"Can I hold her?" I asked no one in particular.
Nestor picked her up while Happy pressed the button to lift the back of the bed to a seat. He placed her in my arms and her dark brown eyes peeped open. I still couldn't believe a perfect little thing could come from such a damaged person. I kissed her soft black hair and breathed in the new baby smell and frowned. I knew that scent but I couldn't place it.
"What soap have you been using?" I asked the nurse who shook her head.
"Just water until they are older, anything else on a prem baby is too harsh on their skin." She replied.
I inhaled deeply and caught the sweet floral scent once more but for the life of me I couldn't figure it out.
"What's new?" I asked the men as I continued to stare at our baby.
When I didn't get a reply I looked up and could see they were having a discussion with their eyes.
I snapped my fingers at them to get their attention. "Hey, Jedi knights, tell me whatever it is you are trying to hide."
The nurse had left the room so I placed Ronnie back in her bassinet so she could sleep. When she was settled I pinned my eyes on the men and watched them grow uncomfortable.
"What do you know about LOAN? The league of American Nationalists." Happy asked.
"The nazis? More than I want to." I replied and watched him frown at the answer.
"The Mayans started running heroin for a new player, some white separatist that moved into Tijuana. They have taken over the space left from Vatos Malditos." Nestor explained.
"A nazi in Mexico? That doesn't seem like a smart move." I snickered. "Where does that leave Galindo?"
"We are managing but I'll be across the border most days dealing with this. Happy too, since the Sons have dealt with this guy before."
I had expected them to continue their work so it didn't come as any surprise but it would have been nice to have a few days to settle in. In my head I only became a mother about an hour ago thanks to the 34 day nap I had.
"How bad is he?" I asked Happy, my eyes shooting to Ronnie. Above all else she had to be safe.
"Bad. He got most of us 14 months in Stockton, had Gemma raped, almost killed Chibs and was an FBI informant." He said with a sigh. "We thought he was gone for good but Ethan Zobelle is worse than fucking Herpes." He paused before he quickly said, "Not that I know."
"Ethan Zobelle?" I said as I began to feel sick.
My ears were ringing with the name I never wanted to hear again. I heard alarms going off and realised my heart rate had shot up again but for a much different reason.
"Calm down Violent. We ain't gonna let him hurt you or Veronica." I heard Happy's deep voice calm me down.
"It's not me I'm worried about." I knew how bad this man was. He was a blight on this earth. "He doesn't like me but he won't hurt me."
"What do you mean? How the hell do you know him!" Happy growled.
"My last name, Losa, is my mother's maiden name. I started using it after I found my fathers side of the family. I wanted nothing to do with those assholes." I took a breath before continuing. "My fathers family disowned him because he married a Mexican but mom's family disowned her because dad used to be a leader of LOAN. My dad, Micheal Zobelle, was Ethan's older brother."
Happy's jaw clenched and he pushed his chair back, grating against the floor harshly and walked out. I stared after him wondering if I should have just shut my cake hole. It wasn't like I was the one who did all that stuff to his club. I looked at Nestor to see if he was going to storm out too.
"Are you going to leave too?" I asked quietly.
"You can't choose your family V." He said. "I won't hold their actions over you."
I wriggled over making space and patted the bed space. His arms enveloped me and I inhaled his intoxicating scent.
"Did you just smell me?" He asked with a cocked eyebrow.
"It's not the weirdest thing I've done and I missed you. Even though it only felt like yesterday since I saw you."
I smiled as I felt his chuckle under my head that lay on his chest.
"I'm glad you didn't die." He whispered into my hair.
"That job is still reserved for you." I laughed.
"I don't think I could kill you if I had to." He retorted dryly.
"Don't worry Ness, turns out hell couldn't even handle me so they sent me back here. Well goddamn..." My words drifted off as the dream I had came back. I remembered the floral scent around Ronnie was frangipani, just like I smelt in my dream. Just like Nini.
I found some comfort in the thought she was keeping her promise and relaxed enough to sleep. I was woken a few times by Ronnie to find Nestor already by her side with a bottle ready. I still couldn't understand where the cold mercenary I met had gone. Was it a facade and always this sweet or had fatherhood evolved him. I watched him cradle his daughter gently and fell back to sleep with the image committed to memory.
As soon as visiting hours started there was a knock on the door and a giant teddy was carried into the room. Nestor's guard went up instantly since he couldn't see who was holding it. I reached for one gun as he reached for his other and we had them pointed before the teddy moved.
"Give me a fucking break." I sighed and put the gun back in Nestor's holster. "What are you doing here Bishop?"
"Frankie said you woke up. You had us all worried."
Before I could ask who 'all of us' were the door opened again and most of the Mayans filled the room. They had balloons, more teddies and baby clothes in gift bags bundled in their arms.
"I'm sorry sobrina. We all are. Shit got way out of hand but we are here to make it right. We are familia, including this little beauty." Bishop said as he stepped closer to Ronnie's bassinet.
Nestor hopped off the bed and stepped closer to her as Bishop approached. Bishop held his hands up as if to say 'I come in peace.' The rest of the Mayans hung back, showing they weren't a threat to Ronnie.
"You want to rekindle this familial relationship between us?" I asked him and he nodded. "Or do you plan to use me because of my uncle?"
