Page 33 of Forced Pregnant Mate

“Look at this place! It’s fancy, for sure. Who knew a rat like Jack had so much money?”

“I’m surprised, too,” Sam says. “After everything you told me, I was expecting a crappy little hut, especially after we found out the address was so far out of town.”

I want to tell Sam that he’s wrong. That Father had to be lying about Jack and his pack being such bad people. But I can’t say anything with Father here.

“You done good, girl,” Father says, nodding. “It’s a sweet setup, for sure.”

He keeps looking around as everyone sits down at the table and I put on some tea. I don’t like the way they are appraising Jack’s stuff. I’m getting more uncomfortable by the second.

Just when I think things can’t get any worse, I hear Jack’s truck in the driveway.

He’s home early. Fuck!

“Lena?” he calls as he comes through the front door. “Do we have guests?”

“Yes, we’re in the kitchen,” I call back, starting to shake so badly, I know I can’t pour tea without burning myself.

Jack appears in the doorway, and there is a deep, almost ominous silence. Jack and Father glare at each other, and the tension in the room sings like a guitar string about to snap. Kelly settles back in her chair, smirking. Sam looks around the room, shifting his gaze between Father and Jack.

“How about some tea?” I say too brightly. I still don’t know how I’m going to pour it with such shaking hands, but I have to do something before the air in the room combusts just from repressed rage.

What is going on with them?

“Yes, Lena,” my father replies. “Pour the tea. It wouldn’t kill you to offer us some food, either.”

“I didn’t know you were coming,” I say, softly. I can see Jack frowning, but I have no clue what he’s so upset about.

Everyone’s upset with me because I’m such a horrible burden!

I’m fighting tears as I bring out cups and put the teapot down on the table. I find a couple of packs of biscuits and put those out as well. Jack sits down at the end of the table, his face a blank mask.

“Thank you for visiting,” he says coolly. “I assume you just wanted to check in on your daughter. As you can see, she’s doing well.”

“Yes, she is.” Father grins. “I can see that. You’ve done a decent job, Jack.”

I can almost hear the decent for a guy like you qualifier at the end of the sentence and bite my lip.

“I appreciate you saying so,” Jack answers. The air between them is still too hot, even though they appear to be getting along.

“It’s really nice to see you going to so much effort, Jack,” Father says. “You know, after… everything.”

I see tension streak through Jack’s body. His hand clenches briefly on the mug, and he looks away.

I have to assume that Father had some basis for what he told me about Jack’s pack, so Jack really does have a reason to make it up to them. Without knowing the details, I’m guessing wildly, but I’ll do anything at this point to placate Father.

“Yes, Father. It’s wonderful, isn’t it? Jack’s really trying his best to take care of me, so there’s nothing you need to worry about.”

Jack looks up, his gaze so sharp, it could cut. For a moment, he stares at Father with unadulterated fury before he covers it again.

Jesus. What did Jack do?

I can tell by Father’s face that he isn’t done. Even though I’m afraid of what he’ll do to me, I hurry over and put my hand on Father’s shoulder.

“Can I talk to you, please?” I ask.

Father grins, and Kelly laughs softly. Everything is a joke to them. I’m pretty sure they don’t care about any social niceties at all.

“Of course,” Father says, allowing me to lead him into the living room.

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