Creed’s Honor by Simone Nicholls

Dad’s birthday—or any birthday—was a reason to celebrate in my eyes, especially knowing Dad had survived another year. He wasn’t taken by the road or the MC—or by Mum, for that matter. The club was filled with members and their family. Even the club girls were more covered up, to respect the wives.

I had been keeping the kids entertained when Dad was standing in the doorway to the boardroom, which was normally off-limits to everyone. Still, the kids tonight had blankets over the boardroom table, and it was the only place in the clubhouse that didn’t have spare guns—because, no weapons during church.

“You okay?” I asked Dad after putting the last blanket over the table for the kids’ fort.

“Have you seen your mother?” It wasn’t what Dad asked that sent my alarm bells off but his tone. He was uneasy. Had they fought?

“No, but I can find her,” I said just as someone called Dad’s name, making him grit his teeth. I heard him mutter “I hate fucking birthdays” as he walked in their direction.

I scanned the clubhouse and found no sign of the stunning blonde that was my mother. I headed for the kitchen when I noticed a few club girls at the door.

“Everything okay?” I asked, and they were quick to look in any direction but mine and moved like their asses were on fire.

I opened the door, and Mum was standing in the large commercial kitchen, crying.

“What the fuck happened?” I asked, letting the door swing shut behind me. My mum didn’t cry. Ever.

“What did Dad do?” Because if there was one person that could make Mum cry, it was Dad. Now it made sense why he was looking for her. “I know he is my father but seriously.”

“Holly, stop,” Mum said, wiping the tears from her cheeks. “I fucked up,” she added but wouldn’t look at me.

I moved around her. Why was I getting a feeling like something else was going on here? Finally, I gripped her shoulders, forcing her to look at me.

“Kincaids don’t cry,” I said firmly, something my dad would always say. “We cause the crying.”

“I doubt I will be a Kincaid much longer.” Mum’s words came out broken, and she was shaking. It was at this exact moment that Dad walked through the door behind her, and she didn’t hear it. “I’m pregnant, Holly,”

Dad froze behind her.

I froze in front of her.

Mum scoffed. “That reaction was exactly what I was expecting.” The tears gripped her. “Though I’m sure your father will have more to say.” She was trembling. “He’ll divorce me. I’ll have to be a single mother. Fuck, fuck, fuck.” She was getting more worked up, but it wasn’t her admission that had me frozen in place. No, it was because she had accidentally told Dad without knowing.

“It’s not that,” I said. I watched Dad blink, and then I forced Mum to turn around. She went stiff when her eyes landed on Dad.

The Hades that everyone knew, well, he had this cold, calculating look in his eyes, nearly all the time. However, that stern look would disappear when he looked at his family. Like right now, he was in shock. I could see it on his face. I knew my dad, and when he was in shock, he usually fucked up.

Mum stood to her full five-foot something. “So you heard?” She had this hardness in her voice. Dad didn’t say anything. “I’ll sign the papers. You don’t have to be a father again. I know this is the last thing you’d want. So I’ll deal with it on my own.” Mum was headstrong and the type of woman who would do this on her own.

Dad’s eyes were just locked on her. Then he broke from his frozen state. I’d never seen Dad move so fast, till his hands were cupping Mum’s face. He kissed her before giving her a smile that was reserved only for Mum.

“Get the fucking cake out,” Dad said, his words echoing nothing but clear excitement. “We’ve got a reason to celebrate tonight.” His eyes then went back to Mum before he kissed her forehead.

Mum was stunned—and so was I—by Dad’s reaction.

“I love you, Zara. Never question that,” he said as he brought his face to hers. “Always.” He then grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the kitchen. I heard Dad shout for everyone’s attention just as I opened the kitchen door, following them out.

Someone turned the music down. I think half the crowd was expecting Dad to kick everyone out and end his suffering at his birthday party.

“Ain’t no soul here that doesn’t know. I hate my fucking birthday,” he shouted, then he shocked everyone by grinning. “Thought this year would be the same till my wife told me I knocked her up!” Dad’s grin was priceless—like he had won the lottery.

