Chapter Three #2
“You’re too sweet,” she mumbled. “And I’m so sorry. I swear I didn’t do it on purpose.”
“Do what?” My brow furrowed. “What’s going on, Dakota?”
“I’m pregnant,” she said, her cheeks turning pink. “It’s yours, in case you’re wondering. And before you ask, I’m certain. Because…”
She wouldn’t meet my gaze, and I reached out to tip up her chin. My heart was pounding, but it wasn’t from fear. The exact opposite. “Because why?”
“You’re the only man I’ve ever been with,” she admitted in a near whisper.
“I’d only used toys before. I was on birth control, but it failed.
Since we hadn’t had the safe sex discussion, I got tested after you left.
I’m clean. And I didn’t tell you about my lack of experience because I worried you’d change your mind about spending the night with me. ”
“Sorry, sweetheart. I should have covered all that.” It felt a little like the world was spinning. Pregnant? She was carrying my kid? Shit. I’d never thought I’d have a family. Wasn’t sure I’d wanted one. Until those words left her lips. “I’m taking you home with me.”
She shook her head. “I don’t want to bring those men to your doorstep. I’d come here, thinking I could stay somewhere at the compound, but now that I’ve seen you again… I can’t put you in danger.”
I almost smiled. It was cute that she worried I couldn’t handle those men.
Some might be offended, but I knew her heart was in the right place.
She wanted to protect me. Except it was my job to take care of her.
Especially now that I knew she was pregnant with my child.
Yep, I was close to going all caveman on her.
I’d laughed at my brothers when they did that to their women, and already I wanted to toss her over my shoulder and run.
“We’ll ditch anything they might track. Your car and phone. We can hide your car a few towns over. I’ll rent a spot at one of those long-term rental places. I’ll use a fake name and pay cash, so there won’t be a paper trail. Or I’ll get someone else to do it.”
“Are you doing all this because of the baby?” she asked.
“No. I told you I’d tried to find you. I had this feeling in my gut that something was wrong.
I shouldn’t admit it, but I’ve kept tabs on you.
Just making sure you’re all right. Got a hit this morning you’d suddenly left town.
It worried me.” I laced our fingers together.
“I’ll take you to my house after dark. I don’t want the club to know you’re there. Safer for everyone that way.”
“So you’re going to hide me away in your house?” she asked.
“For now. They already know I wanted to find you. At least a few did, as well as two other clubs. Dakota, I wanted you here with me even before I knew about the baby. For what it’s worth, I’m so fucking happy to see you, and excited as hell we’re having a kid.
“There’s something else you need to know.
Your brother asked a hacker with the Dixie Reapers to track you down. ”
She paled and tried to pull her hand away, but I wouldn’t let her. “You know who I am then.”
I nodded. “I do. I didn’t when we first met. It wasn’t until I’d been home for a few days that I put the pieces together. If you think I left you my number to gain a connection to the infamous Specter, you’re wrong.”
“Why aren’t you angry? Most men in your position would be furious if some woman showed up pregnant.”
“I might not know a lot about you, but you’re not the type to lie about something like this.
If you say the baby is mine, then I believe you.
And it’s not like we can turn back the clock and undo it all.
I wouldn’t want to.” I shifted in my seat.
“Look, it’s not all manly and shit to admit this, but I’ve thought about you every day since I left.
You were more than a piece of ass to me, Dakota.
You and me having a baby? That’s pretty fucking awesome. ”
The tension eased from her shoulders, and she gave me a brief nod.
“You meant more to me too. When I saw those men after me, it wasn’t my brother I wanted to call.
It was you. I had this feeling if I could make it here, then you’d keep me safe.
I didn’t want to chance me being wrong and calling ahead of time.
I couldn’t have handled your rejection right then. ”
“I will always protect you. Both of you. I promise.” I lifted her hand and kissed her fingers. “Me hiding you from my club doesn’t mean I’m not proud to have you by my side. It’s strictly a safety issue right now. But enough talk of evil men. Have you eaten?”
She shook her head. “I was too scared to show my face for long. I might have ditched those men, but I have a feeling they’re going to find me again.
I don’t know how they located me to begin with, or if they just happened upon me.
I doubt that’s it, though. There wouldn’t be a reason for them to have come to that town except to hunt me down. ”
“We’ll order some food, then go to the motel and get your things. You all right to drive to the storage place? It’s about an hour and a half from here. I want to put enough distance between us and that car in case they’re tracking it.”
“I’ll be okay.”
I reached out and cupped her cheek, taking a good look at her.
She might say she was fine, but she wasn’t.
There were dark circles under her eyes, and I could see how exhausted she was.
As much as I didn’t want my club knowing shit about what was going on, I’d need help getting her into the compound, anyway.
My brothers would gossip like little old ladies.
But the Prospects… They were too intent on proving themselves.
My brothers would be furious later. I only hoped they’d understand why I was doing this.
As much as I loved my club, and I trusted each brother to have my back, this was entirely different.
It wasn’t my life on the line but my woman’s and kid’s. That changed everything.
I sent off a text to Carlos.
Meet me at the diner with a truck in about thirty minutes and have someone pick up my bike.
I got a thumbs-up emoji back, which nearly had me rolling my eyes. I hated when they did that shit. At least I knew we’d have some help. I needed to swear him to secrecy. I wouldn’t risk Dakota for anything, especially now that I knew she carried my kid.
“I’ll have someone drive your car. They’re bringing a club truck with them. We’ll follow in that and give them a lift back. Someone with the club will pick up my bike.”
I flagged down a waitress, and we ordered some food and drinks.
As much as I wanted to hear everything she’d been through since I left, I didn’t want to tire her out even more.
Dakota looked like she was barely upright.
When she stood and went to the bathroom, I eyed her stomach.
Still flat. But we’d only been together not quite two months ago.
I couldn’t remember when the ladies at the compound started to show, but I knew it wasn’t this early.
Whatever it took, I’d keep my little family safe.
I didn’t like lying to my club, not even by omission.
They’d give me hell about it later. For now, Dakota and the baby were my priority.
If I didn’t want the men after her to realize she was staying with me, then I needed as few people as possible to know her current location. That included my brothers.
Everyone in the diner knew who I was. I didn’t know how to keep them silent, except one way…
The town might be wary of my club, but there was one woman whose word was law in this place.
While Dakota started eating, I got up and went to find Midge.
She was older than dirt and respected by everyone in town.
They were also scared of the old dragon.
I’d had a few dealings with her over the years and knew she was exactly what I needed right now.
She was sipping coffee at the bar, and I took the spot next to her.
“Pretty thing,” she said. “Little young for you, isn’t she?”
“Need your help.”
She nodded. “Figured. That girl looks two seconds from bolting, if she can stay awake that long.”
“Bad people are after her. I need to keep her safe and hidden, which means I don’t need anyone running their mouths about me having a meal with her right now, or about her leaving with me. For that matter, I need everyone in this damn town to pretend she never came here. Can you make that happen?”
She snorted. “Of course, I can. Leave it to me, Charming. You take care of the girl. I know people have given you shit over the years. The entire club. None of you are what I’d call bad per se, even if you don’t walk the straight and narrow. I know about the good your club does.”
“We try to keep the scales balanced,” I said. “Besides, I can’t stand it when men hurt innocent women and kids.”
“I know. Get back to your girl. Leave the town to me. I’ll put a bug in their ears, make them feel like heroes for keeping her location a secret.”
I patted her shoulder and went back to Dakota. If she was curious about my conversation with Midge, she didn’t ask. Then again, with a brother like Specter, she’d probably learned early on not to ask questions.