Selah’s Wish (Imperial Knights MC #1)

Chapter 4

FOUR

Selah

With permission from Dragon, Prowler, and the other knights of the round table, I took a quarter of our money I recovered from those who seized our clubhouse, and invested it into some of the larger corporations. It was a shocking surprise when I sat with Prowler the first time and witnessed what a wiz he is when it comes to numbers. He comes off as such a playboy and philanderer that I never saw that coming.

Looking through our financial portfolio, pride swamps me when I see how our finances have soared. Prowler and I did our homework, and if this morning's numbers are any indication, we did good. As a matter of fact, I think we need to sell a few of our stocks before they plummet. That’s not a decision I can make on my own and seeing how they’re at the Roanoke’s clubhouse in church, this is something that’ll have to keep until I can sit down with the officers and get permission. While waiting for them to get done, I start browsing, looking for new companies to invest in.

I can hear the kids happily playing in the other room as I lose myself in my computer. I’m not sure how much time passes by before my phone begins ringing, playing Harper’s ringtone. I give my inner circle their own song so I can determine what calls are important to take immediately, and which ones can hold off until I’m through with whatever I’m doing at the time.

Hitting the accept button, I place it to my ear and answer, “Good morning, Harp.”

Heavy panting and breathing comes through the receiver before Harper says, “My water broke. The guys are in church which means they don’t have their phones so I can’t get a hold of Wrecker. When I spoke to Laney earlier, she told me she was turning her ringer off and taking a nap while Nix, Naveah, and Nova were.”

“Have you tried calling the clubhouse directly?” I ask her, powering down my laptop.

“It’s busy,” she wheezes. “Damn, these contractions are no joke!”

“Amen to that sister,” I agree, snorting. “I’m gonna grab the kids, hit the clubhouse, then I’ll head that way. Will you be okay for twenty minutes on your own?”

“Yeah. I’m sitting in the tub right now because I’m leaking like a faucet out of my hoo-ha. Sonofabitch,” she growls.

Tilting the phone so I’m not screaming in Harper’s ear, I yell, “Kids! Get your coats on right now. We have to go.”

Like a herd of elephants, feet begin stomping my way and my eyes widen when I see they already have their coats and snow boots on. “We’re ready, Mama. Tell Aunt Harper not to be scared, she won’t deliver our cousin in the tub.”

“Alright. Did you hear that, Harper?” I ask as I lift the mouthpiece back up to where she can hear me speaking.

“Yes! Tell her thank you. That’s what I was afraid of,” she answers around a puff of air.

Not hanging up so I can hear if she becomes distressed, I usher the kids out of the house and we quickly sprint to the main clubhouse. When we cross into the main room, I see one of the men on the phone with a notepad in front of him. They really need to invest in call waiting if they’re going to tie up the line like this.

Even though it’s not his fault, I still snap at him, “You shouldn’t be on the phone for a ridiculous amount of time. There was an emergency with one of the old ladies and she couldn’t get through!”

He jerks back in shock and looks at me as if I’ve lost my mind. “There was an accident up town and the phone lines were taken out. I’ve been trying to get a dial tone for thirty minutes at the minimum. I was trying to call the operator to see if it’d go through and I could get an ETA on when we’ll be able to make calls.”

“Sorry,” I call over my shoulder, feeling like a gigantic bitch. But damn, my sister-in-law is in labor and needs her old man by her side. I could hear the fear and wobble in her voice which means some of her old demons are rearing their ugly heads.

“It’s okay,” he remarks, tossing down his pen. “Make sure you knock first so you don’t get shot!”

“Got it!” I holler.

This isn’t my first rodeo interrupting a club meeting. Of course, most of those times they were expecting me so I could give them information as I came across it. This time, they aren’t anticipating my arrival and they have been known to have a trigger finger.

Before I make it to the closed door, I start bellowing, “Wrecker! Harper needs you, now!” Since I’m in a panic, I begin banging on it once I get my feet settled before the slab of wood. “Knock, knock. I’m coming in.”

“The fuck?” I hear Brick wonder. Once the door is swung open, I’m looking at a frazzled president. “Selah, these meetings are sacred and it’s not acceptable for you to come barging in.”

Wrecker is up on his feet, a few steps behind Brick as he scans me trying to dissect why I’m in such a state. “Wrecker. Harper’s water broke and the phone lines are down. She’s been trying to get a hold of anyone, but nobody was available. I told her I was coming to get you. So move your ass, mister!”

Like a bull being released to the pen, he stumbles over Brick before tripping over his ginormous boots and landing face first on the ground. “Fuck!” he shouts as he leaps back onto his feet and begins running down the hallway. Nitro finds this hilarious and is bowled over in laughter as my girls cup their mouths, snickering behind them.

“No time to make fun of your uncle, kids. Let’s go,” I instruct them, jogging out of the building, hoping that they’re on my tail because there’s no time to dawdle.

When I cross the threshold, I hear Brick yell out, “Church dismissed! It’s baby day!”

Rounds of cheer reverberate throughout the enclosed structure, I can hear their calls of cheer through the walls. I can say this with certainty, these men are all about family whether it's from their blood or chosen.

Gabriel and I are pacing the waiting room, waiting for word from our brother that our nephew has been born. I know these things take time, but damn, we’re going on six hours now and my patience is waning.

“Baby,” Butcher says, stepping in front of me to stop my steps. “You’re wearing a hole in the linoleum. Take a break and come sit with me for a minute.”

I sniff at him. It feels like if I stop moving, everything else will too. When I look up at my old man, I see concern instead of humor on his face. Acquiescing, I say, “Okay.”

When he has me sitting in the seat beside him, my knees start bouncing. I swear it’s like some kind of switch has been turned on inside of me. I can’t seem to stay still no matter how hard I try. A warm cup is handed to me, and I don’t even look up to see who gave it to me before telling them thanks.

The door to the waiting room slams open, hitting the wall and Wrecker is standing there in a daze. “He’s here.”

Shouts of congratulations are shared as I stand up on shaky legs. Laney and I clasp hands as we shuffle our way in front of him. Both of us synchronously asking, “How’s Harper?”

“Tired, but she’s resting,” he states.

“And our nephew?” I continue seeking answers.

“He’s perfect. So fucking perfect. Here, I have photos.” Gabriel, Laney, and I close in on him as he scrolls through his phone’s album.

“What did you name him?” Gabriel asks.

“Stone. His middle name is Gabriel,” Wrecker proudly tells us, slapping our brother on the back. If our youngest sibling had questions on whether Wrecker has forgiven him and accepted that he had no other alternative than what he was forced to do at the community, this answers that confusion.

“I’m honored,” Gabriel says, his voice choking. “Thank you, brother. I’ll make my nephew proud to carry a piece of my name.”

“I know you will,” Wrecker agrees, pulling Gabe into a backbreaking embrace, pounding him on the shoulder. “I know he will because I’m already proud of the man you’ve become.”