Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 93698 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93698 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
The upstairs used to be his mother’s apartment back when Sophie first met his father. After they got hitched and moved into the DAMC retirement village, they turned the second floor into a café. A place with tables and chairs where customers could enjoy coffee or tea along with their baked goods.
Adding a sitting area where people could relax and socialize with their friends, or bring a book to read, or even use the wi-fi had customers coming more often and staying longer. Basically, earning the bakery—and the club—more scratch.
Once Madelyn disappeared upstairs with Ledger, his mother turned toward him and tipped her head toward the front door.
Fuck. He felt another lecture coming on.
The overhead bell rang as she opened the door and walked outside. Zeke followed her and stopped next to her on the sidewalk.
“Now’s the time to get your act together, LZ. You’re now responsible for someone other than yourself.”
Of course she got right to it. “Been responsible for a whole damn club.”
“It’s not the same. Ask your father about the difference. Ledger will need you. He’ll need consistency. Hard to be a father when you’re behind bars.”
“Already said I ain’t goin’ back. Told Ky I’m gonna step up and take care of my kid.”
“A kid who doesn’t even know you’re his father!” she cried.
“That’s gonna change soon. Tryin’ to do what Ky asked. She don’t wanna confuse him.”
“But it’s not confusing when some random man is carrying him into a bakery? Spending a whole day with him without his mother?”
“Ain’t random.”
“We know that. Ledger doesn’t.”
“When I drop him back off later, gonna have a discussion with Ky. No reason to hide who I am.”
“Good. And I want the opportunity to love him like a grandmother should.” She did wince when she used the term “grandmother.”
One side of Zeke’s mouth pulled up. “Love him or spoil him?”
Her eyes softened. “Both, of course. He’s my firstborn’s firstborn. We want to be in his life.”
“No shit, Mom. Get in fuckin’ line.”
She shook her head but the corners of her mouth had pulled up slightly. “He’s the perfect motivation to keep your life straight. You have to be a good role model for him.” She tilted her head to the side. “Well, as good a role model as the president of a motorcycle club can be.” She reached up and cupped his cheek. “I want you to be a great father like yours was. And still is.”
Zeke pulled in a breath, about to counter that, but then realized she was right. They were both great parents. He’d been the one who hadn’t been a great son.
He really had no good reason for being that way. He’d just been a cocky motherfucker.
Now he needed to be a great father himself. And a great fucking president. His mother was also right about the fact he couldn’t do that from inside of a damn prison cell.
“If you need help, you know we’re here for you. Not just us, but everyone in the family will be. By blood or by bond.”
A family built by blood or by bond was what had made growing up in the MC life so fucking great.
And he wanted the same for the next generation, including his own son.
Chapter Sixteen
Kyra opened the front door and stepped back to let Zeke inside.
“Fell asleep in the car,” Zeke whispered as he stepped over the threshold.
The German Shepherd whined and wagged her tail as she sniffed Ledger’s little sneakered feet.
Damn, why did her son sleeping with his head on his father’s shoulder tug at her heartstrings?
She shut the door behind them quietly and whispered, “C’mon, let’s put him right into bed. He needs to brush his teeth and wash up, but I’m not sure I want to wake him right now. I guess he didn’t get a nap.”
“He supposed to?”
“Yes, in the afternoon. My fault. I should’ve mentioned that. I can’t assume you know what to do.”
“Now I know.” Zeke continued down the hallway to Ledger’s room, the dog practically herding him down the hallway by running loops around him in the tight space with her bushy tail up and swaying like a flag.
“I learned by trial and error, a lot of Internet research, and plenty of calls to my mother.” Sometimes in complete tears. Especially when Ledger had been an infant and she couldn’t figure out why he was crying. Or why he wouldn’t nurse. Or what to do when he was teething. Or had a fever. Or…
The list was long. Raising a child was certainly humbling.
Once she pulled back the covers, Zeke placed Ledger in his bed, swept his hair off his forehead, and stared down at their son. “He’s perfect, Ky.”
Holy shit. She needed to stop letting this man affect her every time he didn’t act like a cocky asshole.
“I’m sure your parents thought the same about you when you were that age,” she murmured as she carefully removed Ledger’s shoes. She’d deal with the rest of his clothes, his teeth, and dirty face later.