Page 164 of A Love Like Venom

"Then it's settled. Vipers MC compound will be on lockdown until this war is over," Sticks declares and then hits the mallet three times on the table.

One by one my brothers leave the room until all who are remaining is Oak, Sticks and myself.

The room is filled with an uncomfortable silence and my current state isn't helping it in the slightest.

"I need a word with you, Snake," Sticks says to me but it's more like an order.

One that I don't plan on doing. "I'd rather not.” My tone is clipped.

His eyes narrow on mine. "It wasn't up for discussion, son."

"Okay. Then talk."

Sticks gets right to the point. "What's going on with you?"

I shrug. "Nothing."

"Bullshit," he spits. "Ever since you went for Alice I saw pieces of the real you breaking through. When you finally got her back she broke the mask. The real you was on full display but you're hiding again except this time your doing a shit job of faking it."

Glaring at him I reply harshly, "Sorry for the disappointing performance. I'll make sure my next is Oscar worthy."

Sticks rolls his eyes and then points his finger at me accusingly. "This shit has to stop, Snake. What the fuck is going on with you?"

"I said-"

"Nothing, I know and I already called bullshit." He sighs heavily. Worry lines etch his forehead as his eyes search mine. Inside I feel a twinge of regret for my actions. The man has been a father figure towards me ever since I joined the club. He cares about all of us like we are his own. And here I am acting like a fucking dick because he cares.

Maybe I don't have to suffer through this alone. That's what I did before. Suffered in silence. Learned to take the punches thrown at me without complaint. Ingrained by my father to never ask for help because it makes you weak.

But Alice . . My sweet angel Alice taught me otherwise.

"It's Jessica.” My voice is low as the dirty confession slips pass my lips.

"Jessica Finley?" Sticks asks for clarification and I nod my head. "Why on earth does that biker bunny have your head up your ass?"

"Because thatbiker bunnyis pregnant and she says I'm the father."

I expect to see shock from the old man. Disgust perhaps or even the worst of all; shame.

He scoffs instead, his face with utter disbelief. "Yeah right." Shocked by his response I glance between him and Oak. Oak only shakes his head with a face saying,I don't know either. Sticks scoffs again. "You are telling me out of all the biker bunnies you've slept with, which I've seen many come out of those doors, out of all of them the one that is pregnant is Jessica Finley. The biker bunny who has an unhealthy obsession with you. The same one Rosa kicked out of your room because you told her nothing would come between you two?"

Fuck.

When he says it like that the idea of her being pregnant and claiming I'm the father is starting to sound a bit ludicrous.

Sticks chokes back a laugh but I'm too stunned by his observation to react. "And you believed her?"

"Well . . ."

Would she really do that? Say the kid is mine just to have me in her life?

Fucking hell.

I knew she was crazy about me but notthatfucking crazy.

That is insane.

"How did you even figure out?" He asks me.

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