He then spun her into his arms and kissed her like there wasn’t a soul in the crowded clubhouse. Though I think they got a reality check when the laughter and cheers boomed through the club.

Just like that, a real party had started. There was no way this wasn’t turning into a bender for nearly everyone here. Because when Dad partied, he partied hard.

* * *

The music was pounding. The Kincaid family had taken over one of the tables, though Mum hadn’t left Dad’s lap the entire night, and Ivy had been extremely quiet.

“Fucking baby in the house. I’ll be moving out to my dorm room,” Kobra said before throwing back his shot.

“You fucking won’t be. You’ll be pulling your weight like the rest of us.” Dad shattered Kobra’s hope of escaping the baby cries quickly and threw his own shot back.

Ivy was refilling the shot glasses. If there was one thing we Kincaids did well, it was drinking. Though, so far, no one had noticed Ivy wasn’t drinking.

“If the other pregnancies are any indication, your mother will need another body for target practice.” Dad ran a hand down Mum’s back. “When she was pregnant with you lot, there wasn’t one vase or photo frame left in the house.”

“Still holding it over my head,” Mum muttered.

“Maybe you deserved it,” Ivy stuck up for Mum. “After all, you got her fat.”

Mum groaned at that.

“Thanks for starting the body issues early, Ivy.” Dad gave her a pointed look.

Ivy just shrugged, snatching the vodka bottle from Kobra, who had decided the amount Ivy was pouring wasn’t enough.

“You all right, Holly?” Dad’s words made me stop scanning the clubhouse.

“Fine.” I smiled.

“She’s looking for her boyfriend,” Kobra mocked me. “Creed has kept a low profile tonight.”

And it was bugging me. I hadn’t seen him since the family dinner. I was hoping to see him tonight, but not once had I laid eyes on him.

“Sent him to pick shit up at the valley.”

My eyes snapped to Dad. “What!”

“My birthday is a shitty enough day without needing to deal with him flirting with my daughter.” Dad gave me a pointed look at that. I gritted my teeth but didn’t say anything—typical Dad.

“Well, if I were him, I’d avoid your birthday party altogether now,” I piped up, suddenly pissed off knowing I wasn’t going to see Creed at all tonight.

“Good.” Dad didn’t hold back. “Now, someone get the good whiskey.”

I rolled my eyes as I got up. Come tomorrow, our house would be in complete darkness, and Dad would be sleeping it off. Also, knowing him, he won’t let Mum out of arms reach.

I walked to the bar, pointing to the bottle of whiskey behind the prospect. That was when I went stiff.

I felt a hand on me, and I wasn’t used to being touched. I knew it was stupid, but I brushed the friendly biker’s hand off me and gave him a polite “Don’t touch me.” Then I grabbed the whiskey and took off back to the family table.

When my hand was caught by his, I snapped. “I said to leave me alone!” I spun around, but it was Creed who had eyes on me. Fuck.

“Sorry, I thought you were someone else,” I tried to recover quickly. Creed cocked a look over his shoulder, and it was my hand tightening on his that stopped him from going over there. “You’ve been gone all night.” I tried to get his attention, but his eyes were still on the biker who was looking in our direction.

Please, Creed, don’t. I begged with him silently. He then turned back to face me fully.

“Your old man wanted me gone, so I went.” His gaze ran over me. “You had a good night?”

I stepped in closer to him, keeping my hand in his. “Mum’s pregnant,” I said, and for some reason, I couldn’t stop the smile on my face.

Creed’s lips twitched up. “How did Hades take that?”

“Really well. Can’t you tell?” I gestured to the club, which was buzzing.

“Wondered why he was letting everyone celebrate on his most hated day of the year.” Creed’s gaze landed back on me. “I guess knocking up your wife is worth a celebration.”

It was the look Creed was giving me that made me wonder what was running through his mind. I couldn’t stop myself from stepping in closer to Creed.

“It’s like it’s the first time he’s been told he is going to be a father,” I said as Creed’s other hand went to my hip, me now standing in front of him.