Sin City Baby

by Rye Hart

  “Shit like that doesn’t blow over, Luke. What? How did? How could you?”

  Fuck. It was never good when Liam was speechless.

  “Why do you keep fucking this up, Luke?” he asked. “Why? You’re the reason why her parents are irate with her. And now, you’re the reason why Lauren’s angry. Because I know even without you telling me that she is.”

  I sighed and closed my eyes as Liam slammed down into his chair.

  “I want to make things right, okay? I know I messed up,” I said.

  “You think?” he asked.

  “You can get off your high horse now, since we’ve all pissed her off at some point in time. But what do I do? What do we do?”

  “We don’t do anything, Luke. Sam’s scared. And for the first time in her life, she’s allowing herself to admit that. Stop putting your wants and wishes for your own world in front of hers. That’s what you do. Because it’s not about you.”

  “Thanks,” I said flatly.

  A resounding knock on the door caught our attention. Who in the world was knocking down his office door? Liam jumped out of his chair, his brow furrowed deep with confusion. He grabbed the doorknob and swung it open, revealing who was standing on the other side.

  The hairs on the back of my neck bristled the second I saw who it was.

  “Mr. Easton?” I asked.

  What the hell was Sam’s father doing in Bakersfield?

  He whipped his eyes over to mine, flaring with an anger so unspeakable it could only be considered demonic. He charged me and drew his fist back, lunging at me before Liam could process what was happening. A searing pain shot through my nose. Throbbed behind my eyes. Caused me to stumble back. I heard Liam yelling in the background as footsteps ran down the hallway. Tears crested the folds of my eyes as my nose began to throb. It was an earth-shattering pain that coursed through my face. My nose ached, and I could feel something dripping from it.

  I brought my hand in front of me to guard myself against another attack as feel scuffled along the floor.

  I watched Liam’s shadow loom in front of me as I wiped at my nose, grimacing at the pain that was almost blinding. Holy shit. Sam’s father had just punched me in my nose.

  “What's going on?” Liam asked. “What are you doing here?”

  “That’s for knocking up my little girl,” Mr. Easton said.

  “Assault isn’t tolerated on this property, sir. But since we’re on the subject, we’d like to have a word with you,” Liam said.

  “A word with me?” he asked. “That was something I should’ve done to you boy’s years ago. You baited my daughter. Prowled around her. Gawked at her like she was your piece of meat. And now you’ve ensnared her and we’ll never get her back.”

  “You never had her,” Levi said as he stepped up to the plate. “Her entire life, you tried to control her. Manipulate her. Get her to grow and mold and become someone she wasn’t.”

  “It’s called parenting,” Mr. Easton said.

  “No, it’s called ‘manipulation’,” I said.

  My eyes whipped up to his as I stepped away from the wall.

  “You good, Luke?” Logan asked.

  “Yep. I don’t think he broke it,” I said. “He doesn’t have that kind of power.”

  “Then let me turn my attention to him,” Logan said. “What you did to Sam in college was disgusting. Cutting her off financially was your last way of controlling her because you didn’t like her major. Because she didn’t follow your pretty little path you and your wife carved out for her. But throwing her out of your home while she’s pregnant after she came to you? After all you did to her?”

  “I think what Logan’s trying to say is that the two of you are the perfect example of how Sam won’t be raising your grandchild,” I said.

  “None of you have the right to talk to me that way. My little girl was destined for greatness until the four of you decided to consume her,” Mr. Easton said.

  “No, sir,” Liam said. “Sam was destined for greatness. And then she reached it. Without you. Without you or your wife or the support of a family she desperately wants. It’s very clear she won’t get that family from you, but she will get it from us.”

  “You bet your ass she will,” Levi said.

  “It’s disgusting what you did to her,” Logan said.

  “And we won’t let it happen again. Not on our watch,” I said.

  “Now leave,” Liam said. “Before I call the police, and have you arrested for assault on private property.”

