Page 52 of Steal

I sigh and ask, “Can you bandage this shit up for me then? I have a certain future sister-in-law to confront, and,” I swallow hardand look around the room, all eyes on me, “and a daughter to collect.”

Laughter and amusement disappear as every brother stands in shock, and even the clubwhores’ jaws hit the floor.

“Cassidy had your child?” Bulldozer growls. “A-fucking-lone?”

I nod once. “That day I dragged her out by her hair, held a gun to her head so Bull couldn’t fucking shoot her over killing Brute to protect herself…. She went to the hospital, and they told her she was pregnant and was at high risk for miscarriage because of the trauma she suffered by that fucker.”

The room grows tense.

Every brother in this room came to Cassidy’s defense when I held a gun to her head, just like I had hoped they would, but they never stopped her from leaving because a brother was dead, and unfortunately, Bull had sway within the club, something my father managed to let happen; something he regrets.

“I’ll check your arm, Prez,” Cannon states, and I nod before looking over to the bar. “Killian, take two brothers with you and take Cass to our home and lock her in.” I wince. “You may have to tie her up as a precaution, especially when she realizes her phone is in my pocket.”

Killian groans, breaking the ice in the room, and the brothers laugh at the poor fool, knowing Cass is going to chew him out.

“I really need to put a vote in for his patch,” I mumble as Killian goes toward my room. Canine grabs my arm, inspecting it, while Cannon grabs the med kit.

He hums. “Yeah, Killian’ll be a brilliant brother.” Canine furrows his brows. “It’s a through-and-through.”

I nod. “Cass said it was. I just need it wrapped so it doesn’t drip blood. I’ll have Medic or Cass stitch it later.”

Canine snorts as he grabs the bandage from Cannon, and states, “She’ll probably stab you with the needle; I’d go to Medic,” causing Cannon to chuckle as he grabs the adhesive tape.

“Maybe you're right,” I agree, remembering her remorselessness when she shot me.

Twenty minutes later, with anger coursing through me, I storm into Acid’s yard.

Perrie, who is sitting on Acid's lap, winces when she notices me, and I can see from here the guilt that shines in her eyes, knowing exactly what this is about.

Acid has most likely filled her in, and it doesn’t take a genius to figure out why.

I narrow my eyes at her until she blurts out, “I’m pregnant,” and I freeze in shock while Acid’s head shoots up, and he breathes out, “What?”

Ah crap, this has to be the first time he’s heard the news.

She doesn’t answer Acid, keeping her eyes connected with mine as her tears fall, and she states, “It’s a head fuck as it is. No amount of therapist visits is going to get my head around the fact I aborted a baby because I knew I couldn’t carry my rapist’s child, and now I’m pregnant with my husband’s, and I still feel a little broken inside, and I’m petrified I’ll hurt my baby.”

Ah, damn….

My anger evaporates at the fear overtaking her features, and I can’t help but melt.

When the Aldo brothers raped her, they didn’t use protection, and she fell pregnant. Having her rapist’s child wasn’t an option for her, and she aborted the baby, then went into survival mode.

Fighting became her way to cope and her way to ensure she wasn’t cutting like she used to after her dad died.

Slowly, I walk over to the patio, kneel before her, and grab her shaking hands.

“Darling,” I whisper with pain.

“You held a gun to her head,” Perrie sobs, and I cringe, hating that I did that, even if it was to protect her, something I know Pez doesn’t know. “She didn’t know then, but it’s not the point. You held a gun to her head after dragging her by the hair, listening to your fuck buddy.” I notice Acid flinch, but I don’t. Instead, I squeeze Perrie’s hands and allow her to continue. “You never asked her what happened—even I don’t know, but it was enough to shake her. You told her you’d kill her if she returned, so if she’d had come to your door and said, ‘I’m having your baby,’ would you have listened?”

It doesn’t surprise me that Cassidy didn’t tell Perrie exactly what happened that day but what does surprise me is the shock on Acid’s face.

She didn’t tell her husband about their niece, a niece whose name I still don’t know.

Damn, that realization is a kick in the teeth.

“Did she have the baby, Perrie?” Acid asks, confirming my thoughts, and she looks at him with teary eyes.

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