Authors: Amanda Anderson

Ink (6 page)

Eleven

Angel popped the trunk with the key she’d found inside the car and looked inside.

Big blue eyes, rimmed red from crying, surrounded by impossibly long lashes spikey from dampness looked up at her, Ink’s eyes.

A sob caught in her throat.

“Oh sweetie, oh Noah. It’s alright, everything will be alright now.”

The little boy scooted away from her and whimpered pitifully. Angel didn’t know what to do so she climbed into the trunk with him, which wasn’t easy to do with her pregnant belly, but she finally made it and let out a laugh at her clumsiness.

The boy must have found her cumbersome climb amusing too because he smiled a little and wrinkled his nose the same way Ink did when he found something funny.

“Who are you?” He asked in a small voice.

“My name’s Angel and I’m going to take you to meet your daddy.”

His eyes narrowed. “That man killed my grandparents. He said he killed my daddy. He used a bunch of bad words. He hurt me. That woman yelled at me and said she was my mother, but she was so mean. Will you hurt me too?”

He was trying so hard to be brave, but fat tears rolled down his face.

“No baby, I’ll never ever hurt you, not ever. I’m going to love you all my life.”

“Why would you love me? You don’t know me. I’m just a boy.” He looked so sad that it almost broke Angel’s heart.

“Sometimes love doesn’t have to make sense and sometimes we don’t choose who we love. Our hearts tell us and we just do it because it feels right.” Angel looked up to find her father standing by the car with Shadow. “My mama taught me that.” She said as tears flowed freely from her eyes.

Shadow looked like he might break from trying to keep his feelings locked inside.

“She loved a little boy a long time ago who thought he was just a boy too, but he turned out to be just what we all needed desperately.”

“Who are they?” He looked scared.

“That’s my daddy.” She nodded toward Preach who looked like his jaw might crack.

“And this is my big brother.” Angel reached out and Shadow took her hand after only a small hesitation. “I have a little girl who would like to have a big brother.”

She opened her arms and she was a little shocked when he filled them.

“Will my daddy love me? They said he didn’t want me. That’s why he never came to see me.” He sniffled.

“Oh baby, your daddy will love you more than the sun and the moon. A man loves his son if he is a real man and your daddy is a really good man.”

“But he has…” He nodded toward her belly.

“Oh yes, he loves his girls too, but you are special. You are his son.”

“And that’s ok with you?”

Angel tilted her head and smiled at him. “I couldn’t be happier. Now how about we get out of this trunk?”

He nodded. “You got blood on you.”

“I know. Sometimes we have to get dirty to protect the people that matter.”

“Me?”

“Yes Noah, you. There is nothing I won’t do to keep you safe. You are part of a really big, really unique family now baby and we will all love you and keep you safe.”

He looked up at Preach and Shadow before he scrambled out of the trunk. Angel was less graceful and required considerably more help to get her feet on the ground.

“Come on, Ink is on the way back to the hospital.” Shadow said as he continued to hold Angel’s arm.

“Is he alright?” Angel felt a stab of alarm.

“Law had that nurse help out. He’s fine. He needs to meet his kid.” His jaw hardened again. “What you said back there…” He took a deep breath. “Did she really…?”

“Yeah she did Marcus.” Angel’s heart was going to strangle her. She looked up at the man who had rarely showed any emotions as long as she’d known him, even as a child. He had tears in his eyes.

“Thank you Angel. Thank you.”

Shadow ran his hand over Noah’s hair and looked into Angel’s eyes. “Don’t let him be like me.”

“Marcus, there’s nothing wrong with you.”

He tilted his head and studied her, then walked away, back toward the warehouse.

Angel helped Noah into the back seat and get buckled and climbed into the dark SUV her father had driven there to rescue her.

How had she ever wondered how she could live in this world? How could she ever live in any other world? This was the only world that she could ever belong in.