  Mr. Easton’s eyes were burning with rage, but none of us gave a shit. I certainly didn’t. I stood by my brothers as we surrounded him, making sure he understood the full force of our rage. For years, we watched him beat Sam down. For years, I listened to her as she cried to Lauren. For years, I watched her come over with red eyes and puffy cheeks from crying at all hours of the night.

  He wasn’t going to hurt her. Not anymore.

  “Luke, you good?” Liam asked.

  “Yep. I’m good,” I said.

  “Then I’ll be right back. I’m going to escort Mr. Easton off the premises personally.”

  CHAPTER 26

  LOGAN

  I looked at my phone and saw a text message from Sam. She was calling for all of us to come over. Finally, she was reaching out to us. I shot back a text saying I would be there and that I couldn't wait to see her.

  I missed her.

  I also knew that she’d had her doctor’s appointment that day. We had all wanted to be a part of it, but being that she never told us what time it was going to be or what doctor she’d even chosen to go to, we’d all been left in the dark. It made me angry, but I knew that coming at Sam with that attitude would get me nowhere. I needed to keep my shit together when we went to see her.

  I got off work and went straight to her place, and it looked like all the rest of guys had beaten me to the punch. I got out of my car as Sam came out onto the porch, and I strode toward her, wrapping her in my arms before any of the other guys could put their hands on her.

  Then, I heard her gasp.

  “Oh my gosh. Luke. What happened to you?”

  I furrowed my brow and turned around to see Luke’s bashed up face. His nose was swollen, and his eye was black, and my eyes widened at the sight.

  “The hell happened to you?” I asked.

  “Your father paid us a visit,” Liam said as he looked at Sam.

  “What?” she asked. “My father did that to you?” She pulled away from me and rushed to Luke, immediately wrapping him up in her arms. I felt jealousy kick me in the gut, watching the way she held him closely. Luke rubbed his hand up and down her back, and I looked away. Sam’s father had really done a number on his face, but I couldn’t help but be jealous of the close relationship the two of them seemed to have. Sam seemed more receptive to Luke and his touch.

  I didn’t like watching it.

  “I’m so sorry,” Sam said. “I had no idea my father was in town.”

  “It’s fine. I figured you didn’t,” Luke said.

  “Why did he come by the office?” Sam asked.

  “To do exactly this,” Liam said as he motioned to Luke. “He said that was for ‘knocking up his little girl.’”

  “Oh, now he wants to give a shit? They fucking kicked me out. What the hell is wrong with them?” she asked.

  “I guess maybe he has a fatherly instinct after all?” Luke suggested.

  “Well this sure as shit isn’t the way to go about showing it. Come on, let’s get you in the house and get some ice on your face,” she said to Luke. She ushered him into her home like he was some delicate flower. I tried to let my jealousy go as much as I could, but it was hard. I wanted that closeness with Sam. She sat Luke at the dining room table and grabbed a bag of frozen peas for his face. Once he was situated to her satisfaction, she turned to us all.

  “Look guys, I know I’ve been distant lately, but with Lauren finding out and the fight that we had, I just needed to proces
s all of this. I came to the conclusion that it is what it is right now and I need to just be patient. Lauren will either come home and we’ll work it out, or we won’t, and I’ll have to deal with whatever happens. Right now, my main focus needs to be on this baby,” she said.

  I nodded my head, glad to hear what she was saying. She sounded better than she had in a while “Your appointment was today, wasn’t it?” I prodded, even though I knew the answer.

  “It was. I had an ultrasound,” she said.

  Sam walked over to her purse and pulled out a string of pictures, and I couldn't take my eyes off them. The baby was so tiny. Just a little jumping bean in the middle of this fuzzy oval sac. I felt something rush through my veins. Something prideful and protective. I looked up at Sam, and her eyes connected with mine, and the smile that trickled across her cheeks made my heart stop.

  For some reason, my mind was telling me this was my child that she was carrying.

