Page 44 of Wrath

“It is, which makes me wonder how I spent a twenty-hour round trip, in a car with my old lady, without her tellin’ me she was pregnant with my kid.” I can’t read his expression but I’m sensing that he’s somewhere in the middle of angry and disappointed.

“I see what ya sayin’.” I sit back in my chair and watch as he stares hard at the stick Peyton must have pissed on.

“So, ya happy ‘bout it?” I check.

“‘Course, I’m fuckin’ happy.” He looks at me as if I’m stupid.

“You think she ain’t?” Since he ain’t sayin’ much I have to help myself out here.

“Well, she ain’t fuckin’ told me, so you read between the lines.”

“I’m readin’ the fuckin’ lines, boss, and they’re tellin’ me your old lady’s knocked up. What I can’t understand is, why you’re talkin’ to me about this and not her?” I take out my packet of smokes and offer him one.

“I don’t know, probably for the same reason as you wanna travel across the country instead of talkin’ to my sister.” He calls me out. “Let’s face it, we’re both stubborn bastards who would bleed for this damn club but are petrified of gettin’ hurt by two very fuckin’ special females.” He manages to get all that out in one breath and I stare back at him shocked.

“You wentwaydeeper with that than I was expectin’,” I point out.

“Seriously, Wrath, I need to know your intentions and so does Eden. You can either beat yourself up for what happened for the rest of your life or put all that effort into makin’ the rest of hers happy.”

“That almost sounded like a green light for me to be with your sister.” I frown at him.

“Is that really what ya need? My fuckin’ permission?” Raze looks at me as if I’m crazy. “Don’t pretend that’s what’s standin’ in your way. I appreciate your respect but don’t use it as another obstacle. If ya can promise me that you’ll always put her first and that you’ll protect her with your life, you got my backin’,” he puts it simply, and I can’t believe what I’m hearing.

“Even after what happened? How can you trust me when I didn't protect her then?”

“Wrath, you were eighteen years old and in an impossible situation. But not once durin’ that ordeal did younotput her first. Even when ya left, you did it because you thought you were protectin’ her. You couldn’t have predicted what Cliff would do. It’s time you started to focus on the future.”

I listen, but I know I’ll never be able to move on until I know Cliff is dead.

“We have to flush that motherfucker outta the weeds so I can assure your sister that he can never hurt her again.” I stand up feeling a little of my strength come back.

“And then what?” Raze raises his eyebrows at me.

“If we’re gonna remain friends I think it’s best me and you don’t discuss that.” I smile at him again, and this time he scowls.

“Seriously, though, Wrath, be sure. I can forgive you of a lot, but if you break her heart aga?—”

“I got a long drive to think about it.” I smile sadly, knowing that my love for her ain’t what’s in question here. It’s how much faith I can put in myself.

“Just take it easy, and stay outta trouble, you’ve got a fight to win.” He points his finger at me.

“And you make sure you speak to your girl, papa.” I wink at him, doing my best to show a brave face as I head out the door and grab the keys to one of the cages from the rack behind the bar.

When I step out onto the yard I look up to Eden's room. I should go to her and explain why I freaked out last night, but I don’t know how to put all that into words without sounding weak. Instead, I head out the arch and hop into a cage, driving out the gates so I can find the woman I’m hoping can help us.

Iopen the door and when it’s my brother standing in front of me, instead of Aaron, my heart sinks.

“He told you, didn’t he?” I can tell from the way he’s trying to stay calm that Aaron’s been talking.

“He told me,” he confirms, rushing inside and wrapping me up in his arms.

“I’m so sorry, Eden.” His strong arms grip me so tight I can barely breathe.

“I told Aaron what happened and he left.” I burst into tears, which should be impossible given the amount of them I’ve cried since Aaron stormed out of here last night. “Why does he always have to do that?” I look up at my brother hoping that he’s got all the answers.

“He does it because he loves you, and he thinks he’s bad for you. He blames himself, and I know how that feels because I blame myself too.” He sounds hurt and a lot less angry, though I can still feel all the tension in his chest.

“Neither of you caused this. I was the one who came here looking for Vex, and even after what happened I’ve never regretted it. I liked how it felt to have a big brother and a guy like Aaron in my life. I missed you both so much.”

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