Page 18 of Finn's Future

“Don’t,” I muttered, dragging a hand down the back of my neck. “You don’t owe me that.”

Her face flushed. “I just?—”

“It’s nothing,” I cut in. “Kid needed it.”

I moved past her, putting space between us before she could try again.

“Is it okay to shower?” she asked.

“Bathroom’s free,” I said over my shoulder. “Door stays unlocked.”

She hesitated. “Unlocked?”

“Yeah,” I said, already pulling the chair closer to the door. “I need to get in if something goes wrong.” It wasn’t a suggestion, it was my rule.

Her eyes lingered on me for a second before she nodded. “Okay.”

The door shut behind her, and I heard the water running. I dropped into the chair, dragging it into position where I could see the window, the door, and the cot.

My phone sat heavy in my pocket. All I wanted was to call one of the club bunnies and be lost in fucking, because inside the bathroom was a woman I didn’t trust and in the room with me was a kid that might be one of ours.

Reaper and the club were waiting, and the answers were coming whether Kate liked it or not.

Chapter 9

Kate

Despite them saying the results would take a few days, it had turned into eight. Eight very long days stuck in the motel room, waiting for the letter to arrive and it finally had.

I knew what it would say. I’d known from the second I’d seen the little plus sign on the pregnancy test. The baby was Caleb’s. Caleb had never doubted it. I knew from the way he looked at me the night I’d told him, happy and sure, like nothing I could say would send him running.

Still, my hands wouldn’t stop shaking.

I sat on the edge of the motel bed, Noah resting against my chest, his soft breaths warm against my skin through my shirt. My fingers traced the curve of his head, grounding myself in something warm and soft while the room buzzed with hard tension.

Reaper stood near the window, arms crossed, watching the parking lot like he expected trouble to roll in at any second. Riot leaned against the wall beside him, silent as ever, sunglasses hiding whatever he was thinking.

Lucy hovered close enough that I could feel her energy, restless, hopeful, terrified all at once. The same way I felt, though I had much more to lose than she did.

Finn stood a few feet away, watching me. His eyes hadn’t left me since the envelope had been handed over.

The envelope sat on the small table in front of me.

“Open it,” Reaper said finally.

I didn’t move as my stomach twisted. All the waiting felt cruel when I already knew. When Caleb should be there backing me up.

Finn stepped forward. “I’ll do it.”

He picked up the envelope, tore it open, and pulled out the paper. His eyes scanned the page once.

Then again.

“Well?” Lucy demanded.

Finn looked up, his eyes shifting quickly from me to Reaper. “It’s confirmed,” he said. “Noah is Caleb’s son.”

Lucy sat down hard like her knees stopped working.