Courtney POV. Today is my 20th birthday. I stand here alone, dressed in all black. The rain beats against the umbrella that is in my hand, mimicking my own sorrow as the tears fall silently. My free hand reaches up to the gold chain that is around my neck. Where mom’s wedding ring sits. The ring my sperm donor gave her when he married her. I don’t even know who he is or why she left him. All I know is that she ran with me when I was a baby. She promised me she would tell me on my twenty-first birthday. But she never will. A small kick makes me drop the necklace and I rub my swollen belly. Yes, twenty years old and pregnant. The man I thought I was in love with and loved me only lasted a few months before I found him balls deep in some other woman. According to her, I was a child and couldn’t handle a man like him. Asshole he didn’t even shut her up, she can have him. I don’t need him or his precious club. Kaden Venom Frost is a president of a motorcycle club or MC called Satan’s Reapers. I had no business getting involved with a man like him, but I did and look how that ended. Momma always warned me to stay away from bikers. All they do is cause you heartache, she would say. She wasn’t wrong because they do. We moved here not long after I found out I was pregnant where there weren’t any bikers. If any were seen in any town we were in, we would up and leave, leaving no trace of our presence. Why was she running like this? Either way. It no longer matters. She was diagnosed with cancer not long after we moved here. Stage 4, she was given six weeks to live; she lasted twelve. I held her hand as she took her final breath just past midnight on Christmas. I won’t remember her like that. I will remember her as the carefree, fun-loving and proud momma bear she was. The priest is speaking, but I’m not listening. It is only me and him here. We kept to ourselves and because we moved so often, we never made friends with anyone. I’m truly alone. Well, not completely. In about four months, my little bean will be here. This baby is loved so deeply already. Momma left a lot of money for us. I think she always knew something like this would happen. “Amen.” The priest says and I repeat what he has said. I look down and my momma is now in her final resting place. I walk to the mound of earth and take a hand full I walk towards the edge and smile down. “Momma, you are no longer in pain. Please don’t worry about us, we will both be ok. I know you will always be here, momma. I love you so much. Rest in peace.” I throw the dirt and step back and just watch as the ground is slowly being covered. I wait until she is completely covered. No sooner did they shovel the last of the earth did the rain stop and the sun shone through. The God rays shining down on momma’s final resting place. I chuckle and look up at the sky. A sad smile on my face. “Love you, momma. Always light the way.” I turn to walk towards my car when I heard the distance rumble of motorbikes. I freeze, then shake my head as I walk away. Only to stop when a huge convoy of bikes enters the cemetery. I just stand back and watch. The leader pulls over and jumps from his bike, throwing his helmet as he runs towards … Momma’s grave. He drops to his knees and screams in pain. Who is he? I stand there in shock at what I’m seeing. I stagger slightly no. Not now! Why now? “Caitlyn!” He roars and my breath catches in my throat. I’m stuck. I can’t move, even though everything in me is telling me to move my ass and get the hell out of there. He is sobbing when he turns his head and looks right at me. His eyes go wide like he is seeing a ghost. He mumbles something under his breath and all the men turn to look at me. Oh s**t! “Courtney, baby girl, is that you?” I walk away as fast as I can towards my car when my upper arm is grabbed. I turn round, and on instinct, I punch him in the face. The men gasp and some are wincing with the force I used. He looks at me, blood pouring from his nose and lip. “Never, and I mean ever, put your hands on me, sir. I don’t know who the f**k you think you are or why you are here. But back off.” I snap at him and he looks at me, stunned. I think I broke him. “Courtney. I’ve finally found you, baby girl. I have been looking for you and your momma for twenty years.” Nooooo f*****g way! No, no, no, no, I refuse to believe this asshole is my sperm donor. There is no chance. I fight the urge to vomit. My heart is beating hard and loudly. Can he hear it? Why is so f*****g big? Then again, all bikers are. I’m almost certain they are werewolves or something. Either that or they truly love steroids. I mean, he puts the hulk to shame. And I … Oh s**t, I’ve just punched him in the face. “You have the wrong person. I don’t know who you are referring to. Sorry for your loss.” I say as I step back before looking him up and down in disgust. How dare he? Like seriously. f**k him and his heartbreak. Cunt waffle. If momma could see me now, she would be laughing at my choice of words right after she shot him. “You’re so much like her, a real spitfire. Same red hair as her, but those eyes, baby girl, those eyes are mine. Not to mention that gold chain with the diamond wedding band around your neck are your momma’s. My wife.” I instinctively touch the chain. No! Absolutely not. “Courtney Nevaeh Morrison, you are my daughter. I have been looking for you both for the past twenty years. Now I have found you. I’m not letting you go.” The tears are falling from my eyes, but not with joy. No, from hate, rage, and anger. I’m shaking with it, ready to explode like an atom bomb. How dare he? Who the f**k does he think he is? Oh right, daddy dearest. Well. f**k. That! “You think you can claim me as your long-lost daughter after twenty years? You’re dead wrong. I ain’t going anywhere with you. Try it if you dare. But don’t think I won’t put up a fight, because I will happily lay you out.” I say and he smiles at me, full of amusement. “Ok, ok. You will come to me when you are ready. The name is …” “I don’t give a s**t who are you or what your name is. I don’t need you and I never have. I have been doing damn well without you. Goodbye.” I turn and walk away towards my car. “Keep telling yourself that, darlin. But you and your baby will come to me soon enough. I’m not giving up on you, Courtney. Not now, not ever.” He shouts after me. I reach my car and stop. Looking over my shoulder. “Too bad you will be waiting a long time. Because that will never happen. I would say it was nice to meet you, but momma always told me to tell the truth. So I won’t.” I open the car door and climb inside, slamming the door shut. My hands are shaking, and my heart is racing. My little bean is quiet for now. I start my car and drive away. Checking the rear-view to make sure I’m not being followed. Which I’m not. Thank you, momma and God, of course. Looks like I need to leave and find a new town. I chuckle. What’s the point? He has found me now; I need to get rid of the car and use momma’s for a while. I pull into the street where our house is. The street is quiet; the neighbours watch out for each other and it’s super safe. I drive toward the house and park the car in the garage. Thank god. I climb out and walk out of the garage, pressing the fob for the garage doors to roll closed. I walk up the porch steps and open the front door. Kicking it closed behind me. I remove my shoes and coat. I walk barefoot into the living room. I look at the sofa, expecting to see her sitting there. I sigh and wipe my eyes as I walk to the kitchen and wash my hands and make a drink. I lean my butt against the counter and think of the cluster f**k today has been. I pat my belly as bean kicks again. “It’s ok baby, we will be ok. I will make sure we are.” I sigh as I move back to the living room and sit down on the sofa. Before I know it, I’m sobbing, clutching a pillow to my chest as I let it out. Tomorrow is a new day. Silver linings and all.