Down and Out (Hawks MC: Caroline Springs Charter Book 3) Read Online Free PDF Page A

hurts, Mum. It fucking kills me."
    "I know, my baby boy. I know, and that pain will last a long time. But you need to go with it, don't bottle that up and let it fester. Let it out, Kalen. For you and for Koda."
    My son's cry from the car had me kneeling back and scrubbing a hand over my face. Mum stood beside me and held out her hand to me. I took it with a shuddering breath and stood beside her, bringing her into my arms.
    "It's good to see you."
    She laughed. "Let's see if you say that in a month's time."
    True. Like Dodge said, we drove each other crazy, and we both knew it.
    But right then, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.
    "Let me go and meet my grandbaby." She pulled back, patted my cheek, and walked to the car. Mum never made it to the hospital because she was on a cruise. She had more of a social life since my sperm-supplier died five years ago. She had a tight-knit group of friends, and they all loved going to different places. There was no way in hell I'd think about the old dudes who travelled with her as some fella she was bonking.
    Fuck. I went there, and now I felt like throwing up.
    Besides feeling sick and dog-tired, I had to get my boy settled in with a feed, a bath, and fuck me, a bedtime story.
    Making my way to the house, following Mum and Koda, I walked in and knew straight away Mum had picked well. The three-bedroom brick home had a top-notch security system and already felt homey. One of those fake gas fires was lit in the wall and warming the living room. The place was already set up with furniture; the only change was Mum buying baby stuff for Koda's room, which was right next to mine down the narrow hall.
    I walked in where she was changing his diaper and blowing raspberries on his belly while Koda looked at her like she was crazy. "Did you get those things for the drawers and doors so he won't get his fingers stuck in them? What about the electrical plugs, did you get them also?"
    She looked at me and rolled her eyes. "Yes, Kalen. After the tenth text reminding me not to forget them, I got them and put them all in already." She smiled down at Koda on the change table. "Your daddy is cuckoo like cocaine. It's not like you're even crawling, and already he's overprotective."
    "Jesus, Mum, do not say cocaine around my kid."
    She giggled. "It's not like he understands me."
    "Don't matter. Cut that shit out."
    She kissed Koda's belly again, pulled back, and said, "Go have a shower, Kalen. You stink like dog shit. I'll keep him entertained until you're done."
    Sighing, I shook my head but found myself smiling for once. "Thanks, Mum."
    She looked over at me and smiled, her eyes warming. "Anything for my boy." Then she shrugged and added, "Unless it interrupts my sexy time with Donald."
    Groaning, I ran a hand over my face. "Fucking hell, Mum," I muttered before I got out of there. First, I grabbed my bag outta the car, and then I went for a shower.
    Later that night, after Mum had cooked for me and left saying she'd be back tomorrow, I sat in the living room chair with Koda in my arms. He was fighting sleep as he drank from his bottle. These moments, when everything was quiet and calm were something special. But it also was the time sorrow hit me hard knowing Simone missed out on it all. All I could do was pray my woman was up in heaven looking down on us seeing what I was seeing: that we'd made a perfect baby.
     

Chapter Three
 
    Seven Months Later
    Dive
     
    I couldn't believe how fast time had flown by. Koda's excitement grew each day when he learned something new. While he wasn't at the crawling stage yet, he was sitting and investigating everything around him. Every day was precious. Every day he made me smile, laugh, and love him more. Even though sorrow still cut me deep every time Simone was on my mind, which was a lot, Koda would bring me out of the depth of darkness by laughing, smiling, or rambling on about some shit I didn't understand.
    But not a day went by I didn't miss