Chapter 1
—Cocky
“How you feeling, man?” Uno is laid up in the hospital, but this conversation has needed to happen for a while now. I have stayed back and let him have his fun with the woman I love but it ends now. He’s not going to keep stringing her along. He needs to make a choice and stick with it.
“Been better but could be worse. What brings you by?” He knows why I’m here. My visit isn’t pleasant or not out of brotherly concern. Though when I first heard the news that he passed out I was concerned.
I laugh under my breath and narrow my eyes on him. Sick or not this shit needs hashed out. “You know why I’m here. Melissa and Jimmy.”
He rubs a hand over his head. “I suppose I knew it was coming. What do you want? Me to promise you that I am going to leave her alone. Why? So you can swoop in and play out some childhood fantasy. Because you’ve been pining away for her for years.” He tries to laugh but coughs, clutching a hand to his chest in pain.
“She kissed me. Did you now that? You can tell yourself that I don’t mean anything to her, but deep-down Melissa knows that we’re supposed to be together. She’s confused by you and the ideas you put into her head. The false hope of a fairytale life. We both know Stephanie still has her hooks in you and you’ll be on the first trip to Texas as soon as you are released.”
He smirks. “She’s pregnant with my son, but that doesn’t mean I can’t move Melissa and Jimmy to Texas too.”
“And what? She’ll be your mistress on the side while you live fulltime with Steph and your kid. She deserves better than that, Uno.”
This time he sighs and stares out the window. “It’s not ideal but it is all I can offer her. I’m not with Stephanie but we want to raise our son together.”
“Do you even know if the kid is really yours?” I can’t believe I am asking him and that he hasn’t questioned it himself.
“I thought the same thing. I didn’t want to believe her, but we did a DNA test. The kid is mine and I will do what’s right. I’ll marry her again if that’s what it takes to be a father to my child. Melissa understands that I want to be a dad.”
“Will she understand when you tell her there is no future for her with you outside of when it’s convenient?” I could punch him right now. I should kick his ass for this bullshit.
“I don’t know. I haven’t talked to her yet. Steph won’t let her come visit.”
“You pull this shit with her and it’s going to crush her. Don’t do that. You know her history with Jim. She was his other woman. Don’t make her yours. She deserves to be with someone who will put her first.”
“Someone like you who fucks anything with legs?”
“You don’t know shit about me and where I stick my dick,” I grit through my teeth at him, trying not to lose my temper.
“Don’t worry about Melissa and Jimmy. I’m going to Texas and patching over to the Black Rebel Devils MC. I’ll be VP to Axel Black. I’m sure Hades will fill you in at church. I’ll tell you this though. You better fucking treat her right and the kid. I care about them and want a good life for them. I’ll have money wired to you to take care of them. I’m not going to need it where I’m going no how.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?”
“If I tell you…you better fucking promise me that you won’t open your mouth.”
I nod, clenching my jaw. “I don’t need your money, but I am curious why you’d want to do that.”
“Stephanie doesn’t know, and I asked the doctors not to disclose the information to her. When I was shot, they found tumors. I have lung cancer, man. They already did surgery to remove part of my lung and if I am lucky, I may have five years. That’s if I do the chemo and radiation.”
“Are you fucking serious? Why
did you tell me this shit?” I knit my fingers behind my head. What the serious goddamned fuck is he doing here? Does he expect me to feel sorry for him?
“Because I needed to tell someone who wouldn’t pity me. Someone I know who won’t betray my trust. You’re loyal, Cocky. I like that about you and I trust you to let me end things with Melissa my own way. I may never make it to Texas. I may never leave this hospital bed. Truth is I feel like shit. I have no appetite and every breath I take makes me wanna die. I’m not getting better, but I want to live to see my son born. I want to make sure Melissa is taken care of. That’s why I wanted to invite her to Texas, but I know she’d be better off here with you. I know you’ll make sure she has everything she needs. I know this because you’re going to accept whatever money I send and what I leave to you in my Will for them. I may be a lot of things, but I do care about her—them. I don’t worry so much about my kid and Stephanie.”
“I need a fucking drink.” Uno pisses me off, but I would never wish death on him.
“And a joint.” He grins at me and this time it is me looking away and staring out the window.
I give Uno my word but in reality, I don’t know that I can keep something that big a secret from Melissa. I go toward the elevators and see Stephanie talking to a doctor. Her voice is hushed but I can still hear her. “Did you do what I told you? Did you make him believe he’s going to die?”
What the fuck?
The man answers her, and she says, “Good. You’ll receive your money by the end of the day and if you cross me, I will make good on my threat.” The elevator doors open, and Stephanie sees me. A panicked expression crosses her face as she approaches me. I step into the elevator and she follows me inside. “How much did you hear?”
I smirk at her. “Enough to butt fuck your plan all to hell.”
“You aren’t going to say shit because we both know that if you do that Uno will ride off with your girl. We will both benefit from this.”
“I’m no one’s consolation prize.”
“You tell him, and I swear to you,” she grabs my crotch, “I will cut your dick off and keep it in a jar on my desk as a souvenir.”
“Sounds kinky, sweetheart.” I wink at her.
“Don’t fucking cross me.”
I nod at her, but I don’t know what the fuck to do with this information. The elevator doors open to the bottom floor. Stephanie releases my dick. “Thanks for the foreplay.” I throw my hand up in farewell.
——
I’m sitting at the bar trying to drink my problems away. Trying to forget what Uno said and what I overheard with Stephanie. I know I should tell the bastard what she is doing. But I also want him to let Melissa go. She needs to untangle herself from that nasty web and if keeping Stephanie’s secret makes that happen who am I to stop it. Does that make me a bad man? Does it make me selfish? Maybe but I don’t give a fuck.