Page 52 of Jake's Angel

The little girl with bright green eyes, long wavy blonde hair.It can’t be, can it?

“What the hell?” Gabe grumbles. We’re all staring at him in expectant anticipation. We all share the same sentiment. No onesaying anything. Waiting for our president to tell us what he knows.

Everyone except me, who feels like there’s a three hundred pound weight crushing my chest—and Avery who has no idea of the bomb she’s dropped.

Gabe’s shoulders slouch, moving to smooth his brow with both hands as he drags them down the front of his face. Caleb and Pop exchange a concerned glance while the rest of us try to figure out what-the-actual-fuck is going on?

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

AVERY

I don’t understandwhy everyone is looking at me like they’ve just seen a ghost. Well, most of them. Gabe, Mack, and Caleb are all looking at everyone else in anticipation. For what, I’m not sure, but it doesn’t feel like it’s going to be anything good.

I have to ask. The panic I feel inside is slowly making its way up my chest, gradually cutting off my air supply. Clearing my throat, I try to choke past the lump currently residing there. “I’m sorry. Will someone please explain to me what’s going on? Why is everyone looking at me, like, all weird?”

Mack stands near Gabe in a protective stance, as if he’s prepared to go to war with the other men in the room. Caleb is leaned forward, his elbows on his knees, his chin in his hands, regarding me intensely. Gabe looks up at me, a glazed look of despair spread over his face. He doesn’t speak, he just stares at me, like everyone else in the room.

Fear and anger are both knotting inside me. I don’t understand what’s happening, but the overwhelming need torun has my stomach on the verge of releasing its contents here on our sacred carved wood table.

“Mack, why is everyone looking at me like that?” I ask, my voice barely a whisper, as I try to contain my anxiety and frustrations. Mack doesn’t answer, just gives a slight shake of his head. “Will someone please tell me what’s going on?”

“Who is she?” Jake asks. I haven’t been afraid of him since meeting him, but the sudden tightness in his voice has me terrified. I can hear how hard he’s struggling to keep himself calm.

Gabe places his elbows on the table, dropping his head in his hands. I assume he’s collecting his thoughts.

Why is everyone asking that?

“I’ve already told you who I am. I’m Avery West. Russell and Eleanor West’s granddaughter.” I stand to my feet, clenching my fists at my sides so tight my nails are digging into the palms of my hands. Sadie moves to stand with me, but Mack forces her to stay in her spot on the ground.

“You are Avery Rose Jenkins. Daughter of Maggie and Gabriel Jenkins,” Gabe says softly, removing his hands slowly from his face and releasing a deep, throaty sigh. “You’re my daughter.”

What the hell?

There’s a collective gasp of air, followed by several mumbled curses. I can't help but notice how Sadie's eyes appear magnified, almost as if they are too large for her face. She’s pale. Her hands shaking as she reaches to grab mine. My head is spinning, my breathing is coming in shallow pants.

Fucking hell! I can’t do this. I can’t succumb to my anxiety right now.

This can’t be possible. Can it?

Certain I couldn’t have heard him right, I cautiously ask, “What did you just say?”

Glancing across the room, I find Jake’s eyes trained on Gabe’s. There are so many emotions in his blue eyes, but it’s the anger that has me concerned. He’s ready to hurt someone. The question is—why?

Focusing his eyes on me, Gabe’s mouth turns up at the corner in an uncomfortable half smile. “I said, you’re my daughter. Mine and Maggie’s.”

“No, that’s not possible. My mother died and my grandparents adopted me because I haveno father.”

“When Mags died, Russell adopted you and took you to live with him because I asked him to.”

“You what? Why?”

My chest is heaving, straining to take in air. The burning heat of fresh tears coming to the surface makes it hard to see. My hands shake, my body slowly follows suit, while a dizzy sensation takes over my mind. I grab for the edge of the chair, trying to keep myself from falling over.

I need to leave. This isn’t real. This isn’t happening. He can’t be my father. Because if he is, he left me rotting in hell.

I hear several voices barking orders for me to sit down, take a breath, and calm myself, but all of it becomes too loud and soon gets masked by the thrumming of my heart echoing in my ears. Sadie is crying somewhere off to the side while what sounds like Hawk is trying to hold her back and soothe her. Mack is yelling at someone to “sit the fuck down and remember your place,” but I’m too lost in my own scrambled thoughts to see who he’s arguing with.

A warm and soothing hand rests on my shoulder and a calm voice, much like my grandfather’s, whispers, “Have a seat, darlin′. We don’t want you passing out on the floor and hitting that pretty little head of yours. Let us explain before you run for the hills, yeah?”

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