31. Baby
BABY
CUTTER
“We’re pregnant.”
I stiffen, not sure I heard her correctly. A snap of nervous energy cracks up my spine like an iron whip. What the fuck is she doing? Blindsiding me in a last attempt to dig her nails in?
The floor drops out from underneath me as my heart slams into overdrive.
Darting my eyes to where I left Kitty seconds ago, fury and confusion burn through my bones, twisting my gut. Her face, even from a distance, appears ashen. Turning from me, she retreats, disappearing from view. My pounding heart gains momentum, churning the blood in my veins.
Fuck no. I’m not letting this happen. Yanking from Claire’s grip, I take a step forward to find Kit when Pres’s hand lands firmly on my shoulder, squeezing to the point of pain, making his feelings really fucking clear.
“Well, that is big news.” He guffaws, steering me into the crowd of brothers and their ol’ ladies wanting to congratulate us.
Claire rubs a hand over her stomach, putting on a damn show.
The sun must have gotten to her head. “She’s not pregnant,” I say loud enough to carry over the noise. “One’s enough. She’s kidding.” I try to play it off, but I must be fucking mute because no one is listening.
“Excuse us,” I say to Pres as I march toward Diamond, Claire’s heels click-clacking beside me, hurrying to keep up.
“Di, would you keep an eye on Rocco for me?”
“Sure.” She looks me up and down with disdain. “I’ll get him some food.”
“Nothing fried,” Claire interjects.
“Give him whatever the fuck he wants,” I snap.
Grabbing Claire’s arm, I jerk her toward the clubhouse, ignoring the wide eyes of ol’ ladies whispering to each other.
As soon as the door closes behind us, I ram her against the wall, stabbing my finger in her face.
“You better be fucking drunk. What the hell was that?” I bark.
Holding her hands up in mock surrender, she breathes heavily, pushing her words past her lips with force.
“It needed to be done. We’re a family, Liam.
We’ve been through a lot, and I’m not giving that up.
You know you can’t be with her but she has a hold on you.
Now, she’ll let you go. It worked before. ”
My eyes narrow into slits, the animosity coursing through me so potent, I have to fight not to lash out and attack her. The air shifts, thickening around us. My fists clench as I struggle to make sense of the situation. An icy chill races up my spine, fueled by confusion. How is this happening?
“Did you fall and smack your head?” This bitch has gone off the deep end. “Telling a blatant lie to all my brothers, and in front of Rocco?” I pace the same three feet, running a hand over the back of my neck.
“Rocco doesn’t understand.” She has the balls to look perplexed.
“Neither do I,” I yell, slamming my palm against the wall beside her head. Spittle lands over her face.
A couple brothers notice our exchange and decide to take another route to the party, nodding their heads in acknowledgement.
Shoving off the wall, I say, “So, in nine months, when no baby pops out, what are you going to tell people?”
She gulps and folds her arms over her stomach. Her eyes glass over, and tiny lines pinch around her mouth. “It’s seven and a half months.”
A thousand little bombs detonate in my brain all at once. “You’re pregnant.” It’s not a question, more an accusation. Why the hell would she let that happen? Especially after Rocco. My fists clench as I struggle to make sense of the situation.
“It was one time.” She must read the questions on my face.
“For fuck’s sake, Claire.” I let loose a ragged sigh, massaging my temples.
Stepping toward me with her hands out, she pleads, “I was lonely. It was only once. You don’t give me anything. He meant nothing. It was foolish.”
“I don’t give a shit who you fuck or how many times, but you’re not some teenager who doesn’t know better. You’re a grown-ass woman who has already been down this road.”
“We can raise it as ours like we do, Rocco. No one needs to know.” Blood is going to start pouring out my ears from all the vessels that keep popping in my brain.
How can she think I’d be okay with this?
And just announcing it without discussing it with me after I told her I’m done?
Dick fucking move. I won’t be manipulated by anyone.
All she’s done is make it easier for me to leave.
“I’m not doing this again, Claire. I nearly lost Kitty saving your ass last time, and I love Rocco like he’s my own, but there’s no fucking way I’m doing this again.” My hand slices a line through the air. “You’re going to have to let the sperm dumper know.”
“The father can’t know, Liam.” Fear clings to every word punched from her mouth.
“Is it a brother?” I frown, thrown off by her reaction.
My brothers don’t know our marriage is a facade, and despite me not wanting Claire for myself, I wouldn’t be able to let it slide if one of them crossed that line.