Twelve

Ink opened his eyes to the glaring light of the hospital. The smell of antiseptic burned his nose. The beeping of the machines rang in his head like a gong. What the hell had happened?

“Well if it ain’t Rip VanWinkle. It’s about time you woke up you lazy assed fucker.”

Of all the voices Ink had hoped to wake up to, Lawless was not one of them. He wanted to groan.

“Fuck you.” He croaked through dry lips and a tongue that felt like it had been wrapped in cotton. Law laughed like he’d just won the lottery.

“We need to get you some pussy brother. You keep offerin’ and Nikki might get pissed, but she is one sexy woman when she gets pissed so... feel free to keep offerin’. Some pissed off sex from my woman might get me caught up on what I’ve missed.”

Ink couldn’t help it, a chuckle left his lips. “Damn you are an annoying son of a bitch. Where is she?”

“Nikki? Well she is probably home right now. Got tired of waiting on you to get well…”

Ink growled.

“Oh you mean Angel.” Law pulled his feet down from where they were propped on Ink’s bed. “She might be downstairs getting something to eat. That chick eats more than Moose.”

“How long was I asleep?”

“About six hours. Little nurse Lauren knocked your ass out.” Law laughed. “She’s worth keeping an eye on.”

“You had your eye on her pretty good from what I saw.”

“Nah, not my type, but she would make a good old lady for somebody. If she lived back home that is.”

“Yeah well she don’t.”

“Nope, but might put a bug in her ear, let her know she had friends.”

She had stepped up and they owed her. “Yeah, least we could do. Watch her back a little.”

Law nodded.

“Yeah well I need to take a piss so get over here and help me...brother.” Ink grinned.

Law laughed, but he stood up. “Ok, but I’m not holding your dick.”

“I wouldn’t give you that much of a thrill.” Ink said through his dry throat.

Lawless laughed. “Good to see you’re feeling better Ink, real good. Had us worried. Pull that shit again and I’ll put you in the fucking hospital myself.”

Ink knew that was concern and just shook his head. He had almost made it back to bed when the door opened. There she was. She looked radiant and healthy, rested. How the hell she had managed that in six hours he didn’t know, but she made everything right in his world.

“Oh God you look so good.” He whispered and Angel rushed to him. Happy tears rolling down her face.

And then she was in his arms, where she belonged.
“I love you Angel. Only you. Always you. Since the first time I heard your voice.” Ink said into her hair. “Made my hands shake.” He kissed her. “I couldn’t think of any other woman after that and I hadn’t even seen your face yet.”

“It’s true. Almost didn’t let the fucker ink my colors.”

Ink laughed against Angel’s lips. “You scared the hell out of me, but I’m so grateful for you, for what you did. Thank you for saving Noah.” His voice cracked. “Thank you for keeping him safe. I love you. I don’t deserve you, but I love you.”

He felt something press against his side and looked down to see a dark head pressed against Angel’s side. The child looked up and Ink couldn’t breathe.

“Noah?” He whispered on a disbelieving breath.

The child nodded.

Ink wasn’t ashamed of the tears that trickled down his face as he looked into the face of his son for the first time.

“Oh my God Noah.” It hurt like hell, but Ink fell to his knees on the cold tile floor and pulled his son to his chest.

“I’m so glad you’re safe. So glad you’re here with me. God, Noah I’m so glad to have you.”

“You look like me.” Noah said as he looked at Ink. “But my hair isn’t different colors.” He tilted his head. “Are you really glad I’m here?” He regarded his father with narrowed eyes.

Ink held the boy far enough from him to look into his face. “I love you Noah. I will always be glad to have you. You are my son.”

Noah buried his face against Ink’s chest.

“Daddy!” Caterina bounced into the room followed by Shadow. “I missed you. Why is your bottom showing?”

Ink laughed. All his life he had tried to be something. He had tried to be better. He had gone to the Army to prove that he was a man. He had joined the MC to find a home. He had covered himself in tattoos and piercings and colored his hair to prove that he was someone that had the courage to stand out, but right now he looked into the face of his son who looked so much like him and he belonged.

