you but damn. Holdin’ her and feedin’ her, it’s everything, babe.” Lola giggles and lays her head back on the pillow. I stand and walk over to the bed, climbing on with Diablo right next to me. I lay Annabel down in the middle and watch as D climbs up laying his head near her feet before I lay on the other side.
“I was a little worried about him,” Lola says, nodding toward D.
“You know, I was too but he is the best big brother. I don’t think any boys will be gettin’ near her anytime soon.” Lola smiles as she reaches down and pets his head. He lays there like the well-trained dog that he is.
“How are you feelin’?” I ask getting the attention back on me.
“Good. A little tired but I feel good.” Leaning over Annabel I press my lips to her mom’s lips.
“I love you,” I tell her.
“I love you too. Thank you for being everything to me, Blade. I don’t think you know what that means to me.” Just as she finishes speaking, my cell rings. I pull it from my pocket and bring it to my ear.
“Yeah?”
“We got a situation,” Ransom’s voice comes over the line and I don’t like the tone.
“What is it?”
“Ryan has made an appearance. He’s tryin’ to run out all our incomin’ jobs. When he took that coke shipment, he had plans. From what I’m hearin’ he is down at John’s right now tryin’ to fuck over the next gun shipment.” Anger races through my veins knowing that he’s this close to us. What the hell is his end game? What is he trying to prove by fucking with us?
“You got guys on it?”
“You know I do. Prospects are on their way to your place as we speak,” he adds. I blow out a breath and thank fuck that he has all this taken care of.
“Appreciate it, Ransom. I’ll leave as soon as they show up.” Hanging the phone up, I look over at Lola and the sad look in her eyes.
“Gotta go handle some things. Prospects will be here in a few and will stay until I get back.”
“Is it him?” She asks hesitantly. I run my hand over my face and sigh as I nod.
“Yeah. He’s fuckin’ with some of our shipments and we know his location. I wanna get him handled before he moves again and we can’t find him,” I inform her.
“I know you have to do this. I get it but I still don’t know what to feel, Blade.” I reach over and rest my hand on her cheek trying to assure her as best I can.
“I know that and I hate that this is how it has to be, but I promised to protect you and our daughter and that’s exactly what I’m gonna do, Lola. I don’t need you to understand or accept it. This is just somethin’ that has to be done.” I watch the tear as it slides down her cheek before I wipe it away.
“I know. Just come back to me, please.”
“Always babe. I’ll always come back to you. Both of you.” I kiss her once more before climbing off the bed and heading out the front door to gather my thoughts. As I sit here and contemplate my life, I realize that this is what’s been missing from it. This is how my life was supposed to play out and I’d like to think that my parents played a big part of Lola and I coming together the way we did. I believe in fate and it was no coincidence that Lola was dumped off at one of my jobs. It was something more than that and I thank God every day that I get to have her in my life.