  But no matter what, I would help her and love this baby forever, if she’d let me.

  “I figured you guys would want to see them,” Sam said.

  “We did. Thank you for showing these to us,” I said.

  “Of course. The doctor said that the baby is doing great, growing like he or she is supposed to,” she said.

  “That’s great to hear Sam,” Luke said.

  “It is. But I want to ask you guys a question,” she said.

  “You can ask us anything, any time,” Levi chimed in.

  She sat down beside him on the couch and put her hand on his knee.

  “Do you guys want to know who the father is?” she asked.

  I looked around the room and watched my brothers freeze. Did she have some sort of DNA testing done? I balled my fists up at my sides and watched her look around at all of us. Levi’s hand fell on top of hers, and he brought it to his lips.

  “All I know is, I’m here to help,” I said. “I don’t give a damn whose child you’re carrying. It doesn’t matter to me.”

  “I was thinking the same thing,” Liam said.

  “I don’t fucking care. If it’s not my kid, it’s my niece or nephew,” Levi said.

  “Luke?” Sam asked.

  “Doesn’t matter to me, beautiful. I’m here no matter what,” he said.

  “Sam?” I asked.

  “Yeah, Logan?”

  “Can I say something?”

  “Of course.”

  “We wanna be with you. All of us do. And all I want you to do is understand this. I know you’re scared, and I know a lot of shit is happening really quickly. But you can’t keep cutting us out like you are. At least answer our calls. We don’t have to come over every day if you need your space or some shit, but at least talk to us, Sam.”

  “Trust me, Liam’s already voiced his concerns,” Sam said.

  My eyes flickered over to his, and I watched him sigh.

  “I’ve been a bit overwhelmed by all of this and the horrible morning sickness hasn’t helped. Not to mention this shit with your sister. But I’m working on it. I’m getting back into the swing of things with my job and trying to put one foot in front of the other here,” she said.

  “And I get that,” I said. “Just make us part of the damn process.”

  “I hear you, okay?” she asked.

  Her tone was forceful and decisive, and it caused me to back off.

  “Okay,” she said heaving out a big sigh. “So, that’s a ‘no’ to the DNA testing?”

  “That’s a ‘no,’” Liam said.

  “A hard one,” Luke said.

  After taking a look at the pictures one last time, all of the guys trickled out of her place but I hung back. I wanted time with her. And since I was in her townhouse, I would at least try to steal it while I could.

  “Logan?” Sam asked, a question in her eyes.

  “I’m not here to convince you of anything,” I said. “I just wanna spend some time with you.”

  She looked at me warily, and it broke something inside of me.

  “I was going to watch a movie,” she said.

  “Sounds good to me. Are you hungry? I could order us something.”

  “Soup sounds nice. Some egg drop soup, maybe?” she asked.

  “Whatever you want,” I said. “Let me get the order in.”

  Sam started up “A League of Their Own” while I placed an order for Chinese food. I didn’t want to eat anything that would make her sick to her stomach, so I ordered soup as well along with some bland noodles. The two of us sat next to each other on the couch while Sam watched her favorite movie in the entire world, reciting line after line before erupting into laughter. And fuck was it ever a beautiful sound. She leaned against me while she ate and cuddled underneath my arm once she was done. Her cheek pressed into my chest as my hands slid through her hair, and soon she was snoring against my body.

  This was what I wanted with her. No pretense. No gimmicks. Just her and I, with some food and a movie and our warm bodies tangled up in one another.

  After placing a kiss on the top of her head, I gathered her in my arms. I walked her back into her room and gently placed her in her bed. She sighed and groaned, stretching those beautiful arms of hers until her back began to pop. I slid the covers over her body, and she hunkered down into them, humming with the warmth as she curled them up to her chin.

  I didn't want to leave her. I wanted to slide into bed with her and hold her close the entire night. But I wanted her to initiate something like that with me. I didn't want to force anything on her without being able to ask her first.

