Duke: Fallen MC #1 (16 page)

Nicole sat in front of the mirror getting ready for her baby shower. She couldn’t believe eight weeks had gone by so fast. Ever since she found out she was pregnant her belly popped out more and more each day. There was no gradual build, it seemed she woke up one morning and bam! There was this huge bump. She’d often fantasised about being pregnant, sitting rubbing her nice round bump and basking in her pregnancy glow. That shit wasn’t happening. She had no glow, unless you count the sheen from the constant layer of sweat that coated her body. Her bump was never round. It was always misshapen by one of the babies stretching or wrestling with each other. The brothers found it fascinating as it was always moving and laughed when she shouted at her belly for them to “settle down,” “stop it” or “you’re so grounded when you get out of there!”

The day they found out what they were having was one of the best days of her life so far. She’d never seen Duke so ecstatic. The doctor had scanned her while they waited impatiently for the news. Duke had nearly climbed on the bed in his attempt to get a closer look at the monitor. And then the moment came.

“Well, everything is fine. You’re very healthy Nicole and your sons are a good size for sixteen weeks.”

“Sons?” Duke was grinning.

“Yes, you’re going to have three sons.”

Duke threw his head back and howled so loudly that security and nurses rushed into the room, not knowing whether they were facing an emergency or an attack. They stopped dead in the entry, quickly realising nothing was wrong. Dr Scance was waving his hands to discourage them from approaching. Duke had reacted by taking a defensive stance at the end of the bed, ready to protect her from whatever was rushing through the door. She couldn’t stop the all out laughter that escaped her looking at the faces of eight people scared to move because of Duke. He turned when he heard her laugh.

“You just had to howl didn’t you!” Tears were rolling down her face at this point.

Shortly after everyone left, Dr Scance continued her appointment. She’d done her own research on multiple births since finding out. She knew she’d probably end up on bed rest and having a c-section, so she wasn’t surprised to hear that. She was shocked by how many calories she had to intake daily and that soon her centre of gravity would dramatically shift, so she’d have to be extra cautious when moving around. Duke was ready to wrap her in bubble wrap already, so she knew his protectiveness was about to become stifling. They left the clinic happy and from then on it was all baby names and planning where to live.

Nicole was expecting Duke to be a little bummed to be losing his good old bachelor pad. He’d lived there since getting the position of VP three years ago and was his first stable home. He wasn’t though. Duke was forever coming back with real estate agent brochures and browsing online for the perfect house. He was more fussy than Nicole on what his boys needed to grow up. Things like a treehouse, game room and a big back yard with a park nearby. Whereas she was more concerned with good school areas.

It turned out the club owned several acres surrounding the fenced-in compound. Duke was reluctant to move too far away, he wanted her close to the compound when he would be away on runs in the future. He negotiated and brought an acre of land from the club and had a local architect design and build her dream house; a five bedroom home, with open plan family room and kitchen and a pool in the garden. It even had everything Duke wanted. Nicole was positive they’d end up having to compromise but in the end there was no need. She was so excited.

Duke told her it would be nearly a year before it was ready to move in, but she was ok with that. She’d joked that staying at the apartment with three babies would be an educational experience for them and give the brothers plenty of chance to learn how to change diapers. Duke had wanted to rent a house in the mean time but Nicole refused to waste money when the babies would be sleeping in the same room as them for a while anyway. The apartment was far enough away that they would never be disturbed by the noise from the bar and the sound of tail pipes were going to be present no matter where they stayed, so the babies would have to get used to them either way.

The plan of them building their home had snowballed throughout the club. Razor immediately purchased the acre next to them and was building his own house. When Duke found out she could tell that he and Razor were holding back tears. Their eyes were suspiciously glassy. Later, she discovered that a childhood pact was made, declaring that when they got older they would live next door to each other, so they’d always be close. Needless to say she turned into a weeping mess after hearing it.

