Chapter 2- Not Up for Discussion

Natalie's POV “Watch the attitude.” Butcher pointed a finger at me, his expression making it clear he wasn't interested in hearing another word out of my mouth. Oh, he had some nerve. I stared at him in disbelief. “Let me get this straight. You're telling me, a six-month-pregnant woman. "Who's been on her feet for twelve hours, whose feet are swollen. Whose n*****s hurt, and who is starving right now, to watch my damn attitude?” I glared at the giant. Laughter erupted somewhere off to the side. “s**t. That sure as hell is our DNA inside that woman,” Crank remarked, lifting his coffee cup. Butcher shot his uncle a look before turning his attention back to me. For a moment, neither of us said anything. Then he surprised me. “What do you want to eat?” I blinked. Seriously? After all that, he wanted to know what I wanted for breakfast? “Scrambled eggs, toast, and sausage.” I leaned back against the couch, trying to find a comfortable position. "Prospect! Bring scrambled eggs, toast, and sausage for both of us.” The same prospect who'd driven my car hurried off. “I never told the fucker whose ass I kicked to send you away,” Butcher informed me. “He took that liberty without my permission.” Well, that was something, at least. “Okay, so what is it you want?” I asked, deliberately keeping my voice calm. The last thing I needed was my blood pressure climbing because of an argument with this man. “I want to know my kid.” His answer caught me off guard. For the first time since he'd approached me outside the hospital, he wasn't yelling or demanding something. He was simply looking at me, waiting for an answer. I nodded. “Fine. Like I said before, I'm six months along. Twenty-four weeks, to be exact. The baby's due around December twentieth.” “Boy or girl?” “Don't know yet. I didn't have time to go to my twenty-week ultrasound.” His expression hardened. “Why the f**k not? Why are you skipping important s**t?” And just like that, the moment of peace was over. I rolled my eyes. “I've been busy working overtime. We're short-staffed.” My hand settled over my belly. “I've been going to my regular doctor's appointments. I just haven't had the last ultrasound.” Butcher's jaw tightened. “Going forward, your ass doesn't miss s**t. You don't need to be working overtime while you're pregnant with my kid.” I scoffed. “Excuse me? We were short-staffed, Butcher. I didn't exactly have the luxury of sitting around waiting for someone to pay my bills.” His eyes narrowed, but I wasn't finished. “I've been going to my appointments. The baby's healthy from everything they've checked so far. "I take my vitamins, and I make sure I eat properly.” Six months without a word from him, and now he wanted to question how I'd been taking care of our child? Unbelievable. Thankfully, the prospect returned with our food before either of us could say anything else. My plate held a generous helping of scrambled eggs, sausage, and toast. Butcher's portion was considerably larger. Breakfast was technically my dinner, and I enjoyed every bite. Now, if I could just take off my bra, kick off my shoes, and crawl into bed, I'd be happy. Unfortunately, I still had the giant sitting beside me. When I'd eaten as much as I could, a prospect collected my plate. “Your ass should've eaten more,” Butcher remarked. I looked at him. “Just because I'm carrying a giant's baby doesn't mean I eat like said giant.” Crank chuckled into his coffee. Butcher finished eating, leaned back against the couch, and yawned. “Look, if we've cleared things up, I'd like to save any other conversation for later. I need to go home.” “Your ass isn't leaving.” I stared at him, waiting for some indication that he was joking. None came. “What the hell?” “Found out you were pregnant through one of my informants,” Butcher explained. “An enemy's looking for your ass.” My irritation gave way to uneasiness. An enemy? What enemy? “I haven't told a damn soul about that night. People know I'm pregnant, but I've never told anyone you're the father.” Butcher shrugged. “Not sure how that s**t got out if you didn't run your mouth.” I gasped. “f**k you!” After everything I'd done for him, he had the nerve to accuse me of spreading information about him? “Only three people knew about that night besides you and me,” I snapped. “Your men who came to get you.” I held up a finger. “And the asshole you just beat the crap out of. I told him when I came looking for you three months ago.” Butcher watched me without saying a word. “When I treated you, I handled it like any medical professional would. "Patient-practitioner confidentiality. Meaning I didn't say s**t to anyone.” I took a breath, trying to calm myself. “You're starting to piss me off with your disrespect,” Butcher warned, pointing a finger in my face. “I don't tolerate that s**t. Your only saving grace is that you're pregnant.” His words made my temper flare all over again. “Your ass is staying at this compound until you and my kid are safe.” My jaw dropped. “I need to go home. I have work tonight.” Butcher shook his head. “Your ass doesn't get it. I say you stay, you stay. It's not up for f*****g discussion.” Was this man serious? “Call your job. Tell them the Prez of the Hell Riders said you're