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A few minutes later I’m staring at my original test and the two new ones.
Three sticks. Six pink lines.
What the hell am I going to do?
I should’ve confessed to Grayson the second I realized I’d forgotten my pills. Maybe swallowed one of those morning-after pills downstairs.
We’re not married. We don’t even live together. We haven’t been a couple for long. How am I going to do this alone?
I rest my hand over my stomach. This time things are different. Even if Grayson gets angry with me or doesn’t want to be involved, I’ll be okay.
I’m not at the mercy of anyone else to take care of me.
I have a job. Well, I had a job. Trish let me go but promised she wouldn’t report me for official disciplinary action. So, I still have my license. I’ll be able to support myself and my baby on my own. I’m earning more money through my YouTube channel, so that will help with expenses too.
I have an apartment. But it’s not a safe place for a baby. We can’t stay there.
Shit.
How will he react? He made it pretty clear kids aren’t in his current plan.
Oh my God.
I’m the one who told him we were good to skip the condoms. Swore to him I was on the pill.
Except, pills don’t work when you get beat up in a parking lot, have to stay at the clubhouse for a few days and forget all about them.
Grayson was so sweet. So loving, the way he took care of me.
My toes curl, remembering the desperate way I woke up and wanted to connect with him after the attack. And so many times after.
He’s going to think I tried to baby trap him on purpose.
My hands shake. The blood in my veins turns to ice.
No one is taking this baby away from me, no matter what. I can’t go through that again. I won’t.
No matter what, I’ll protect this child.
Chapter Forty-Nine
Grinder
Before leaving, the site, Quill retrieves a large black leather drawstring bag from the back of his SUV and hands it to Chaser, who hands it to me.
“Amends,” Quill explains.
I can guess what’s inside, but I pull the straps apart anyway and take a look. Bricks of cash, tightly bound together. “Thank you.”
Quill nods. “Is this a fair settlement?” He glances from Chaser, to Rock, Z, Rooster, and then me. “Are we good?”
Rock tilts his head toward me.
“Yeah, I’m good,” I answer. “Thank you.”
“My brothers and I are vetting everyone in our organization again,” Quill says. “We won’t run into this problem in the future.”
That’s a big promise to make, but I’m tired of this guy and ready to get the fuck out of here, so I nod.
“Rock,” Quill says. “Our arrangement still stands, yes?”
Rock glances at Z who nods. “Moving through our territory up to Canada. That’s it, right?”
“Correct. We’ll have cargo. But we’re not looking to distribute anything in your region.”
“Same rules we discussed before still apply,” Rock says.
“Absolutely.” Quill nods. “Thank you.”
After his crew leaves, Chaser walks over to Rock’s truck with us. He nods at the bag in my hands. “It’s all legit.”
As opposed to what? “Okay.”
He holds out his hand to Rock who shakes it. “Thank you.”
“Looks like your plate’s full,” I say when he holds out his hand to me.
“It never ends.”
We talk for a few minutes—generic stuff, how’s his dad, the family, riding. That sort of thing.
“I’ll let you guys get on the road.” Chaser lifts his chin. “Hey, Rooster, wait up a sec.”
Rock watches closely while they have an animated conversation. Z joins them and Rock jerks his head toward the truck.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“Nothing, why?” He slides his window down, watching the edge of the road carefully as he swings the truck wide around the closed gate.
Finally, we get on the highway. Can’t wait to see Serena and let her know at least part of the problem has been handled.
“We still need to deal with Grillo,” Rock says. “Before Big Chief finds someone else to do his bidding.”
“Yeah, that occurred to me.” I nudge the bag of money at my feet with my boot. “Why’d Chaser make a point to let me know the cash was legit?”
A grim smile twists Rock’s mouth. “I think that’s part of Quill’s enterprise—counterfeiting money. Haven’t been able to track down a lot of information about them, yet.”
“You need to step light there,” I warn.
“I’m aware.” He flicks his gaze toward the bag. “We can wash that through Crystal Ball if you want. Z’s got the laundromat down in Union too but, Christ that’s a pain in the ass. You’ll be swimming in quarters.”
I reach into the bag and pull out one of the stacks, carefully flipping through the bills. “Actually, I think I know exactly what I want to do with some of it.”
