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They already knew it was me. Angel had the highest tech security system known to man. The only question was who was going to answer.
The door swung wide, and I breathed a sigh of relief when it was Korrie. How I was lucky enough to get a brief reprieve, I didn’t know.
For a beat she stared at me with pursed lips. Then she shook her head with a look that screamed she didn’t wish she was me for a second.
“Come on in,” she said as she stepped back for me to pass. I entered their house and swallowed hard. I’d been there before, but my gaze traveled around, seeing it with new eyes. It was more than a house; it was a home. Something I hadn’t had most of my life.
“Is Jasmine awake?” It was only nine o’clock, but according to Squirrel, she’d been sick.
That was when Angel approached. His jaw clenched, but other than that he remained impassive. His hand landed protectively on his wife’s shoulder. Not that he thought I’d hurt her, but because she was his. That had my brain spinning too. It had me wondering if there was any hope of that with Jasmine.
And that thought nearly knocked me on my ass.
That thought spoke of a future.
“I’m here,” she said from the stairs, and I looked up. My memories hadn’t done her justice. It was possibly that mythical “glow” that I’d heard people talk about when Kira and Korrie had been pregnant, but whatever it was, she was stunning.
Her golden skin was radiant, and her whiskey eyes were smoky. I never would have guessed she’d been ill if it hadn’t been for the slightly bruised look under her beautiful eyes that spoke of troubled or lack of sleep.
Taking her in, I noticed the small curve of her stomach, and my chest constricted. Not one time in my life had I thought I’d have a child. What kind of father would I be? Also, it wasn’t often I could have sex that I could handle, let alone try to be in a relationship. Yet looking at her on the stairs as she nervously chewed on her lip, I wanted things I’d never hoped to have.
“Jasmine,” I breathed.
As if suddenly realizing we had an audience, her cheeks flushed pink.
“We’ll be in the den if you need us,” Korrie said as she dragged a mumbling Angel behind her. He paused to shoot me a glare. I really wanted to flip him off, but I was too caught up in the woman on the stairs.
“Do you wanna go outside?” she nervously asked as she came down to the last step, putting us eye to eye. It killed me that I didn’t know if her nervousness was because it was someone else’s or mine.
“Sure.” I followed her through the house and out back. She took a seat at the patio table and crossed her arms in a defensive posture.
Catching a movement from the window, I glanced over to see Angel with his face damn near pressed to the glass, glaring at me. Korrie tugged him away, and I sighed.
Unable to sit, I stood with my fingers linked behind my neck. Though I wanted to wrap her in my arms and bury my face in her neck, I needed to know.
“Is it mine?” I asked, unable to wait another second.
The guilt on her face didn’t answer my question.
The she nodded. Disbelief mixed with rage blasted through my veins. Though I might not have given the thought of having children much consideration, the mere thought that she might’ve considered keeping my child from me sent fury burning within my soul.
Not wanting to lash out but completely at a loss, I stood there panting, unable to draw a deep breath. It was as if I was suffocating. My mind was a jumble of disconnected thoughts.
“Did you even plan on telling me?” It came out as a pained whisper as I prayed she said yes. If not, my heart might shatter.
“Yes. Don’t be an idiot,” she snapped.
“When? Because I’ve been gone for four fucking months, Jazz. How long have you known? I’m sure it’s been longer than the last few days.” I was angry, but more than that, I was hurt and irrationally lashing out.
“Umm, hello?You. Weren’t. Here, Nico!” She said as she gripped her hair in frustration.
“You couldn’t call?” I asked, hating the way my voice broke at the end.
“Nico, please understand. I know you. If I had told you, there wouldn’t have been anything that would have kept you away. I never wanted to be the reason you got in trouble with the club, or worse, got kicked out.”
“Yet you refused to tell your brother about us when I begged you to!” I roared. Her logic infuriated me, but I took a deep breath before I continued. “How do you know they wouldn’t have been supportive? Look at Loralei, Kira, Korrie—they were all welcomed in as family. And you’realreadyfamily because of Angel.”
Tears rolled down her cheeks, and I fought for composure, because I’d been a piece of shit. Too late, I remembered how she responded to anger and yelling. It gutted me to see her cry, no matter how pissed off I was. Gritting my teeth, I closed my eyes and tried to chill the fuck out.
