Page 76 of Motorycle Daddies

42

GRIZZLY

“What are you doing here?” I snap.

By the look in the prospect’s eyes, I know he thinks I’m spitting so much venom that I’m not really asking him a question. I’m demanding to know what the fuck he thinks he’s doing leaving his position and compromising Meredith’s safety. We can’t afford any weak links.

On top of that, I don’t need this information to get out. I’m still processing everything for myself. If news travels too soon about the pregnancy, Meredith could become even more of a target.

The truth is, some men love to snatch up young girls and take their innocence, but there’s a whole market of creeps who would love to prey on a pregnant young girl. There’s something primal about fertility that can drive up lust and attraction. The pregnancy wouldn’t stop the Bratva from selling her to the highest bidder. To the right bidder, it could be their perfect fantasy.

I flash back to the first time I saw Meredith up on that stage—her striking innocence and the most beautiful body. Imagining her parading around a stage with a cute bump and carrying a baby we are all meant to protect churns my stomach. God only knows what the Bratva would do once the baby is born. I wish I had the glass of bourbon I had that night to calm my nerves.

“It’s pretty dead,” the prospect says. “I wanted to check in. Ask if you’d prefer me to do surveillance elsewhere.”

“You don’t call those kinds of shots,” I say, stepping closer to him as I deepen my gaze. “We come to you if there’s a change in plans. I need you to get back to your post immediately, you got that? But first, I need to know how much of our conversation you heard.”

“Oh. You don’t have to worry about that,” he says.

“Don’t tell me what to worry about,” I say, anger boiling over. “What did you hear?”

The prospect blinks his eyes hard and gulps. “I heard that Meredith’s pregnant, and she doesn’t know which of you is the father.”

Hearing the words spoken back to me is enough to make the rage bubble up even more. This isn’t what I wanted for me, the guys, or for Meredith. The timing of all of this couldn’t be worse.

“If someone asks you about what’s going on with Meredith and with us, what are you going to say?” I take him by the shirt because I want him to know how serious I am. “And if it isn’t obvious already, the answer better be nothing.”

“Nothing,” he says, putting his hands up in surrender. “I swear, I won’t say anything to anyone.”

“You better not, or I promise I will make your life a living hell.”

I’m standing toe to toe with him, making sure he feels the force behind my words. I basically shove myself up against him, practically spitting in his face as I tell him to get back to his post. I release his shirt. The prospect backs off, turning to go back to his post as quickly as he came.

“You don’t have anything to say. Even to me?”

A voice comes out of nowhere, and suddenly Harlow is walking into the hospital room. Disappointment is plastered across her sweet face. It’s heartbreaking to see that look because of how much it reminds me of my late wife.

I knew it would be hard enough for Harlow to find out about me having a relationship with her best friend, but this pregnancy news must be shocking the shit out of her. And to find out like this, to be completely blindsided when visiting her injured friend…

I’m still so rocked by this news myself that I don’t know whether to punch something or try to console Harlow or both.

Harlow looks around the room, staring each of us down a few moments at a time. We betrayed her trust, and I can’t imagine what she’s going to say next. She must hate us.

“How long has this been going on behind my back?” she asks.

“We were going to tell you,” I say, trying to ease some of the tension. I glance over toward Meredith and notice she’s asleep, likely overwhelmed by all of our questions when she first awoke.

“When?” she says, crossing her arms, her eyes shooting pure disgust. “When the baby’s head is crowning? Or when you’re telling the twins they have a surprise aunt or uncle their own age from Grandpa?”

The way she’s jabbing at me is fair, but I’m so worked up the anger is multiplying in my every cell. Harlow has no idea what it’s like trying to protect her all the time. I’ve tried for years to shield her from things that could bring her harm. I made every sacrifice to put her needs first.

I’ve always known she’s been through enough. I probably overcompensated due to the guilt of it all. Then again, she can’t imagine what it’s like being alone for all those years either. She couldn’t expect me to be a saint, or to not keep living my life instead of being frozen in place.

“I was going to tell you when we had more information,” I say, trying to temper my anger. “When we had more answers.”

“I don’t think you need more answers on the pregnancy to pick up the phone and tell me you decided to pursue a romantic relationship with my best friend.” She glares at Meredith for a moment before turning her frustration back toward me. “Either of you could have done that.”

“You’re right,” I said. “But it’s not so easy. This was never the plan.”

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