I watched as his eyes narrowed and the other Mayans looked confused.
"Did you're president not tell you Ethan Zobelle was his brother-in-law? Tsk tsk Bish. I wasn't born yesterday, just revived. I want nothing to do with my uncles, either of them. Get out."
My voice had started to raise and Ronnie let out a cry. The door flung open and Happy sauntered in looking ready to kill. His jaw was ticking and his hand itching for his gun as he took in the situation. He walked across the room and put himself between Bishop and the bassinet which Bishop noticed.
"You know the kid ain't yours. If you think she's gonna drop the mercenary now that the baby's born, you didn't see them cuddled up before we came in." Bishop said trying to wind him up.
Happy just grunted but didn't move or give him a response. His body language showed he was fuming but he held it back pretty well.
"If you are only here to shit stir just leave." I said to my uncle. "Next time you want help, ask me nicely and I'll consider it but don't insult my intelligence with this bullshit."
Nestor had picked up Veronica and sat with her in the chair beside me and Happy had climbed into the empty space where Nestor had slept. His arms came around me and the Mayans looked between the four of us with confusion.
Happy glared at Bishop and snarled, "Get out, our girls need to rest."
"What the fuck is this Violent?" Bishop growled.
I didn't bother looking at him when I answered, I just snuggled deeper into Happy's side and said, "This is my family and it looks like the rest have just arrived."
The doors opened to reveal Miguel and Marcus along with a bunch of their sicarios too. They moved the Mayans aside and came over to us. Miguel gave me a kiss on the cheek and whispered he was glad to see me awake.
"Did you watch me while I slept?" I teased lightly.
He shook Happy's hand before crouching beside Nestor and greeted Veronica softly.
"La niña is growing too fast." He said with a chuckle before turning to the Mayans. "Visiting hours are over gentlemen." He nodded to Paco. "Show them out."
When everyone had cleared out the men started packing up the few belongings that had made it to the hospital with me. Miguel had spoken to a nurse and they had agreed to discharge me but any sign of confusion or concussion and I was to head right back. I felt so undignified being pushed out of the hospital in a wheelchair and leapt out of it as soon as we hit the parking lot. However, it only took a few steps to realise I had grown a lot weaker than I thought during my coma.
"Actually...can you bring that back?" I asked quietly, embarrassed.
"Sorry what was that? I couldn't hear you?" Nestor asked with a smirk. "You want this back? The thing you complained about the entire time you were in it?"
"Asshole. Happy, can you carry me?"
I was swept off my feet and popped my head up above his shoulder to look at Ness and poke my tongue at him.
"Grow up, you're a mother now." He replied with a laugh.
I looked over at Miguel who was carrying Ronnie in her car seat.
"You and Em going to have anymore?" I asked as we arrived at the line up of black vehicles.
"I would like more but after Cristobal was kidnapped Emily doesn't want another baby." He said sadly.
"Guess you'll just have to be a cool uncle instead. You coming back to the house?"
He shook his head. "Got meetings with the contractors at the build site but come by for dinner if you're up to it."
I nodded and clipped the car seat in. "Will do, maybe Ronnie can get her Aunty Em clucky."
When I stepped into the lounge the first thing I noticed was new furniture. Then the slight smell of paint and noticed the walls a new colour.
"Uh decided to redecorate?" I half asked, half stated and watched both men look guilty.
"Nestor put his fist through the wall." Happy said and Nestor scoffed.
"And he threw the coffee table through the ranch slider." Nestor replied.
"And we both broke the table when he tackled me."
It was like a ping pong match as they ratted on each other. "You got in a fight. Jesus. Well did you sort your shit out?"
"Yeah, you woke up."
I sighed at the fact they still couldn't get along without me being here. I thought after 3 months of us practically all living together they might be able to be friends or at least cordial with each other. I was too tired to even deal with that at the moment so I trudged my way up the stairs.
I smile when I looked in Ronnies room and found they had at least painted it a light lilac and built the furniture. I frowned when I noticed the dresser unit was different to what we had bought.
"Where's the drawer unit we ordered?" I shook my head when I saw them look at each other.
"I told you she would notice." Happy grumbled.
"Well they didn't have it in stock." Nestor snarled.
"Corn Rows didn't want to read the instructions."
"Here we go." Nestor complained. "You could have read them but you didn't either."
"Just tell me what happened." I interrupted.
Rather than get an answer I got handed a phone and hit the ply button.
"Man, I don't think this is right."
Happy's voice could be heard and Nestor was screwing a rail in for the drawer to run along. "It'll be fine, it ain't that hard." He replied as he continued screwing.
Nestor lifted the drawer and put it in the slot but it didn't fit. He pushed it in with a bang and the whole drawer set fell apart.
"Piece of shit. Fuck this. Let's just go and buy the one on display." Nestor growled as he kicked the mass of wood and threw the screwdriver to the ground.
I couldn't help but laugh as the video ended. "I don't know what to do with you two. Honestly." I managed to say between laughs.
"I have an idea or two." Happy chuckled.
"The doctor recommended another two weeks before any of that." Nestor said with a groan.
I thought about the healed scar along my belly and how it didn't hurt or anything.
"That was only a recommendation..." I said slyly as I put our sleeping girl in her cot and shut the door.