Christopher didn't argue. He just nodded and followed behind as Meggie was hustled into the back of an ambulance.

"We can finish the f.u.c.ker," Val swore, two hours later.

They were all crowded in the waiting room at the hospital. Johnnie had called everyone to report what was going on and they'd come running to support Christopher. Meggie was in surgery, hanging on by a thread. The doctors hadn't mentioned the baby but he couldn't help but wonder if Meggie's blood loss had somehow affected it.

Christopher was losing his f.u.c.king mind with each pa.s.sing minute. If he didn't get the f.u.c.k away, he was going to f.u.c.k something up. He pulled out his smokes and lit one up, the nicotine not calming him at all. He released the smoke through his nose, daring one of them nurse b.i.t.c.hes to say anything. The security guards had teamed up, two standing nearby. They must've called in backup because, every five minutes, two other d.i.c.kheads marched by, hands on their weapons, glaring at all of them. He drew in another drag, staring down the f.u.c.kheads as more smoke poured from his nostrils.

Zoann was also on duty. Instead of offering him any type of comfort because his girl lay close to f.u.c.king death with his baby inside her, his sister had just stared at him, the look on her face taunting him with the knowledge he ruined everything he touched. c.u.n.t.

"You stay with Megs. Val's right. We got this."

Christopher shook his head at his cousin. "He's mine," he swore.

"He won't last much longer," Johnnie said with a shrug. "If he's still alive now. He has two slugs in him along with the superficial wound Megs gave him."

"Megan did what?" Christopher asked, shocked.

"She jerked that f.u.c.ker's knife out of her chest and stuck him in his fat belly." Mortician laughed. "She said this is for my mother."

"G.o.d," Christopher snarled, the pieces falling into place. "That's her f.u.c.kin' stepfather."

"s.h.i.t," Johnnie said grimly. "Listen, Outlaw. I know how you're feeling-"

"Do you?" he sneered, throwing the cigarette on the floor and smashing it beneath his boot. "How do I feel, John Boy? My girl almost dead with my kid in her belly? How the f.u.c.k I feel?"

"Like you want to take the f.u.c.ker out. But not right now. She needs you here."

"Accordin' to Val if I wait much longer, he's a dead f.u.c.k. I can never make him suffer the way I intend."

He was already turning, heading for the exit. This was just another f.u.c.king example of why he wasn't no good for Megan. Nothing should've pulled him from the place until he knew whether she'd live or die. He just wasn't that type of man, though. He was on the verge of going ape-s.h.i.t crazy if he just stood the f.u.c.k around, picturing how small and lifeless she looked.

He clenched his jaw, the cool night air hitting him. Boots pounded behind him and he glanced over his shoulder. Digger and Val were on his heels.

"Here," Digger said, throwing a set of keys to him. "Johnnie said to take his ride."

Christopher nodded, but didn't speak.

"She's a strong chick," Val said quietly. "And she loves you. I heard you and Johnnie talking about the baby. If that's true, then she's gonna fight double-hard. You gotta just believe that."

He didn't respond to what Val said. Just gave instructions. "Digger, I need a grave. Usual spot."

"Live body or dead a.s.s?"

"Don't know yet," he admitted. "Just have it ready."

Chapter 32.

Meggie gazed around in hazy confusion, listening to the steady beeps and the low hum of conversation. Fatigue filled Christopher's voice and she frowned, trying to make sense of what was going on.

The antiseptic smell of a hospital filtered in her head. Her body felt heavy. It took her a moment but everything came rushing back and she attempted to sit up. Thomas had attacked her, tried his best to kill her. He'd probably already gotten to her mom and was somewhere waiting for her, too. She groaned.

Abruptly, the talking ceased.

"Megan?"

"Christopher," she squeaked in response. He placed a hand on her shoulder, holding her in place. "I need to...Thomas did this. I have to get to my mother. He's probably already hurt her." Her chest throbbed as bad as the hand holding the IV catheter. And G.o.d..."the baby!"

"Shhh," Christopher soothed, leaning over and kissing her forehead. "The baby's fine, so's your mom. She's downstairs in the cafeteria."

