Hayes swallows hard, watching me. Digesting everything I just said.
This is messy, and me being here puts him in danger. Maybe I shouldn’t have come.
Hayes’s phone pings, and he quickly reads the message. Whatever it says does nothing to relax his jaw. He shoves his phone back into his pocket, reaching for the door, where a biker is already standing on the other side when it opens.
I recognize him from the party. He was sleeping on the pool table when we arrived, but thankfully, he’s dressed now.
“You good?” Hayes asks the biker.
He nods. “I’m good.”
Hayes turns to me, jutting his thumb behind him. “This is Venom. He’s going to keep an eye on you two while I meet with the guys, but I’ll be back.”
“I’m not going to do anything.” My teeth clench, realizing that Venom is here because Hayes doesn’t trust me.
“It’s a precaution we have to take until we’ve voted.”
“What are you voting on?” My heart races. “Please, I promise I’m not here to hurt anyone. I just didn’t know where else to go. For Charlie—I had to—” I can’t form a sentence, much less a thought.
“Hey, hey.” Hayes walks over, squatting down in front of me and planting his hands on my knees, brushing his thumbs on the inside of them as tears sting my eyes. “Nothing bad is going to happen to her. I swear on my fucking life.”
I nod, swallowing hard. “Thank you.”
He doesn’t say anything else as he stands and walks away. When he leaves the room, Venom takes his spot at the door. Arms crossed and his back to it. I look down at Charlie in my arms, still sleeping, and I’m so glad she’s too young to know the world is falling apart around her.
She wraps her tiny fingers around one of mine, and I take a deep breath.
Hayes will protect her. He’ll keep her safe.
The question is, what is he going to do with me?
7
Soul
My mind is spinningas I walk out of my room, leaving Emery and Charlie with Venom. I hate that I’m leaving them with anyone who isn’t me, but I’m needed in church, and given who her uncle is, Steel won’t risk them being unguarded.
At least with Venom, I know he’ll be respectful.
He might fuck around and have his fun, but he doesn’t look twice at the guys’ old ladies. And he sure as fuck won’t try anything with the mother of my child, whether I’ve claimed her yet or not.
I turn the corner into the main room and find Chaos leaning against a wall with his arms crossed over his chest.
“How you holding it together, Daddy?” Chaos grins.
“Hearing you call me Daddy makes me want to punch you in the fucking face.”
He chuckles, lifting off the wall. “Better getused to it.”
“From you? No thanks.” I shove his arm as he walks beside me. “How pissed is he?”
Chaos follows my gaze to Steel, already sitting at the head of the table in church. The rest of the guys are in their seats, waiting for us.
“He’ll cool off.” Chaos shrugs.
“I appreciate the optimism.”
Chaos walks in the room first, and I close the door behind us. No one speaks as I circle to my chair next to Steel’s. Irritation ripples off him as I take my seat.
