Page 43 of Sniper

It’s been a year, and yet I still can’t seem to rely on him; my past trauma’s still taking over, blinding me. I think that’s why I haven’t pushed moving just yet, even though we’re married.

I wish I could move on and pretend it never happened, but I can’t.

Sighing, I open the door for fresh air and try to find my phone, ignoring how my belly touches the wheel.

I’m seven weeks, yet I look fourteen.

I swear this baby will be huge—unless I’m further along than the doctor thought.

Finding my phone on the floor, I grab it and bring up Theo’s number, hoping he’ll answer. He told me he had an emergency breakdown, and well, now he has another.

“Stupid car….” I mutter as the phone rings.

I bite my bottom lip as the voicemail hits. I try to call again, but it goes to voicemail again, and I groan.

“Dammit, Theo,” I mutter before bringing up the local garage numbers on my search engine.

He won’t be happy, but maybe he should have answered his phone!

I’m halfway through the number of garages in a ten-mile radius, refusing to call the Devil’s Garage, knowing their club could be affiliated with the Huntsmen, when a car pulls up behind me. A man with dark black hair steps out, along with a woman that looks dressed for clubbing.

I raise a brow at the look he gives her as he groans, “Crystal, get back in the car. It’s bad enough I had to pick your ass up.”

My brows hit my hairline. What kind of woman names her child Crystal, unless….

My thoughts stutter when I notice the man put on a cut, a Devil’s one, and panic hits, my hand going to my unborn baby. Visions of Axe hitting me hard.

The guy walks my way but soon stops when he sees my panic, my hand clutching my stomach, and he puts his hand up and rasps, “I’m not going to hurt you, darling….”

Darling….

Flashbacks intensifies, Axe laying on top of me, squishing me into the bathroom tile floor as he thrusts into my ass, but I blink them away when he rasps, “If you’re not comfortable because, I get it, I’m in a cut, I can get Crystal to stand with us even if she does drive me crazy.”

I can’t help it, I snort, making him smile and call for the Crystal to come over. She happily agrees, and the guy states, “My name is Pitbull, and no, not because I’m a scary motherfucker but because a pitbull bit my ass five years ago.”

I grin wide, my past forgotten momentarily, and comment, “That’s one way to get a road name….”

He chuckles and nods. “My prez got his nickname because a brother tatted a snake on his neck for practice when he was eighteen, and the dude can’t stand them, and Tats because he’s fucking full of them, then there’s Breaker, who, well, liked to break things growing up….”

I laugh when Crystal butts in, “And don’t forget Sniper. He shot himself in the foot when he was eighteen after his brother loaded the rifle up. Never lived it down, though Smokey took the blame for it, and Smokey, well, he smoked like a chimney before meeting his old lady.”

I laugh harder, loving the stories. It’s the one thing I liked about the brotherhood in New York; their road names came from most of their mistakes. For example, Steel, the president, knocked himself out with a piece of steel, trying to do a stunt with a stunt bike, failing epically. He was in a coma for a month—and don’t get me started on Acid.

Damn idiot thought he could be a scientist in lab class only to burn through his jeans with acid.

Pitbull nods with a laugh and admits, “That shit was funny….” He looks at me. “I’m going to look at your car, alright? I promise I’m not going to hurt you, and I know Crystal is a clubwhore, but she’s probably one of the nicest.”

Crystal beams with his words, but I wince and admit, “My husband has done a lot to try and save it, and he’s a mechanic. I think it could be dead. I was just going to call a tow truck.”

He laughs. “Let me guess, you were being stubborn?”

I wince again, looking at him sheepishly, making him laugh louder before he pops the hood. Rounding the car, I think I may be a goner when Crystal furrows her brows.

“I recognize you….” I tilt my head, and she nods. “Yeah, I’ve seen you out and about in town with Sniper, actually. I always looked at you both like you made a good couple; the dude deserves a good woman to help settle him down with, especially being the clubs biggest player, or well, was. He hasn’t touched a woman in over a year, actually. I guess now I know why….” Her words trail off as she looks at me.

I furrow my brows and ask, my heart not wanting to know the truth, “Who is Sniper?”

“The prez’ brother. Dark brown, shaggy hair, dark brown eyes, always has his arm around you protectively. I just figured he’d tell everyone about you when he was ready,” she says, and my heart instantly falls.

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