  So I settled for placing a kiss on her forehead before I locked her front door behind me and left.

  CHAPTER 27

  LEVI

  “Hey there, Levi.”

  “Hey Sam, how are you feeling today?” I asked.

  “Not too bad right now actually. I’m hoping the morning sickness will lessen as I’m getting closer to my second trimester.”

  “I’m glad to hear that,” I said, and I meant it.

  “What can I do for you Levi?” she asked after a brief silence. “I wanted to ask you something.”

  “I was wondering if you would like to get out of the house for the afternoon and maybe get a bite to eat. Just us.”

  I had no idea if she was going to say “yes” or not. With the track record we all had going, it wouldn’t shock me one bit if she hung up the phone and called it a damn day. I walked around the construction site I was at, keeping an eye on things and making sure things didn’t get out of control.

  “Sure, that actually sounds nice. I’ve got a little bit of writer’s block going on and I could use the break. Who knows, maybe you’ll inspire me,” she laughed softly.

  My heart leapt in my chest with the possibilities.

  “Ok, do you want me to come pick you up?” I offered.

  “Sure,” she answered.

  “Give me ten minutes, and I’ll be there.”

  I hung up the phone and raced across the construction site. I was ready to spend my lunch break with her. I’d missed our conversations and the easy times we used to be able to have together. It was fun to be around Sam. Always had been. And now, I had a chance to at establishing a bond with her that none of the other guys had.

  I pulled up to her place, and she was standing on the porch. I was still shocked she’d agreed to go, and I watched her all the way to my car. She dipped into it with her cute little summer dress and her lace-up sandals. She turned to give me that dazzling smile, but I could tell she wasn’t feeling well again.

  “If you want to order in, that’s ok.”

  “Drive the damn car, Levi,” she said with a grin.

  I turned up the music and slowly wove us through town. We talked about nothing in particular and it was wonderful. All of our conversations lately had been so heavy and exhausting. It was nice to just shoot the shit again and enjoy the day and one another’s company. It was refreshing and relaxing.

  I pulled up in front of the restaurant
and Sam smiled.

  “Oh, I love this place,” Sam said. “I haven’t been here in forever.”

  “Soup’s always good on a sick stomach,” I said. “And we can eat outside, so the smells from the kitchen won’t bother you.”

  “That’s so considerate Levi, thank you,” she said.

  “Hey, I’m not an asshole all of the time. I do have my redeeming moments you know,” I said.

  I laughed as I got out of the car, and I offered her my arm. I escorted her inside before we quickly walked through to the back patio, and we put in our food orders. We settled in with our drinks and looked around before settling our eyes back on one another.

  “I miss things like this,” Sam said.

  “Then I’m glad I could get you out for a little while,” I said.

  “I miss the times when things weren’t so damn complicated.”

  My eyes watched as she gazed out over the bustling street.

  “I miss being friends,” she said. “I miss not having to deal with complicated feelings.”

  “It’s bullshit,” I said.

  “It really is. Like, who the fuck said we had to have all of our ducks in a row all the time? And who said we had to deal with emotions? Can’t we stuff those down and deal with them when all the shit passes?”

  “That’s how I do it. Is that not how everyone else does it?”

  “No,” she said with a giggle. “No, it’s not.”

  “Then I promise you this. No emotional shit. Not today.”

  “Thank fuck. Because I’m over it with the other guys,” she said.

  “Me too,” I admitted.

  A song came on the outdoor speakers and Sam began to sing.

  “Shit. You’re going to torture me like that?” I asked.

  “Hey, I’m not as bad as Lauren.”

  “No one’s as bad as Lauren.”

  I watched Sam’s face fall before she heaved a heavy sigh.

  “She’ll get over it,” I said. “She always does.”

  “I don’t know if she will this time. You know we had a deal growing up.”

  “What kind of deal?” I asked as I grabbed my drink.

  “The deal was that she would always vouch for me whenever we snuck out if I stayed away from her brothers.”