Angel knelt beside Caterina and Noah and wrapped her arms around them.

Ink allowed Lawless to help him up and back to bed.

“Daddy I think you need to put on some underwear or something.” Caterina looked to Noah and tilted her head the same way Law did.

Ink wanted to laugh, but Law looked as proud as a peacock. Few knew the relationship Law shared with the kids in the club, but it was a bond.

“Who are you?” She asked.

“I’m Noah.”

“He’s your brother Cat.” Ink said to his daughter.

Everyone in the room watched the little dark haired girl as if her reaction mattered more than their next breath.

“Like Shadow is your brother?” Cat asked her mother.

Angel nodded. “Exactly like that baby.”

Cat’s face lit up like a Christmas tree. She threw her arms around Noah.

“I’ve always wanted a brother! A big brother! I’m so glad to have you! We are going to have a whole lot of fun.”

Noah looked a little confused, even frightened. Shadow laughed from where he stood.

“Welcome to the family Noah.”

Epilogue

Shadow sat in the waiting room of the hospital and looked at the woman who’d had the power to make or ruin his life. She held Caterina on her lap and her arm was wrapped around Noah. She looked the same as she had all those years ago. Same bleached hair. Same brilliant green eyes. Same bright smile.

The boy looked so happy. He fit right into the family and everyone loved him. He was a sweet kid and so much like Ink it was like watching the man himself.

Shadow wondered about the men he called brothers. He knew the stories of them that Spec had found. The records that were public, but he wondered about their lives. His had been different and those who knew his story often looked at him in horror, but his mother had loved him the only way she could and she had protected him until the end. He knew many of his brothers weren’t as lucky. He knew he wasn’t a good man. He killed, it’s what he was, a killer. He knew his sanity was on a tight string, but his brothers accepted him. Mrs. accepted him.

He looked up when Lizzie stepped into the room. They had never been close, but she cared for him and tried to make sure he knew it.

“Come meet your new sister Cat, Noah.” Lizzie called from the doorway.

Both kids raced toward her. Mrs. stood and started to follow, but Shadow stepped in her way. There were things he needed to say, things that had gone too long unsaid. The woman was beautiful. Her hair was ruthlessly bleached and her eyes were as green as the grass in spring and they had always made his eyes sting to look at them for too long. She was taller than the average woman so her eyes were almost on his level now, but she had always made a point of looking him in the eye, giving him the respect she would a man.

“What is it honey?” Mrs. asked.

She had always tried to reach him and he had pushed her away. What would his life have been if he had accepted her the way Noah had accepted everybody? What kind of man would he be?

Shadow pulled the woman who had done everything she could to be the mother he had lost into his arms.

“Thank you for loving me. Thank you for being my mother, I know it wasn’t easy. Watching Angel with Noah. It brings back some memories.” He pressed his cheek to her hair.

She pulled back to look at him and pressed her hands to his face. “It was the easiest thing in the world Marcus. I think you can see that now. You belonged just like Noah does. I wanted a son and you came to me,” she smiled. “And I didn’t even have to go through labor to get you.”

“I don’t understand it.”

“Of course you do. If Lacey had been pregnant by Rider, would it have made any difference to you? Would Megan be any less precious?”

He thought back to that day. The day he’d come back and found her belly round with his child. He had felt rage that another man had touched her, but he loved her the same as he always had. He let his eyes fall on Lacey and his children where they sat waiting to see the new baby.

“No it wouldn’t have mattered.” He loved his family. They gave him strength and banished his ghosts. He tried to picture Megan with blonde hair, but he couldn’t love her less.

“If you love someone their children are easy to love. You were so easy to love Marcus. You still are.”

Her eyes were bright with tears, but her smile was happy. She kissed his cheek and linked her arm with his.

“Now let’s go meet your new niece.”

I hope you enjoyed INK

Book 9

The Defenders

Series

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