Page 75 of Tech

She’s done.

“You cheated on me in front of me,” she says, and James tenses, clearly not knowing that bit of information either. “You were so adamant that I tried to trap you for your patch that you refused to even look at my medical notes that stated I had the IUD in place, and that the first positive was correct on the pregnancy test, the second you forced me to take after listening to others was a false negative.”

Eagle steps forward. “Bumblebee?—”

She cuts him off, “No! For years, you’ve accused me of being a patch chaser. For years, you have put me down, blaming me for losing your playboy ways when you’re the one who pursued me. Yet, if I ever brought up what you did to me in front of the club, you’d cut me off for weeks; you wouldn’t even speak to me.” She scoffs. “I only pushed Nina on my son because I knew she’d want more money than what the club would pay him at the time. I knew she’d push him from the club, because I didn’t want my son to treat the woman he claimed to love like how you treated me over the years!”

Eagle flinches, and James rasps, “Momma….”

Her eyes water and she whispers, “I’m so sorry, my boy. I wanted to run with you when I was pregnant, but your father threatened to take you from me if I didn’t marry him, knowing I had no one to rely on. I-I just didn’t want you to hurt a woman like he did; I didn’t want you to hurt Brook.”

“I did anyway, though, Momma,” he rasps, and I grip his cut, hating he’s beating himself up over that.

I ran from him; I left him. He didn’t cheat, he just made two very big mistakes that I punished him for tenfold.

Carol shakes her head. "It’s different, sweetheart. You were hurting because she ran. I didn’t know Nina was going to kiss you that day; I knew she was there, but the kiss….” She huffs. “I slapped her for it. Stop beating yourself up over it, James; otherwise, it’ll destroy everything you're both trying to build.” Her eyes tear up and she whispers, “Just promise me one thing.” I tilt my head at her. “Never hurt her, ever again.”

“Momma, I-I…it sounds like your leaving,” James stutters, and I gasp when she pulls a suitcase from behind the door.

Oh God, she’s not kicking Eagle out—she’s actually leaving.

She smiles at her son and says, “You’re an adult now; you’re having a baby. I’ve no reason to stay anymore. There’s nothing for me here. I'm sorry, my son, but our relationship broke when you threw me on the floor ,believing I could have someone raped.”

I feel James flinch behind me, and my tears fall as Eagle steps forward. “Baby…what are you doing? Take your bag back inside; if you think I’d allow you to leave me, you have another think coming. You are my wife. Please. I love you.”

Panic fills his voice, and she shakes her head. “For the past few years, I haven’t been volunteering at the day care, Eagle.” I suck in a breath. He flinches at her use of his road name. “I have my own money now, and managed to rent a small apartment. I’m done with this marriage and how you’ve treated me, how you’ve thrown something in my face that I never did, all while shouting at me if I brought up your infidelity. It’s because of you I treated Tats so badly, an innocent child.” Tears fall down her cheeks. “I-I want a divorce.”

I gasp in shock while Eagle freezes and James curses, running a hand through his hair.

Carol drags her suitcase behind her before kissing my cheek, and then walking away, leaving us in shock.

It’s only then I realize she’s not wearing her property cut over her blouse.

“Fuck, did my momma just leave my father and me?” James asks in shock while Eagle rushes after Carol, snapping out of his shock at his son’s words. Carol climbs into an old red Honda, clearly not bought by her husband, and speeds off down the road before Eagle can grab the door handle.

“Carol!” he shouts in agony, and I sob, my hand covering my mouth. Eagle runs to Breaker, who’s cursing as he climbs into the driver’s seat of the truck. Eagle jumps in, and Breaker floors it after Carol.

“I-I only came because I knew something wasn’t right. I didn’t know she was planning on leaving,” I stutter, turning in James’ arms.

He holds me tight, his hand on the side of my belly as our baby moves.

He whispers, “My dad will win her back. He’ll fight for her, and while he does that, I’m going to search for all of Momma’s previous medical records for him to read…and maybe punch him in the face. Fuck I never knew how badly he treated her over the years, how much pain he caused her. I never realized he’s the reason why she didn’t want me to be a part of the club.”

I swallow hard. “He cheated on her, James, and then threatened to take you away. ‘You are your father's son.’ She's said that so many times; she thought you were going to hurt me but didn't care if you hurt Nina, she was trying to protect me.”

He nods. “I heard, baby, but I have a feeling him threatening to take me from her was a way to keep her after screwing Snatch.”

“That’s just shitty,” I snap, and James chuckles.

“It’s no different from me, Angel; I was ready to tie you to the bed.”

Rolling my eyes, I pull out of his hold and walk to my truck—he clearly drove over with his dad. “Well, now it’s biting your dad in the ass. Instead of showing how much he loved her, he pushed her away with his hurtful words. He’ll be lucky if she gives him a chance to speak, and you, you're her son, and now....”

James sighs and opens the passenger door for me, helping me inside.

“I’ll help if I have to. I know how much my momma loves my father, and hopefully, she’ll be able to forgive him, because if she doesn’t, I think he’ll die without her, and I refuse to lose my parents, Angel. They have a grandchild on the way…and like you said, I'm her son. She'll forgive me because she knows my actions have been about you, my love, my heart. She'll forgive me, baby, just like you clearly are forgiving her, understanding her reasoning....”

Worry swims in his ocean blue eyes, and I cup his cheek and say, “I know we have a lot to deal with, and I know we have a lot to forgive, but I-I want to start wearing the cut again, because I’m yours, I always have been.”

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