Page 74 of Contracted to the Bikers

The men all share my pride in our amazing daughter, their relieved smiles that mirror mine painted on their faces. Jessy isn’t confused or upset by the prospect of another child in the family; she doesn’t question any of it, simply accepting it. It makes me feel like things are exactly how they’re supposed to be.

Chapter 29

Sloane

Six Months Later

My back aches as I waddle up to the courthouse. I have three weeks to go before my due date, and my bump has well and truly popped now. Rook’s hand is steady on my lower back, his other hand supporting me as we walk up the steps. Boone and Cruz follow close behind. While my relationship with the men is no secret, we felt it best to keep it private during the trial. The last thing we wanted was for Briggs to get off by preaching morality or dragging my reputation through the mud. My relationship with Iron Vale MC and the men has no bearing on my ability as a lawyer.

After the opening arguments, Briggs filed a motion to disqualify me, arguing I was biased and would impede his right to a fair trial. While we thought he wouldn’t succeed, he’d muddied the waters enough, and I made the difficult decision to step back. I’ve still been involved behind the scenes, but I haven’t been on the prosecuting team. It’s been hard watching from the sidelines, but I know it’s the right choice. If Briggs got off, or was later able to appeal because of me, I’d never forgive myself. It also gives us the chance to hopefully later go to trial for his part in the school bombing and kidnapping of Jessy.

I’m still working on getting the evidence we need to punish him for everything Briggs has done to my family, but for now, putting him behind bars is enough. Even if I’m not the prosecutor to do it.

My pregnancy was also a deciding factor in my stepping back. I won’t be intimidated—Briggs and Escar learned that the hard way. But I also don’t want to put my baby at risk unnecessarily.

Today, after months of hard work, the jury has finally reached its verdict, and Briggs will learn his fate. I’m confident that David and the team’s hard work will pay off. They did an amazing job, I couldn’t have done better myself, but I still can’t help the butterflies of anxiety in my stomach.

Boone holds the main doors open for us. People part to make way for me, a perk of pregnancy. I feel hot and uncomfortable, even in the loose maternity dress I’m wearing. I pause for a moment, hand on my considerable stomach, to take a breather, assuring my anxious men that I’m fine. “Just our little fighter is kicking something fierce today,” I say breathlessly.

“Sloane?” A once familiar, yet now alien voice.

“Connor,” I say, looking up at my ex-husband. I’ve not seen him in a few months, not since I was there helping to prep him for taking the witness stand. He didn’t see me watching in the gallery when the time came.

“How are you? You’re—” he pauses as he notices my bump, too protruding now to hide like before. “Wow. You’re pregnant.” There’s a pause for a moment as he processes this. “Congratulations.”

“Thanks,” I reply with a smile. “How are you? You did well on the stand, the jury liked you.”

He seems grateful for the change in topic, as if he didn’t know how to tackle the minefield of discussing my pregnancy and unusual relationship. It’s not exactly something I want to share with him either.

“Ah, I don’t know about that,” he says with a bashful smile that used to melt my heart, running his hand through his hair. He shrugs. “I’m doing okay. Got a new job, just a couple of hours away…” He trails off, and I still know Connor well enough to know when he’s angling for something and trying to find the best way to ask.

“Good, I’m glad.” I smile at him, genuinely meaning it. I’ve moved on. I’m happy with my men; I want Connor to be happy, too. I have no ill feelings toward him anymore.

He beams back, tension seeping out of him. He glances at the guys, who surround me, close enough to be supportive but far enough away to show they know I can handle myself, to give me a little breathing room. “You seem happy,” he points out.

“I am.”

“And Jessy?” The hope is plain on his face. Now we get to the crux of what he wants.

“She’s doing well. Very excited to be a big sister.”

“Good, good, I’m glad. Listen, Sloane, I’m sorry about everything. I should never have—”

I hold up a hand to silence him. “I know. It’s okay, it’s in the past now.”

He nods slowly, seeming disappointed yet relieved. “Okay. Well, what I wanted to ask was… Seeing as I’m living closer now… I was hoping—I was hoping that I could see Jessy?” Seeing the frown on Boone’s face, he hastens to add. “I’m not expecting to have custody or even full visitation, I know I gave that up. But I would love to be a part of her life, however small, if you’ll let me.”

Part of me wants to tell him she has three amazing dads who have been far better to her than he ever was, that she doesn’t need him. But I don’t. It wouldn’t be fair to Jessy. She deserves to make that call for herself when she’s older.

“Alright. We’ll arrange a supervised visit and go from there. Ultimately, it’s up to Jessy and what she wants.”

“Of course,” he agrees, nodding his head vigorously.

I hold up a finger. “And if you hurt her, or walk out on her again, or even so much as make her think you’re not going to show up for her by being five minutes late, there won’t be another chance.”

He nods solemnly. “Understood. Thank you, Sloane.”

“Don’t thank me yet, you’ve got some big shoes to fill,” I reply.