"But Thomas-"

"Ain't gonna bother a motherf.u.c.kin' person ever again," he finished.

"Don't worry about that right now, Megs," Johnnie said from her other side.

Looking at the fierceness in Christopher's eyes, Meggie decided she wouldn't ever ask about Thomas's fate.

"I ain't ever lettin' you out my f.u.c.kin' sight," he said. "You were in surgery for f.u.c.kin' hours. Don't ever-"

"Christopher, maybe, we should get a nurse in here to check her out," Johnnie suggested.

"Yeah," Christopher agreed. "Go ahead. Press the b.u.t.ton."

Although Dinah and Meggie cried upon seeing each other, it wasn't a real happy reunion. Despite Christopher's rea.s.surances that Thomas was no longer a threat, Dinah wanted details. She wanted to know how Christopher could be so certain when not even the police were. Meggie's attempted murder was listed as an open and active case with Thomas being cla.s.sified as a violent fugitive, possibly armed.

Meggie knew Thomas was dead. She had vague memories of gunshots and stabbing her stepfather. Perhaps, that had been enough to kill him and Christopher had merely disposed of the body. She shivered at the thought and wrapped her arms around her belly, thankful she hadn't lost Christopher's baby.

"I need to know," Dinah insisted. "If you know where Thomas is, tell me."

Meggie glowered at her mother, wishing she'd left with Christopher and Johnnie. "Does it matter, Momma?" she snapped. "I hope he's burning in h.e.l.l."

"Is he dead?" she gasped as the hospital room door opened.

"Do you really care? He beat the c.r.a.p out of you. He tried to kill me. Just as bad was the way he groped me as much as he could."

"What the f.u.c.k?"

Meggie ignored Christopher's growl and kept her narrowed focus on her pale-faced, trembling mother. Nausea roiled in Meggie's belly, the taste of medicine drying her mouth. Her head pounded and she felt like c.r.a.p in general. "Would you just grow a pair?"

"A pair of what?" Dinah asked.

How could this woman be an a.s.sistant princ.i.p.al? Shouldn't she be a little more in touch with reality?

"Calm down, Megan," Christopher warned.

"I love you, Momma, but you need to get a spine. Thomas took everything away from you. All your self-worth. Your pride. He's gone now. Where? I don't know and I don't care. But get over it. Grow a pair of b.a.l.l.s and move on."

Amus.e.m.e.nt danced in Christopher's eyes and he shook his head. Dinah, on the other hand, just looked defeated and wilted.

"Just tell-"

"Look, lady, you workin' on my last f.u.c.kin' nerve botherin' Megan with this whiny bulls.h.i.t." Before either of them could say anything, he scooped Dinah around the waist and carried her to the door. When he opened it, he said, "Take her to the club. Don't let a f.u.c.ker bother her. But she's upsettin' Megan and that s.h.i.t ain't flyin'."

Meggie couldn't see who Christopher spoke to. He reached the side of the bed, bent and brushed his lips over hers, before dropping into a chair.

"That is my mother."

"It could be your granny. I don't give a f.u.c.k. The bit..." he scowled at her look. "She was gettin' you all worked up. Ain't happenin'."

Meggie sighed. "I'm worried she's going to the police. Tell them she thinks Thomas is dead."

Christopher rested his hands behind his head and shrugged. "Who gives a f.u.c.k? They ain't stupid. And I'm not payin them f.u.c.kheads for nothin'. They can suspect all the f.u.c.k they want. If they take that further, then they gonna have problems."

"You're a psycho. You know that?"

"Ain't nothin' but a thing, Meggie. I might be a psycho but I'm your psycho." Abandoning his deceptive calm, he leaned forward and took the hand without the IV. "I love you. I'm gonna give your way a try. Buy us another house and s.h.i.t. You can redecorate our room at the club. Whatever. But, baby, I swear to you, the minute I stop makin' you happy, the minute you can't handle my lifestyle, tell me. And...and we'll do what we gotta do to get you happy again."

They'd separate he meant. Which was probably the reason why he hadn't mentioned marriage. If they couldn't handle each other's differences, it would be easier if there were no legalities involved.

