Chapter Three
Sledge
Sledge looked around his house. Everyone was here. The place was packed. His sister Amber and his best friend and VP, Reaper just got married. He was happy for them. He really was. His sister deserved to have a good man in her life, and Reaper was one of the best.
Walking over to Reaper, he placed his hand on his shoulder. “What’s up man?” Reaper said, never taking his eyes off his beautiful wife.
“Congratulations Brother! I’m proud of you. I just wanted you to know that,” Sledge told him.
Reaper smiled, glancing his way. “Thanks man,” he said, moving his eye immediately back to Amber.
These two were like two lovesick puppies. Sledge couldn’t help but laugh. He watched as Reaper excused himself and walked over to Amber. Reaper took her hand and walked to the makeshift dance floor they had set up for tonight. His mouth about hit the floor when he witnessed Reaper and his baby sister grinding on each other. Good grief! Those two needed to get a room - ASAP!
“Hey Sledge, there’s some chick at the door for you,” Diesel said. Sledge was happy to see him back at the clubhouse after he was shot trying to protect Amber a few months back.
“For me?” Sledge asked. Who the hell would be asking for him, he wondered as he made his way through the clubhouse.
Pulling open the door, he came face to face with the last person he thought he would ever see again - Beth. The woman who took his heart and walked away from him eight years ago, without so much as an explanation.
“Beth?” he couldn’t believe it. “What are you doing here?” he demanded. He knew his voice sounded harsh, but he couldn’t help it. This woman destroyed him, and now she was standing on his doorstep!
His mind flashed back to the last day he saw her. She was beautiful then, but she was even more so now. Before she was lean, yet curvy. Now, she was filled out in all the right places, a perfect hourglass. Hips that were made for a man to grab ahold of, breasts that were heavier and more than a handful. Her heart shaped face was still the same though. She still had the ability to take his breath away. Shaking his head, he cleared the images in his mind. That was the past. It would never be his future. Not again.
“Devin... I... I...” she stammered. “We need your help.”
“We?” he asked. It was only after the question left his lips, that he noticed she wasn’t alone. Standing behind her was a young boy. A young boy who was his exact image.
Sledge felt the world tilt. He looked from the boy to Beth and then back to the boy. Could it be? Why didn’t she ever tell him?
Sledge turned away from the door. He couldn’t do this. He could walk for days through enemy territory. He could dodge bullets and not blink an eye. But this? This, he couldn’t do. One look and he knew the kid was his. It was like looking in a mirror.
“Please Devin!” she pleaded. “We need your help.”
“Come inside,” he said, but as he turned to allow them to enter, he heard the little boy’s voice ask, “Mom, is that my dad?” and Sledge felt his heart jump to his throat.
“Yes buddy, it is. But remember what I told you before we got in the car,” Beth asked and the little boy nodded his head.
What had she told him? Did he think Sledge never wanted him? Did he know that Sledge didn’t ever know he existed?
“Well, just like you learned about your dad yesterday,” Beth said glancing at Sledge, “He is just learning about you right now.”
“I know,” he replied quietly.
Beth kissed the boy’s head and grabbed his hand, leading him into the living room. He watched as the little boy took a seat in an overstuffed chair. It swallowed him, dwarfing his already small size. Beth turned towards Sledge and he saw the tears in her eyes. Once, that look would have brought him to his knees, now... now, he didn’t know how to feel. A part of him wanted to wipe them away and promise to make everything better. Another part wanted to kick his own ass for even thinking that thought.
“I know you need answers and I promise I will give them to you. But, please Devin, when I said we needed your help, I meant it,” Beth said, wiping the tears from her own face.
“Is he mine?” Sledge asked, even though he already knew the answer. There was no way he could deny the kid. He watched as Beth turned to look back at the little boy. Sledge didn’t even know his name.
“Yes,” she said quietly. Then louder she introduced father to son for the first time. “Devin, this is your son. His name is Derek. Derek, this is your dad. His name is Devin.”
“Hi De...” he stopped. “What do I call him?” he asked his mom, then looking at Sledge,
“Well, that is up to your dad. Why don’t you ask him?” Beth instructed.
“Can I call you Dad?” he sounded so hopeful.
“Absolutely.” Sledge’s voice was so thick with emotion, he barely got the single word past his lips. He watched as Derek’s face lit up and a huge smile spread across it.
“Hi Dad!” he said and ran to Sledge, wrapping his small arms around his leg. “I always wanted a dad. Now I have one, just like the other kids.”
Sledge reached down and picked him up, hugging him to his chest. He had a son. So much he missed out on, eight years’ worth of moments and memories - stolen from him. It wasn’t Derek’s fault. No, it was Beth’s. Sledge needed answers, but not in front of Derek. Some things were adult only.
“Are you hungry Derek?” When his son said yes, he called Diesel into the living room.
“Diesel, this is my...” Sledge cleared his throat and tried again. “This is my son, Derek. Derek, I want you to meet my Sergeant at Arms. His name is Diesel.” Sledge watched as Diesel’s eye grew wide, but he shook his head. He would explain later, after he figured out what the hell was going on.
“Diesel will you take Derek into the kitchen and get him something to eat? Keep an eye on him and don’t let anyone crowd him.” Sledge turned back towards Beth, but hollered over his shoulder, “Oh, and don’t answer anyone’s questions yet. I’ll handle that later.” Diesel inclined his head, leading Derek towards the food.
“Will he be safe?” he heard Beth asked, bring his attention back to her.
“He’ll be safe anywhere in this compound. Now, talk,” Sledge demanded. “You owe me several explanations, Beth. How could you have my child and never contact me? Never say a word? How could you do that?” He was pissed. She stole eight fucking years from him. Eight years!
“I don’t even know where to start...” Sledge watched as she picked at her fingers. Same Beth, same nervous habit.
Oh, Devin knew where she could start. How about at the part where she ripped his heart out and left him for no reason? Or, how about the part where she never returned his calls or text messages; after he tried to contact her for over a week, hoping she’d change her mind. Or, how about the most important part, how about why she kept his son from him?
“At the beginning would be fucking nice! Why did you destroy me? Rip my Goddamn heart out! And then you can explain to me why you are here now? And, while you are finally being generous, care to explain why you never bothered to tell me I had a child?” he wanted answers, and he wanted them now - all of them. This time, he wouldn’t allow her to just run away. She was in his world. And in this house, Sledge was King. One way or another, he would get what he wanted.