Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 94313 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 472(@200wpm)___ 377(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94313 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 472(@200wpm)___ 377(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Leo scoffed.
“—with the father as the head,” Gramps continued. “He’s the be-all and end-all, yeah? But who d’you think her loyalty will lie with once she’s married?”
“Her husband,” I rasped, finally realizing what they’d all been thinking.
“That’s right,” Gramps replied. “Her husband.”
“Fuck,” I breathed.
“He was gonna kill her,” Mack said, his eyes on me. “For the sake of a few crates of rifles.” He paused. “And nothin’ we say is gonna convince her of that truth.”
“And once we’re married, I can protect her,” I murmured, taking a deep breath.
“Not only that,” Uncle Casper replied. “You’ll be protectin’ the club, too. She goes back to them, they know exactly what happened today.”
“No question,” Dragon confirmed.
“Won’t they already—” I stopped speaking the moment Uncle Casper started grinning.
“You blew up the fuckin’ cabin.” My eyes widened in realization.
“It’s not checkers, son,” Gramps said. “It’s chess.”
“They’ll think she’s dead.”
“Long enough for you to get a ring on her finger at least,” Uncle Casper confirmed.
“And long enough for us to figure out where the rest of that fuckin’ shipment is,” Leo added. “And what the fuck they plan on doin’ with ’em before they even realize we know they have ’em.”
“She’s not gonna marry me,” I said flatly, looking around the table. “She doesn’t even know me.”
Leo laughed humorlessly. “She grew up in Calgary Church,” he muttered. “She’ll marry the father of her child.”
“So we’re just bankin’ on the fact that she’s been brainwashed so she’ll marry me without argument?” I asked, glaring. “Because I don’t know about you but that kind of makes me want to hit somethin’.”
“You gonna beat her?” Uncle Casper asked. “Control her? Treat her like shit?”
“Of course not.”
“Then I’m bettin’ you’re better than any alternative her parents woulda given her.”
“That’s not the point,” I ground out.
“Point is,” Dragon said, clearly done with the entire conversation. “You thought you could keep your connection a secret and you got found out.”
“That wasn’t—”
“Shut it.” He glowered at me. “Now you’re gonna do right by that girl. You help out the club, so much the better.”
“Do right by her,” I muttered under my breath. “Jesus.”
“You talk to her,” Gramps said, glancing at Dragon briefly. “She tells you no flat out, we’ll revisit. She agrees to marry you, you’ll lock that shit down.”
“Understood,” I replied through my teeth.
“She ain’t gonna say no,” Mack said, watching me closely. “You’re her port in a seriously fucked up storm, man. She’s been livin’ in the middle of nowhere, no electricity, no water, no contact with the outside world—all because she got pregnant. The people who were supposed to protect her did that. Even if she doesn’t believe that her pops was all set to blow her ass up, I’m guessin’ you askin’ will be a relief.”
I sat there at the table, staring at my hands, while the rest of the men dispersed, going to make calls and strategize on next steps. I’d made one decision, one mistake, and my entire life was going to change. I didn’t know how to be a goddamn husband or a father. I’d never even had a steady girlfriend let alone taken care of a baby.
I could feel the beginning of a migraine starting at the base of my skull and willed it to go away. There was no possible way that I could afford to be out of commission for the next twelve hours, and migraines always knocked me flat on my ass.
I had to ask Esther to marry me and I had absolutely zero idea how to even broach the subject with her.
Nearly groaning as my head started to ache, I got to my feet and followed my mom and Esther back into my pop’s room. Jesus, I didn’t even have a room at the club. If something happened and we went on lockdown, Esther would be sleeping out on a sleeping bag in the main room of the clubhouse. I swallowed hard. If we were going to be married, she’d usually be sleeping in my bed. With me. Every night. Every single fucking night.
When I reached the open door to my parents’ room, all thoughts of sleeping arrangements disappeared in an instant. Esther was crying and it wasn’t just some stray tears, it was full-out-body-shaking sobs.
“I’m not sure who, yet, but I’m going to kill someone,” my mom snapped when she saw me.
“Get in line,” I muttered, starting forward. “What the fuck happened?”
“Hormones,” my gram said, shooting me a small smile over Esther’s head. “And an overwhelming day.”
She patted Esther’s back and eased her into my arms.
“I’m going to make her a doctor’s appointment,” my mom said as Esther sniffled against my chest. “Or maybe a midwife would be better.”
“A woman,” Esther ordered softly, her voice thick. “I want a woman doctor.”
“Consider it done,” my mom replied instantly. “No dicks.”
Esther made a choked noise but didn’t reply.