Page 33 of Gunner

Dammit.

Chapter 13

Gunner

Leah takes Sophie in her arms again before Soph lets out a heartbreaking wail—shit.

Ink squeezes his eyes shut tightly while Leah holds onto her friend, her sister. Their bond is unlike anything I have ever seen. They both drop to the floor, and I rush over to them, but before I can grab my girl, she puts her hand up to stop me and Ink, who is about to pick Sophie up. We both walk back a bit, and I clear my throat.

"Angel, the baby."

This stress isn't good for either of them; she could lose it. Her notes were very detailed about the risks of this pregnancy, not just for the baby but for her too. I can't lose her; I can't. I still need to start a fucking life with her to convince her we're meant to be, but she just shakes her head.

"Our baby is fine, Gunner, but you won't be if you try to take my inconsolable friend out of my arms, or did you not learn that an hour ago?"

I growl at her, using my club name, while Sophie sobs harder, making Leah hold her tighter.

All the brothers look at me in shock, not realizing I am the dad, and I nod, knowing what she's capable of, because, yep, my balls still hurt.

Ink raises a brow at me, and I clear my throat again. "I tried to take her keys to drive her here, you know, since she decided to get a crappy flat two towns over, and she kneed me in the balls for it."

The brothers snicker while Doc snorts, "Didn't you learn your lesson, brother, when she punched your face?" I just narrow my eyes at him while he smirks wider. "Well, at least you've already got a baby on the way, so it's not like you need to worry now anyway."

The brothers chuckle, and Hawk tilts his head.

"I feel like I need to hit you since you know my parents have basically claimed Leah as theirs, which means she's my sister, and you knocked her up before, you know, fucking around."

I shake my head at him, smiling a little, which soon wipes away hearing Leah's mutter.

"Probably already knocked Cara up too."

The brothers hear her and are all tense while I sigh. Fuck me, I have a lot of work to do to win her over. Let's just hope I can do it before our baby arrives and have her live with me because I will get her; she's mine, just like I'm hers. I just fucked up epically. We brothers like to fuck up before getting our girls.

My dad pats my back before whispering,

"We'll all help, son; I promise you'll win her back."

I nod before looking back at my girl to see Sophie has passed out in her arms, and I sigh, watching as my girl gently moves Sophie's hair from her face before wiping a tear that's fallen from her own face. She clears his throat and looks towards Ink, who nods and bends down, picking up his girl, who doesn't stir while I go to mine, where she reluctantly puts her hand in mine so I can help her up too, but as soon as she's standing, she lets go of my hand and follows Ink to his room here, and I grit my teethbefore looking at my mom, who nods her head for me to follow my girl, and I do, without hesitation.

I get into Ink's room just as Leah climbs on the bed with Soph, laying towards her, her hand in hers, squeezing it tightly, and I lean against the wall, sliding down it before placing my arms on my knees.

Ink gives me a nod before leaving, giving me a chance to talk to my girl.

I clear my throat. "Dagger's proposing tomorrow, and your girl there is going back to work, but afterward she wants to clear momma Anderson's house. I was wondering if you'd help while she's working. You know what she'd want to keep and what to donate."

She doesn't say anything for a while, and I debate asking her again, but I know she'll talk back; I just have to be patient. It takes about ten minutes, but she finally speaks, her hand playing with Sophie's hair.

"I have so many memories of that house. Momma Anderson taught me how to cook and bake, and Daddy Anderson taught us how to defend ourselves. I spent more nights there than I did with my mother before she left—more nights than I did at the Henderson's. When Soph told me she was selling, my heart broke, but then I remembered the memories were tainted. When Momma Anderson did what she did, she tainted the memories for her daughter and for me, but I miss her so much. I keep my eyes intently on her form; I don't look away as she does the same, looking at Soph. "I'll help tomorrow; I'll call my work and let them know I won't make it in."

I sigh, knowing this is going to piss her off. "You're not going back to your flat, Leah, or that job. I've already quit on your behalf." She goes tense, and I swallow hard, waiting for the backlash that I know is coming as she slowly sits up and facesme, her eyes cold with fury, and I take a deep breath. "I won't have you out of my sight now, Leah. We're having a baby together. Did I screw up over the years? Yeah I did, but things are different now; everything has changed."

She glares at me and says, "But I haven't changed."

I furrow my brows,

"I have always been me, Gunner. I haven't changed. My personality has never changed. Who I am has never changed."

I slowly close my eyes. "Angel…”