Meggie smiled. "I love you, too, Christopher," she whispered, believing they'd get through anything as long as they were together.

Epilogue.

Seven months later...

"Push, Megan. Scream as loud as you wanna. Call me a dirty motherf.u.c.ker for doin' this to you."

Meggie shrieked, not saying any of what Christopher told her. He wished she would. It would help his conscience to stop beating him up for getting her pregnant in the first place. She fell back against the pillows, panting, her delicate, little hand squeezing his fingers with everything in her. His plain, gold wedding band b.u.mped against her sapphire and diamond engagement ring and matching wedding band.

They'd been married four months and he loved every moment of it. He knew she wanted a big wedding and he'd let her have it, too. Even if, to him, their courthouse wedding had sufficed.

Now, she was bringing his baby into the world. He tried not to think of his mother just then and how much he wished she was still around. He did, however, remember Big Joe. Christopher had finally made peace with himself and the man he'd once loved. Meggie still knew nothing of her father's memorial. Once Christopher decided her recovered from delivering his child, he'd take her. Bring flowers for both Boss and Patricia.

"Christopher!" she hollered.

"The head is crowning, Megan," Dr. Will said gently. "You're doing excellent." She nodded at Christopher. "Isn't she?"

"Yeah, baby. Doc's right. It's almost over." Christopher kissed her sweaty forehead. He looked at Doc Will for guidance. He liked her, Megan's second baby doctor. The first had been a man and there wasn't no way Christopher would allow some f.u.c.k to look up Megan's p.u.s.s.y. It was the Promised Land and his alone. Of course, Megan resisted. When Christopher explained what might accidentally happen to her doctor, she came around to his way of thinking. She arched into another contraction, straining so much Christopher knew she'd faint at any moment. Her hair, piled on her head in a messy bun, was soaked with sweat. Tears streamed down her beet-red face.

She fell back again, panting, her chest rising and falling in a hard wave. A high-pitched wail tore through the air and Christopher started.

"Congratulations," the nurse said with a wide smile, bringing a squirming little alien with all types of goop to Megan and laying it on her heaving chest. "You have a beautiful baby boy."

A son. He had a son. A son whose head looked crooked and squinched but a son all the same. Besides, Meggie didn't seem to give a f.u.c.k that their son didn't look quite human. The same look of love and adoration she gave the little boy, she turned on him, and Christopher swore he'd turned into a b.i.t.c.h. He actually felt tears in his eyes.

He hadn't wanted to know the s.e.x of the baby in advance, believing his family genes wouldn't allow him to procreate a male and concluding Megan would give him a daughter. f.u.c.k! He was happier than a motherf.u.c.ker but he'd have to find something to do with all the pink baby s.h.i.t he'd bought to surprise Megan with.

"All right, Megan. Let's finish up here," Doc said and the nurse took the baby away from her.

Christopher bent over and kissed her, for once not having words. But Meggie didn't need them. She understood him and returned his kiss in a sweet display. He thumbed her tears away and pressed his forehead against hers.

"Thank you," he whispered. "You got a name for my boy?"

She caressed away a tear slipping down his cheek. "Christopher Joseph Foy Caldwell."

Christopher Joseph Foy Caldwell. He might not have been a real royal like they had in Britain but his son was biker royalty and Megan had given him a name to match his status.

"He's beautiful, isn't he?" she continued, exhausted and drowsy.

Christopher chuckled. "If you say so."

She giggled, her little fingers brushing his jaw. "I love you."

"I love you, too, Megan."

"Would you call Momma and tell her?"

f.u.c.k, he'd prefer to slit his f.u.c.king wrists than talk to that whiny b.i.t.c.h. But she was his mother-in-law and Megan still gave her respect, although Christopher couldn't understand why. He sighed. "Sure thing, babe. Whatever you want."

Christopher pulled out his cell phone and began to dial. He still heard Megan's soft words. "As long as I have you and the baby, I have everything I'll ever need."

For once, they were in complete agreement.

The End.

Author's Note.

All of the songs in the playlist below aren't mentioned in Misled. But I listened to them while writing the story and fleshing out each character. To me, the music I chose for them gave life to the characters in my head.