To disrespect me in such a manner would cost them not only their cut, but blood.
It’s the principle—and it’s the last thing I want to do over her.
“No, I wouldn’t do that.” She seems offended by the question. I’m starting to think she believes her own lies. I wouldn’t put it past her to fuck a brother, but I’d like to think my brothers are more loyal than that.
“Then who?” I demand with a jerk of my chin.
“It doesn’t matter. Please don’t leave me,” she begs, her skinny, long fingers clawing at me.
“Claire, it’s over. I don’t know how to be any clearer about that. Why the hell would you want to stay in this marriage anyway?” It’s soul crushing being tied to someone you don’t love. I barely even like the woman.
“I’m an ol’ lady. If you throw me away and get with Kitty, do you think I’ll be welcome here? No, I’ll be pushed out and forgotten.” She’s becoming hysterical. Red blotches rise on her cheeks the more irate she becomes.
Fire ripples through me the longer I stand here dealing with this shit. I need to find Kitty.
“You can go find a real husband and build a life for yourself. Why the fuck do you want to be around the club anyway? There’s nothing here for you.”
“I like our life.” Her high-pitched whine makes me take a step back.
“Claire, this isn’t a life.”
“It’s better than dying, and that’s what will happen if you leave me. And you know it!” Her chest sinks. Sobs rattle her frame.
“That’s a load of crap.” I sigh, sick to the back teeth of this shit.
“Jericho doesn’t like loose ends,” she says solemnly, trying to catch her breath.
“You’re paranoid.”
Waving her hands around animatedly, she scoffs, “I’m right, and you know it. Is that what you’re counting on? Jericho clearing the way so you and Kitty can play happy family with my son?”
“Our son. And that’s fucking ridiculous. Who the hell do you think I am? I’m still the same man who saved your ass. Do you really think I’d let anything bad happen to you?” At the end of the day, she’s still Rocco’s mother.
“Then don’t. Stay with me. Protect this baby.” Snatching my hand, she attempts to place it on her stomach, like that will convince me. I’m seriously starting to wonder if she’s delusional.
“It doesn’t need protecting.” I snap my hand away. “And neither do you anymore.”
“This baby could have been the start of something real between us if you’d just get her out of your head. You liked it the other night when I had you in my mouth.”
“Stop. You’re embarrassing yourself.”
Her advances have been almost desperate lately, and now it makes sense. She doesn’t know I fire blanks. She was trying to get me to fuck her so she could pass the baby off as mine. I shake my head in disbelief. The deceitful cunt.
“I’m scared, Liam, and I need you.” Mistaking my silence for contemplation, she touches my face, her calculating eyes imploring.
Gripping her wrist, I pin it to her chest and force her backward. “You’re a selfish bitch who likes to play games. You insult my intelligence by thinking I’m going to go along with this. You’re fucking pregnant by fuck knows who.”
“I made a mistake.”
“It’s not just little mistakes, though, is it? It’s life-changing ones—and it’s not just your life. It’s mine. It’s Rocco’s. Did you think about him in all this?”
“Yes, that’s why I need you to stay with me.
I can’t do it alone, and he needs you.” I won’t allow her to use Rocco as a tool against me.
It feels like I’m actually seeing the woman I married for the first time.
I never cared to get to know her before.
If I had, I would have seen how emotionally manipulative she is.
“Rocco will always have me, and if this kid you’re growing needs anything, I’ll make sure it has it too.
For Rocco—not for you. But you need to listen to me and hear what I’m saying.
” I grip her chin hard enough to keep her in place without hurting her.
“We are done. I’m going to be with Kit no matter what. Get that through your head.”
Releasing her, I stalk away.
“You’re forcing my hand,” she bellows after me.
I still, dropping my head. “Is that a threat, Claire?” For a woman who claims to fear for her life, she sure knows how to provoke a killer.
Heels thud toward my back. “If you won’t claim this baby, Liam, you’ll force me to tell the father.”
“I thought the father couldn’t know?” I grunt.
“I’ll take the risk. I gave this club my best years. If you cast me out, I’m going to need somewhere to go.” She’s acting like I’m banishing her into the wild to fend for herself as a deformed cub. “I don’t want to tell him…”
“Who is the father, Claire?” I look over my shoulder at her, my tone leaving no room for messing around.
The silence stretches out. Her eyes close.
“Who!” I roar.
“Michael Carnell.”