Soon after acres were being bought by everyone. Her home would now be in the middle of Razor and Slam. Prez, Hollywood and the Musketeers had also bought acres and everyone was building straight away, driving the cost down for all. Even the single brothers purchased plots even if a few of them weren’t building yet. They were going to have their own Fallen MC neighbourhood!

Debates were already underway about street names and road construction. She was staying well out of it. Shel and Jewel were well involved and she trusted them to not to let her live in a street named ‘Devil’s Canyon’. That name had proved popular when suggested. One thing was for sure, there would be no need for neighbourhood watch. Anyone stupid enough to try to attack or rob their homes would live to regret it. She’d seen the plans for security for the area that all the ‘residents’ were equally chipping in for and it was extensive. Her sons wouldn’t be safer anywhere else.

She was pulled from her recollections by Duke massaging her shoulders. It felt wonderful and she soon turned to putty under his hands.

“You feeling ok, baby?” He dropped his hands to rub her belly and was rewarded with several rolls and kicks.

“Yeah, looking forward to this party. Hopefully I won’t fall asleep part way through.” She chuckled. Duke pulled her off the stool and turned her in his arms to face him.

“You get tired, you leave. No excuses. I won’t have you feeling bad because you were trying to keep up with bitches who aren’t growing three boys at the moment. They’ll sit there drinking while you’re sat forming three pairs of lungs. That shit is crazy.”

She wanted to giggle but she could tell if he was being serious. “I promise I’ll be careful with how much I do. It’s a baby shower, I can’t see it being too crazy. Anyway, I need you to be careful too. I know you want tonight over with but I don’t want you being hot headed with my Dad.” He snorted and rolled his eyes at that. She gripped his shoulders, “Just remember that while yes, he is a shit father and a general fuck-up, I wouldn’t have met you if he wasn’t and we wouldn’t be getting this amazing family, so just be calm, okay?”

He drew in a deep breath through his nose and hugged her to him. “Okay baby. I’ll try to keep that in mind but fuck, you’ve been here the best part of six months and he’s only now paying up. He has no idea how you’re being treated or if you’re well or not!” He was getting riled up so she ran her hands up and down his back until his body slumped. “Sorry baby, it just pisses me off to think about. I can guarantee though he will have nothing to do with the club or you and my boys from here on out. My family is not for him to use in his deals. If he even tries, I’ll gut him from throat to dick.”

Nicole agreed with Duke on all of it and was ashamed to admit that she’d completely forgotten about her Dad being involved with club business. She supposed it was because she was an old lady now and they’d never really treated her as collateral. From pretty much the very beginning she’d been accepted into the fold. What she hadn’t known was that all the time she was not thinking about it, Duke had been silently seething.

Nicole came to terms with cutting her Dad out of her life. She’d cried and agonised about it but she knew deep down it was the right thing to do, especially for her boys. It didn’t make it easier to do, just easier to accept. There was one thing she wouldn’t budge on - she was determined to see him one last time.

They’d argued this point back and forth over the last two weeks, after Nole had finally contacted the club to make his payment. He had dreaded telling Nicole about it because he was sure she would want him in her life again and he didn’t that worthless shit anywhere near her. She’s so loving, forgiving and tries to see the best in everyone, but sometimes the hard fact is there are no chances left to give. He was sure that her insistence on seeing her Dad was that she thought that she
should
do, rather than that she actually
wanted
to. The idea of it just didn’t sit right with him. Her Dad wasn’t owed a real goodbye as far as Duke was concerned.

They’d shared long talks about their childhoods and so he knew her story and all the situations Nole had put her in. She saw them through the eyes of a child and so didn’t perceive them for the truly dangerous events they were, but he did. He knew or had heard of most of the people she had to deal with and the list was enough to turn his stomach.

Eventually they’d compromised. Nicole acknowledged that it was time to live her own life and leave her Dad behind. She’d never want to endanger their kids either and she knew she would be doing exactly that if she allowed Nole any contact with her or them. But, she did want to see him one last time, to assure him that she was well and happy in her life and to say goodbye.

