Blade cuts me off and snaps, “We’re not discussing it, we need to go fix your Mama’s shit that you kept from us.”
I flinch at the president of an MC snapping at me instead of a guy I see as family.
He realizes his mistake as Jax growls, “Watch it, brother.”
He winces, “Sorry, little doll. Skylar is just a sore subject, is all, and honestly, I’m a little pissed you’re friends with her and didn’t say anything.”
I swallow hard and whisper, “It has nothing to do with you, Leo. She’s not ready, and you need to respect that and you need to understand that I respect her and her decision not to want to know you right now.”
He tilts his head at my use of his road name and mutters, “Noted,” knowing I wasn’t talking to the president.
Jax sighs, “Come on, Ivy,” and gently pulls me out of his house towards his matte black truck past Trent, who side-eyes me warily before Jax helps me inside. I don’t look at him, even as he gently clicks me in, not willing to see the finality of us in his light brown eyes that I love so much.
“I’ve really messed up, haven’t I?” I confirm before he shuts the door. Instead of answering me, he sighs and leans forward, gently pressing a kiss to my head, causing my tears to fall.
I quickly wipe them away as he shuts the door before leaning my head against the window, wishing I could turn back time and fight for Jax that morning.
It doesn’t take long before Jax pulls up in front of the clubhouse, with Blade, Viper, and Venom behind us on their bikes. He turns to me and demands, “Wait there,” and I nod, knowing not to question him right now.
He rounds the truck and opens the door, so I quickly unclip and allow him to help me out, trying my hardest not to cry at the coldness he’s radiating right now, meaning as soon as he finds out about the baby, I’ll lose him.
Without a word, Jax leads me into the clubhouse, which is full of people. The club girls are back in their corner, where they do their nails without completing their tasks, and the old ladies sit on the other side of the room, glaring at them.
I notice Anna sitting near Brick but not touching him. He tries to gently stroke his fingers through her hair, but she keeps pulling away, though I’ll give him his dues, he’s not giving up.
I swallow hard, already knowing what her problem is, and the fact that he can’t see it just makes him an idiot.
He hurt her a lot before she made a mistake and slept with a prospect at the time, who is no longer here. He’s actually in the ground, but none of the brothers understand what happened that day, and I’m not going to reveal her secret or Skylar’s, for that matter.
Hopefully, Brick will see his wrongdoings before it’s too late because honestly, Anna opening up to him is not happening. It's never going to happen…
I ignore everyone and slowly descend the couple of stairs near the door but pause with a sigh when I hear, “Ah, there’s my lovely runaway bride…” as the front door opens and slams shut and I turn to see Hayden looking around the room with a smirk.
Showtime.
“Watch your fucking tone where my sister is concerned,” my brother sneers, no longer the caring Cale but Venom, a mean mother f-er ready to rip your throat out.
Hayden glares at him but soon has the good sense to back away when Jax demands, “What did you just call my girl?”
My girl…. My heart flutters, my stomach tightening at his words.
Hayden clears his throat and states more cautiously, “Actually, she is my fiancée. She did accept my proposal.”
Jax tilts his head and asks, “Accept it willingly, did she? Or did you hold a gun to her mother’s head?”
Talen clears his throat this time and reminds the brothers, “Clara owed us money.” He looks at me and winces before looking back at Jax and admits, “Her payment was her daughter.”
“And when did she exactly offer me up as payment, Talen?” I cut in, causing everyone to look my way, and Talen clears his throat again, looking uncomfortable, while his son, not realizing he’s in the lion’s den, gloats, “The moment the cash hit her hands, of course.” He looks me up and down, “She arranged everything after having her surgeries when she knew you’d be on your way home and was actually the one who staged the step up, wanting you to agree to it, and I wanted nothing more than an alliance with the club.”
Wow.
A loud thump echoes, and I look to see Dad and Cain throwing sacks onto the floor next to Talen, who looks at it in shock as Dad sneers, “One mil in cash for your troubles.”
Talens mouth parts as Hayden literally chokes on his own spit and Blade steps forward causing both men to step back as he says, “I don’t want to see you or any of your members in my territory again otherwise, the rumors you hear will become your realities and in this room right now, your worst nightmares want nothing more than to tear you limb from limb. One loves the woman you tried to force to marry you and the other is her brother.”
Hayden swallows hard and stutters, “I-I well, I didn’t even want her anyhow. Clara was the one pushing it, knowing her daughter would do anything for her heartbroken ill mother, and besides, you have clubwhores here. You know it’s just easier to have someone around, you know an easy lay…”
“I’d fucking stop talking right now,” Jax warns as he takes a step forward and Talen snaps, “Fuck’s sake son, learn when to shut the fuck up. Grab the bag and get out before Psycho shows you the meaning of his fucking road name. You didn’t even want her after finding out she was pregnant!”
