Page 128 of Viper

“But you’re gonna be a selfish fucking bastard and stick around.”

“You’d rather I walked away and left her to raise our baby alone?”

“There wouldn’t be a baby if you’d protected her. But you didn’t. You scrapped the condom and didn’t care about the consequences, just as you don’t care that you being in her life endangers her.”

Annoyance tap-danced all over Viper’s skin. “You’re making assumptions, and they’re bullshit.”

“What’s bullshit is you having the fucking nerve to stand here and act like I’m not entitled to disapprove of your presence in her life,” Luka clipped, getting up in his face.

Viper felt his jaw tighten. “Havingyouin her life puts Ella at risk to some degree.Youdidn’t walk away from her. That make you selfish as well?”

Luka pressed his lips tight together. “There’s a difference.Iprotect her.Youdon’t. The strix … it was no coincidence that shehappened to be around when they attacked your brother. She got caught up in that because she’s with you.”

“And they died for trying to harm her, so Ididprotect her.”

“But you didn’t have the balls to tell me the truth when I turned up at that scene. You kept silent while she blew smoke up my ass.”

“Because she didn’t feel comfortable telling you about our relationship—and that, Belinsky, is on you.”

“Me?”

“You’re her anchor. Someone she should be able to trust to always have her back, no matter her choices. But she didn’t trust that you would in this case. And she was right not to, wasn’t she?She’sthe injured party here, not you. Not her mother. Not her aunt.Ella.”

Luka snapped his mouth shut, something wriggling beneath the skin along his jawline.

Viper inwardly sighed. He didn’t want to be at odds with his woman’s anchor—it’d be something that would hurt her. And truth be told, Luka wasn’t a bad guy. Just exceedingly overprotective. And nobody could claim that the legion’s concerns weren’t valid.

Still, Viper wasn’t going anywhere; he needed the guy to see that. “You’re not gonna believe this, because you’re too busy clinging to your anger. Fact is, though, that Ella means a fuck of a lot to me. More than you can know. I love her.”

Luka’s expression didn’t alter. “You’re right, I don’t believe it.”

Just then, Ella entered the room; the others trailed behind her.

“Everything’s fine, baby,” Viper assured her, not liking the worry on her face. Addressing her anchor, mother, and aunt, he said, “To be blunt, I don’t give the first fuck how anyone here feels about me other than Ella. But I do care that this is a timewhen she needs the support of the people around her. No one other than Mia and my club are giving it to her right now. That should bother all three of you.”

Silence fell as the trio exchanged unhappy looks.

Ella’s mind bumped Viper’s.They’re not going to back down, are they?

Not right now, no.Though his presence likely wasn’t helping, his absence wouldn’t improve the situation either. They were too worked up.

Ella sighed. “Maybe you should go,” she told them.

Melodie’s eyes widened. “What? You’re kicking us out?”

“We’re just going round and round in circles, and I refuse to keep defending my choices as if any of you have a right to make them for me,” Ella clipped. “I’m also not going to tolerate you spouting more mean and petty remarks. So unless you’re going to quit with that, yes, I think you should leave.”

For a few moments, nobody moved.

“Congratulations on your pregnancy, Ella,” Luka said stiffly, though the words weren’t empty. “I can’t claim to approve of your choice of father for the baby. I want you safe.Heis not safe. On the contrary, he’s a highly dangerous being.”

“Never to Ella,” Viper firmly asserted.

Belinsky responded with a blank look. Without another word to anyone, he left with his guards.

Melodie smoothed a hand down her top. “We’ll leave, Ella, but not because we’re unhappy about the baby. I want to be clear on that. We’ll go because to stay would only be to disrespect your wishes and make the situation worse. I don’t want that.”

Looking troubled, Melodie and Jocelyn then absconded.

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