This was their compromise, she’d get to see him, supervised of course, before breaking all contact. Part of him felt bad for pushing this but he couldn’t live with himself if anything happened to her. He could see her bottom lip was swollen from where she’d be chewing on it because of her nerves for tonight’s meeting. He couldn’t have that so he had a plan of distraction.

He pulled the small bag from his pocket containing three small boxes and handed it to Nicole.

“What on earth is this?” He loved being able to give her things, it satisfied a deep macho part of him to provide and care for his woman.

“Just open them, baby. It’s a surprise.”

She lifted the lid on each box and gasped. She gently picked up each thin leather band and stroked them. He’d had them made to fit his sons as they were both so paranoid of mixing them up before they could tell them apart. This was his solution. Each band was adjustable and made to go around the wrist or ankle of the babies and was branded with the first initial of the names they’d agreed on. He watched her trace the A, J and R with the tip of her finger before she threw her arms around his waist. Her bump was stopping them from getting too close these days. He loved to feel his boys kick against his stomach while they were lying in bed. He’d never been happier to have a king size as his old lady was taking up a lot more room than before.

Nicole’s hands started to drift to his front and down to his zipper. He knew what she wanted, it was what she always wanted at the moment. He’d never known that pregnancy made women horny. Nicole couldn’t get enough of him and it wasn’t exactly easy to achieve these days. He was grateful that he’d always stayed in shape. They were pretty much down to him taking her from behind or her on top. He wasn’t complaining though, he’d never been fucked so much in his life. His brothers hadn’t believed him until Nicole interrupted them at the bar one night and all but pulled him off his stool and dragged him upstairs. His dick automatically responded to her presence, even pregnant she was sexy as fuck. Her big, lush breasts were even fuller and he could spend hours panting over them and her ass. Unfortunately, he didn’t have the time right now. He had to get going.

“I know you need me baby, but I’ve got to go to meet your Dad and you should have been in the bar ten minutes ago. I don’t need Shel and Jewel walking in to find me balls deep in your tight pussy. You know they’ll be here to drag you to your party any minute now.”

Just as he said this, they heard the a brief knock on the door before it was opened by Shel, with Jewel only one step behind. They always let themselves in these days to stop Nicole from having to stand to answer the door. He laughed at how right he was but Nicole was pouting. He briefly sucked her bottom lip into his mouth and gently stroked it with his tongue. She was always so sweet tasting.

“I’ll take good care of you later, baby.” He whispered, then winked and left Shel and Jewel to hurry her along. He adjusted his rigid cock and tried to focus on the upcoming meeting.

He walked outside to Prez, Hollywood and Razor. Time to go see the jackass. He’d promised Nicole not to hurt him. Razor pointed out last night; he hadn’t promised her a thing. Duke knew his brother would have to get one good shot in, he loved Nicole like the sister he never had and despised Nole for what he’d put her through. He would be lying if he said he hadn’t been tempted to kill the fucker.

He’d battled himself internally about it for weeks. If he killed him, he’d never have to worry about Nole ever again and it wasn’t like he didn’t deserve it. Nicole wouldn’t have to know but if she ever found out, he knew she’d never forgive him and could try to take away everything he treasured. He may have risked it, however, the choice was taken away when he promised her that she could see him one last time. He never wanted to break a promise to her. It didn’t mean he wasn’t tempted though.

Mounting their Harleys, they rode to their agreed upon rendezvous point. Nole was to meet them alone but they were all heavily armed just in case. They saw Nole waiting outside the abandoned warehouse looking haggard and uneasy. He’d obviously had a rough six months. Not surprising considering he spent it with a Mexican gang, no doubt promising shit he couldn’t deliver.

He was Fallen’s go-between with them for weapons. They were a very decent price so Prez and he had decided to take a chance on Nole. They had given him the money and were supposed to receive the weapons in 8 weeks, it was fair to say that he’d blown that deadline to shit. They took Nicole as collateral. She was offered up by Nole at their first meeting. The deal was that when he delivered the weapons, Nole would get Nicole back. That wasn’t happening now. Nicole wasn’t Nole’s any longer. She was his. Nole would be going home empty handed.