off until further notice.” I couldn't believe what I was hearing. For six months, I'd handled everything myself. Now he was sitting here telling me where I could live and whether I could work. “You're such a prick! Why couldn't you just stay away instead of screwing up my life?” Butcher's jaw tightened, but I continued. “What am I supposed to do about clothes? My vitamins? Everything else I need? And where exactly am I staying?” He cracked his neck. “Make a list of what you need. I'll send a prospect to get it. Give me your address.” Crank laughed from his seat. “This s**t is too good. Both of you have the same damn attitude. That kid's going to be worse than Hell Raiser.” I turned toward him. “Who?” “His nephew. My great-nephew.” “Oh.” Well, that explained absolutely nothing. I turned back toward Butcher. “Where am I staying? I'd really like to lie down.” “Prospect! Take my guest to the room across the hall from mine.” The same prospect approached. “Give me your phone,” Butcher instructed. “I'll put my number in so you can send me the list.” I unlocked my phone and handed it over. “You need something, you tell me,” he continued. “If anyone gives you s**t, let me know. And stay out of business that ain't yours.” I rolled my eyes. Apparently, the giant couldn't get through a conversation without giving orders. How the hell had I ended up in bed with this man? ......................... Unfortunately, I remembered that night all too well. Butcher had been stabbed several times and poisoned with some bizarre drug that originated in Asia. Whatever he'd been given caused an overwhelming sensation of heat and s****l arousal. There were only two ways to combat its effects. He could sit under freezing water until it worked through his system, or he could work it out another way. I'd been trying to patch him up while dealing with the effects of that drug. Somehow, I'd ended up riding the giant, stopping long enough to place staples in his wounds before continuing. Once I'd finished treating him, Butcher had flipped us over. He'd taken me from behind, then against the wall with my legs wrapped around him. It certainly wasn't a night I was likely to forget. ....................... Butcher finished entering his number and returned my phone. The prospect escorted me to my room. The moment I was alone, I removed my bra and shoes. What a relief! I climbed onto the bed and sent Butcher the list of everything I needed, along with instructions on where to find it. Then I called my supervisor. I explained that the president of the Hell Riders had told me I wouldn't be returning to work until further notice. To my absolute shock, my supervisor said they understood and that it wouldn't be a problem. I stared at my phone after the call ended. Seriously? I'd expected anger, resentment, or at least a lecture about staffing shortages. Instead, they'd practically agreed without question. That blew my mind. Looking around, I took in my temporary accommodations. Four walls, a queen-sized bed, and a dresser. No windows. I didn't like that. Thankfully, there was a private bathroom with a shower. At least the room would be completely dark when I slept. Right now, that was all I cared about. .......................... Butcher's POV This was one f****d-up situation. Hearing through the grapevine that I'd gotten the woman who saved my life pregnant had been a shock. But seeing Natalie this morning, standing there with her swollen belly, had been something else entirely. And when she confirmed the kid was mine? Hell. What pissed me off was finding out some prospect had turned her away three months ago. I had a feeling that piece of s**t was the one who'd opened his mouth. The timing fit. Everything had started shortly after Natalie came looking for me. “What has you thinking so hard?” I looked up at my uncle Crank, the man who'd made me his successor as president of the Hell Riders. “Thinking that piece of s**t who turned Natalie away is the one who ran his mouth.” Crank nodded. “Sounds about right. And judging by the way you spoke to that woman. "She was ready to rip your balls off for suggesting she'd been talking.” My uncle looked entirely too amused. Natalie had a mouth on her. Part of me wanted to turn her over my knee and spank her ass until she understood who was in charge. But she was pregnant with my kid. That complicated things. Didn't mean I'd forget that attitude once the baby was born. “When are you going to tell the family about the kid?” Crank asked. I ran a hand down my face. “You'd better tell your mom,” he continued. “Otherwise, she'll give you the silent treatment.” He wasn't wrong. Getting the silent treatment from that woman was worse than having two broken ribs. I'd take the broken ribs. My mom was a saint. She'd put up with my dad's s**t for years, not to mention mine and my brother's. We were all assholes, but she'd never turned her back on any of us. Hell, she was the only woman who'd ever managed to put all three of us in our place. Now there was my brother's ol' lady, Violet. She's a good woman, too. I leaned back, resting my head against the couch. My phone rang. Speak of the devil. Mom. That woman had always been like that. Somehow, she always seemed to call right when I needed to talk to her.