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“They’ll be on the lookout for any trouble,” I say to Lucky who narrows his gaze on me. I keep Angel tucked behind me as she tries to stop crying.
“Why the fuck is she crying, Gabe?” He growls, balling his fists at his sides ready to pounce on me to defend his girl.Good. Be ready to defend her no matter who you’re up against.
“She needs a minute to face reality,” I tell him.
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” he shouts, anger seeping from his veins.
My voice is calm. He might be angry, but there’s no fight in me right now. Angel and I created a baby. I know it. She knows it and soon he will too.
“She’s having a hard time. Just give her a minute, you and I need to talk.” He frowns but doesn’t press the issue.
He folds his arms over his chest, and I have to give him credit, he’s got balls. A smirk hits my lips as I get a good look at him.
He’s a good-looking kid, tall, muscular but not like me. Give him a few more years and he might catch up. Blond surfer boy hair, I can see the attraction Angel has to him.
But does he have what it takes to be by her side?
I stepped back because it was what Angel needed at the time, but if these boys aren’t willing to put their life on the line to protect her and our baby then all that changes right now.
“Well, get on with it,” he huffs, holding his head high.
“Angel and I came to an agreement of sorts before all the chaos.”
“Which chaos are you referring to? You kidnapping Angel and my sister or her jumping in front of a bullet for you?” I ignore his comment, he’s obviously still pissed about that.
“Before the bullets. See, she wanted the opportunity to make a life with you all, and that couldn’t happen with me in the picture. I agreed because it’s what she needed, but after hearing about how things have gone down in my absence, let’s just say I’m having second thoughts given the situation.”
He stalks over until he’s in my face, which pisses me off, but I try to hold back my anger. For now.
“You trying to say we can’t protect our girl?” he roars, shoving a finger in my chest.
“That’s exactly what I’m saying.” Before the last words leave my lips, he clocks me right in the jaw.
Angel screams, jumping between the two of us. “Stop,” she shouts, holding a hand against each of our chests like that’s enough to stop us.
“Fuck you, Gabe.” His eyes turn dark, and I can feel the rage in his voice. He wants to hurt me.
“You left her unprotected, giving King the perfect opportunity to come after her.” The words hang in the air.
Angel shudders and Lucky stumbles back like he’s been hit.
“C’mon, Gabe, that’s unfair,” she sighs.
Unfair was letting go of the only connection I’ve truly felt since the day Gloria died.
Unfair was them leaving her to defend herself against an attack while they went off to war. But Angel doesn’t need to hear that. She needs to be able to count on the men in her life, and I’m going to make sure she can.
“Not the way I see it, Sweetheart.” I pull her to me, keeping my gaze locked on Lucky. “It’s not just your life at risk anymore.” My hand falls to her stomach.
“We fucked up.” Lucky’s voice is laced with disappointment. I nod in agreement. “It won’t happen again.”
Now he’s getting it.
Angel’s breath hitches. She’s surprised he admitted to it. Those boys have a lot to learn, and if they’re going to be around, I’m not going to let them make the same mistakes I did.
I tighten my hold on her without realizing it. “King destroyed my entire world in a matter of minutes. One careless mistake changed my life forever.” Terror runs up my spine as I think about that day. Playing back each moment leading up to the death of my wife.
“I knew what he was capable of, I had just walked in on him threatening her, but I was too wrapped up in my emotions to think straight. I left her there unprotected, and he used it to his advantage. Just like that, Dante lost his mother, and I lost my wife.”
