Chapter Seven

ALIANA

Two months. I’ve been back home for two solid months. I love being home, but these guys are driving me up the wall! Axyl and I have been getting along great, except for the fact that he’s been hovering over me every single minute of every single day.

I’m three months pregnant now. After the initial shock wore off, my mom took me to the OBGYN, and we found out I was a month along. It happened when they thought they had killed me.

This little one is strong and has managed to survive everything I’ve been through in the past few months. Well, more like little ones. I’m having twins. Girls.

My only escape from the overprotective men in my life is when the moms are here, or as we like to call them, the ol’ ladies.

I often find myself hiding out at my mom and dad’s house when I can manage to slip away from Axyl or Westyn. Axyl has officially moved me into his room and I’m not complaining one bit.

I love waking up in his arms, but he’s about on my last nerve and I’m liable to snap.

“All I’m trying to do is go to the damn kitchen and get something to eat. Leave me the hell alone! All of you!” I yell at all three men that have followed me since I came down the stairs.

Overprotective jerks. I know they mean well, I do, but these hormones running through my body, on top of my stubbornness, make one hell of a nightmare for those around me.

“Sweet Pea, we’re just trying to help you.” My dad says.

“I’m pregnant. I’m not going to break if I get myself something to eat. Don’t make me call mom or Vanessa!” I say, trying to keep calm. Axyl won’t even let me walk to the damn bathroom.

He’s scared something is going to happen while I’m taking a piss. He said that I could fall on my way there or slip off the toilet.

“I swear if y’all don’t let me do stuff on my own I’m going to snap. I slept like crap, I’m starving, and I’m getting smothered by grown men that think I’m going to pop out these babies if I lift a finger!”

My voice rises toward the end. “I have like seven months left of my pregnancy. I can’t do this the whole damn time.” I storm off into the kitchen and of course, they all follow me. So damn annoying.

Time to try a different tactic.

“Axyl, baby,” I whine with a pout. Works every time. He can never say no to me and right now, I’m going to use that to my advantage.

“You haven’t even kissed me since I’ve been up. You immediately went into ‘me Tarzan, you Jane’ mode.” Hook, line, and sinker. I have him now.

He starts to head over toward me and wraps his arms around my waist, kissing me softly on my lips. This is almost enough to put me in a better mood, but like I said…Almost.

“I’m sorry baby girl. I know how much you like your morning kiss before you get your day started.” He says, leaning down to kiss my stomach. “Good morning to you too princesses. Daddy loves you so much.”

I wrap my arms around his waist when he stands back up and reaches for his gun in the waistband of his pants. I couldn’t go for the one that’s in his cut, it would be too obvious.

“What the hell Aliana. Give me the damn gun.” He reaches for his gun, but I take a step back. Desperate times call for drastic measures and all that jazz.

“Get the hell away from me. All of you. I swear I’ll shoot, and then maybe, just maybe, y’all will understand how smothered and irritated I am.”

They all place their hands up in a placating manner and back away a few steps. “I love you all. I truly do, but I need to be able to do things on my own without a constant shadow. You guys have club business.

“I can’t have the president and vice-president fawning all over me when there is business to handle. Come on. ~Please!~ I mean honestly, what happens when one of you can’t be here?

“Axyl won’t even let me take a piss in private anymore. I’m not incompetent, baby. I’m just pregnant.” I say the last part looking at Axyl before I click the safety on and hand him his gun back.

He pulls me into his arms and kisses the top of my head.

“I’m just worried something will happen, baby girl. We all are. We want you safe, all three of you. We haven’t gotten anywhere with Alexander and we’re all a bit on edge.

“I want you safe,” Axyl says, rubbing his hands up and down my arms before placing his hands on my slightly protruding belly.

“I’m sorry if we’ve been overbearing, but damn it, Ali, the only one of us three men that have somewhat of a clue of what to do when our woman is pregnant is your pops.

“I don’t know what I’m doing, but honestly, I would carry you around all day if you’d let me. I want you safe. I want our babies.” Axyl said and I instantly melted into his embrace.

“Yeah sis. We want y’all safe. I would lose my shit if anything were to happen to you. All of us in this club would.

“We’ll try to back off, but we’re still going to be there whether you want us to be or not and if you ever point a gun at me again, pregnant or not, I will take your ass out.” Westyn says.

“Overprotective jerks,” I mumble in Axyl’s chest. “I’m sorry for the gun. I just want to be able to go to the bathroom on my own. I want to come into the kitchen and make myself a damn sandwich.

