Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 56606 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 283(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56606 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 283(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
“I’m Dillon Jacoby, I don’t know how to thank you or pay you.” He shakes my hand, and fire shoots up my arm at the contact. I guess we have static electricity or something.
I smile, “this is an internship, I don’t get paid regardless, see payment is not necessary. We got your kiddo, and you can focus on whatever jobs they need you to do.”
Moving to his side, I take the strap of the diaper bag pulling it down off his shoulder. “Danza makes a point,” I smirk. “Does he breastfeed or bottle feed? And what’s his schedule?”
Dillon shakes his head, “he bottle feeds. The formula, bottle, and the water to mix it is in the diaper bag. There are diapers and wipes. He’s teething so there are teethers in the bag too. He doesn’t have a schedule. I take over once I get home and wait for him to cry or root as the book explained it that I read when Anna was pregnant.”
Scooping up the handle of the carrier car seat, I take the boy and gesture with the hand holding the diaper bag, “go on, work. We got this, what’s his name?”
Dillon stands straight up as pride washes over him, “Hollis Dillon Jacoby.”
“We’re gonna take care of Hollis and you go take care of Danza’s car. He’s worse than a baby crying over his toys being scratched.” My mother jokes while my dad gives her a kiss on the cheek before leading Dillon and Danza out of the office door.
Looking down, the most clear blue eyes meet mine and instantly I’m connected to the baby in front of me. This sweet little boy will definitely make the day go by differently than I imagined when I got up this morning.
Absolutely, totally, without a doubt, worth it.
TWO
DILLON
One Year Later
“What am I supposed to do with our son?” Anna screeches, her eyes wild in wonder like how dare I ask her to do this. Her mood swings seem to get worse with every year. I can’t reach her. I can’t help her. The smallest of things pushes her over the edge.
“Baby, calm down. I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t already consider Hollis. I have it covered. Ruby and Vida are bringing Maritza. She will stay at the hotel with Hollis so you can take the ride with me.”
I’m slightly offended that she even thinks I didn’t have a plan for Hollis. Shit, the only thing keeping us together is our son. He comes first, last, and always. Hell, even here on a good day, he ends up with Maritza more than home with Anna. Why would I not make arrangements while we are on this trip for him?
“This is absolutely ridiculous. I only agreed to you having the motorcycle because it saves us on gas for you to get to and from work. Your gang life is a means to an end. They gave you a job and it pays well, but not our life. This isn’t supposed to be our thing. It’s your thing! I am not about to get on the back of that thing with you!”
Her eyes are wide, in fear, anger, I’m not sure what. Reaching out, I pull her to me. Her head crashes to my chest. “Anna, I won’t ever let anything happen to you. I want to do this with you. The club, they’ve given us so much. You know Danza stepped up for me, for us. Hell, Danza should have filed a claim when I hit his car. Instead, he gave me a job that paid better than the three I was working before. And benefits. Plus they help with Hollis. Vida and Maritza love having time with him and want you to have time for yourself. Never have we ever had people in our corner like this, Anna. I want you there for selfish reasons, but they want to hang around you too. They want to embrace you, like family.”
How can I make her see? She didn’t have the best childhood either. Her mother died when she was a toddler, and her dad tried his best but spent more nights with a bottle over his daughter. It drove us together. I didn’t see it back then, but now, we both had these traumatic childhoods. In each other we found a way to fill the holes we both were left with from our lack of parents.
“I don’t care what they have given you. I don’t want to take this trip!” She mutters against my chest. “They aren’t family, Dillon. You and Hollis, that’s my family.” Her voice is pained, and it kills me to have to choose between her and my club. “Don’t choose them over us.”
I hold her against me and kiss the top of her head. “Please, Anna, please,” I beg. “What I have with the Hellions, it’s good. I need the brotherhood. I miss this shit from my time in the Marines, you know that. I miss having brothers. I grew up with three of them and we don’t get to go home. You know we don’t have anyone here anymore. The couples we were friends with from my unit got orders. Come on, Anna, I’m trying to give us all a support system here. The ladies of the club, Vida and Maritza especially want to help you any way, all the ol’ ladies and daughters want you to come around. They want to get to know you.”