Page 11 of Daughters of Chaos

As we're finishing breakfast, Bear's phone rings. He disappears to answer it with a solemn look on his face. When he returns, he looks directly at Phoenix and me. "Results are in," he tells everyone grimly.

Elias stands, telling everyone to pack up and head to the bar. "We'll meet Doc at church to read the results."

In no time, Nix and I are loaded into a van and hauled over to the bar, where we wait to find out what Doc has to say. Phoenix grips my hand fiercely as we wait inside the back room of the bar—the MC's church.

All eyes land on the club's doctor when he enters the room with a sealed envelope in his hand. "I haven't read them yet. I wanted everyone to see the results haven't been tampered with."

I see him cast a glance at Bear with that statement. We all know how skeptical he is about the entire situation. I hope Nix is right about everything working out. Who knows what that crazy bastard would do if the results somehow came back negative . . .

All the club members sit around a large wooden table, waiting for Doc to read the results. There's no sound other than the tearing of paper as he opens the envelope that will seal our fate. Silently, he reads the form. When he's done, he looks up at Elias, then at Phoenix and me.

With a small smile, he slides the paper to Elias, pointing at the bottom of the page. The MC's president reads over the page, taking a deep breath, looking as steely as ever. I can't read his face, even when he looks up at us. I watch him as Nix grips my hand tighter.

My heart is about to beat out of my chest by the time Elias speaks. "It's official . . . I'm a father!" he announces with a crooked smile.

Suddenly, the room erupts as the other men cheer and pound their fists against the table, celebrating the news. All except Bear, that is. He's sitting back in his chair, scowling at the results on the paper.

I let out the breath I was holding as Nix beams next to me. This is exactly what she was hoping for, and I'm glad she finally got her wish. Before I can say anything to her, Elias looks our way. "Phoenix, Raven, welcome home."

Unable to help herself, Phoenix lets go of my hand and rushes over to Elias, shocking him when she throws her arms around his neck. I bite back a snicker as I watch the startled look on his face. This is Phoenix through and through. She loves with her whole heart, and now she has the missing piece—the one our mother told us about on her deathbed.

I continue watching the scene unfold. Eventually, the MC president softens, putting his arms around my sister. It's like watching a baby deer learn to walk, unsure if it's doing what it's supposed to or not. If the situation weren't so serious, I'd laugh. Instead, I stay seated, battling my confusing emotions as I let everything sink in.

I'm not sure how to feel, but whatever is going on inside me is foreign and uncomfortable. I make the mistake of catching Elias's eye for a moment. The look he gives me tells me he knows exactly how I feel. It's mirrored in his face as he nods at me, understanding that I don't show my feelings the same way as my sister.

I let myself feel everything for a split second and regret it instantly. I start to feel the tingle in my eyes as the tears begin to prick. Without hesitation, I spring from my seat, runningstraight for the restroom. I can't let these men see me crumble. I won't.

I hear Phoenix calling after me, but I ignore her. I need to be alone right now while I sort through these unwelcome feelings clawing at my chest. Thankfully, she knows me well enough to leave me be. She knows I need time to process everything, to settle my mind and my emotions.

After sitting against the cold wall of the restroom for what feels like an eternity, I gather myself, feeling calm enough to face everyone. When I leave my fortress of solitude, I run face-first into a hard body. I look up to find an unimpressed Reaper staring down at me and am immediately irritated.

"What the fuck do you want?" I hiss at him.

With an equally irritated tone, he informs me, "Prez put me on guard duty. Didn't want anything to happen to his precious Princess."

I resist the urge to gag at Reaper's nickname, choosing instead to push past him to the bar. I help myself to a glass and a bottle from the top shelf. My guard watches my every move.

"What? Figured it's on the house, you know, family discount and all that."

Reaper rolls his eyes as I slam the drink. He watches me pour another and knock that back too. Feeling generous, I hold the bottle out to him.

The stubborn bodyguard shakes his head. "It's time to go. Prez has shit he needs done, and he wants you back at the house with your sister." That's when I notice the bar is empty. Everyone else is gone, leaving only the two of us.

Shit. How long was I in there?

Reaper waits impatiently as I put away the bottle and reluctantly follow him outside. As we reach the gravel parking lot, I realize the van that brought me and Nix here earlier is missing, along with every other vehicle but one—a monstrousbike that would only fit a giant or the burly man walking ahead of me.

As Reaper slides on the bike, I cross my arms over my chest. "You really think I'm getting on that thing with you?"

He shrugs. "Unless you'd rather walk."

I consider that option before stalking over to the bike. I've been on motorcycles before, but those rides were with men I chose to associate with. Reaper pisses me off, and I don't want him getting any satisfaction from me being wrapped around him on the back of his hog. When he tenses as I climb on, I feel a strange sense of victory. He hates this as much as I do.

Good, serves him right for being such a surly dick all the time.

When we make it back to the house, Reaper follows me inside. "Make sure she and her sister don't run off anywhere," he tells one of the guys lounging in the living room.

"Aww, they pulled you from guard duty already?" I snark.

---