“Hormones are to blame, and Dad won’t let you touch his princess. Can I eat now?” I’m craving some peace from all this overprotection. “And I’ll tell Mom if you don’t keep your word.

“I’ll even drag Vanessa into this, and all the other moms too.”

Maybe it’s the hormones, or maybe it’s the feeling of being controlled again, but damn it…they haven’t left me alone for three months. I know they mean well and they’re worried about me and the babies.

With Alexander’s next move unknown, we’re stuck. I don’t want to think about it, but it’s all I can think about. What if he finds out about the babies?

He’ll kill them along with me this time, and that’s the best-case scenario if he ever discovers them.

The worst-case scenario? He’d put my daughters through what he did to me or sell them to the highest bidder. If I were having boys, he’d mold them to be just like him, or worse.

I can’t let that happen.

“Aliana? Ali!” Axyl’s voice pulls me back to reality. “Where’d you go just now?”

“Just thinking about his next move and what happens when he finds out about the twins.” There’s no point in lying to him. He’ll find out eventually.

We’ve been in this relationship for three months, but we haven’t even had sex yet. Just lots and lots of cuddling. I love cuddling with him, but I’m a horny mess.

My inner vixen wants to come out and play, but he’s keeping me at a distance when it comes to sex. “It’s nothing. I just need a break. I’m going to grab a sandwich and head to our room.

“You guys do whatever you need to do.”

“Hey, what’s wrong sweet pea? I know that face. You may have been gone for four years, but I know you better than you think. I am your father,” my dad says.

“It’s nothing.” Even I don’t believe the nonsense coming out of my mouth. “Honestly, I’m just going to bed. I’ll eat later.” With that, I leave the kitchen.

My emotions are a mess and I want this ordeal with Alex to be over. I want Axyl to define what we are. I know he’s said that I’ve always had his Ol’ Lady spot, but I’m unsure.

We talk and sleep together every night, we share occasional kisses, but I just don’t know. It’s probably my past with Alex that has me doubting everything.

I reach the room that Axyl and I share and decide to take a shower. There’s no point in locking the door. If Axyl wants in, he has a key. Even if he didn’t, he’d just kick it in.

I grab some pajama shorts and a tank top before heading to the bathroom. I turn on the water to let it heat up and strip out of my clothes. I place my hands on my baby bump and rub them around it.

“It’s okay, babies. Mommy will do everything she can to keep you safe. It will be okay.” I sigh and once the water is warm enough, I step in and tears start mixing with the water streaming down my body.

I just want this to be over. Why can’t my life be simple? Why did I have to fall for a guy who’s part of the same world I was trying to escape from. Even if it was only for the time I was in school.

I honestly don’t know why I wanted out. If I had to guess, I just wanted to do something with my life. I didn’t want to sit around and watch Axyl with Lana.

That played a huge part in why I left, but I’m here now and this is my life.

I can still do what I set out to do, but I’ll have the man who’s held my heart since I was fourteen.

Being someone’s ol’ lady is like a marriage, but I have my doubts that Axyl wants to be with me for me and not because he wants to protect me. I finish my shower, dry off, and get dressed.

I walk out of the bathroom to see Axyl sitting on the bed.

“Hey, baby. I brought you something to eat,” he says.

“Thanks,” I reply, climbing into bed and he hands me the sandwich once I’m settled. “Are you with me just because you want to protect me?” I whisper, looking down at my plate.

“What? Where did that come from? Of course, I’m not with you just because I want to protect you. I’ve been in love with you since I was sixteen.

“It took me a while to realize that I didn’t care what your dad or brother thought. I was going to tell you this earlier, but you decided to hold me at gunpoint, but my divorce went through today.

“Lana is out of my and the boys’ lives for good. I chose you years ago and was just too stupid to act on it,” he says, lifting my face to meet his eyes. I see the sincerity in his eyes, and it makes mine water.

This is what I needed to hear. I needed this to confirm what we were. He’s mine and I’m his.

“I love you, Axyl. I have since I was fourteen. I’m glad I have you now.” I kiss his lips and finish eating. “Don’t you have stuff you need to do?”

“Nope, church isn’t until later, and other than taking care of my woman, I have nothing to do.” He replies.

“Well, I could use a nap,” I say, snuggling into the covers after finishing my food.

“Well then baby girl, let’s nap.” He wraps me in his arms and sleep takes me instantly.