Page 468 of The Tempted

Chapter Thirty-Nine

I glanced at the side-view mirror, watching as Riggs hung his helmet on one of the handlebars of his bike then turned his eyes in my direction, giving me a glimpse of that face, I missed waking up to.

Most girls in my situation would hope their baby didn’t look anything like the father, but I was the opposite. I wanted Pea to look like Riggs. I wanted the reminder of the happiest few months of my life. I know my baby will fill the void of Riggs, and once I lay eyes on him or her, this pang in my chest will melt. I’ll be so overwhelmed with love for Pea, I’ll forget about the love I lost.

I’ll forget all about Kitten and Tiger.

I opened the car door, preparing myself for the awkward discussion we were about to have as I stepped out of the car. I walked around to the back of the car and leaned against the trunk as I waited for him.

He laughed along with his brothers, breaking my heart with every chuckle.

His laugh.

His smile.

They were the things that tugged at my heart strings, the things that first hooked me to the hooligan that came looking for me one crazy night in a bar. The same hooligan that told me to take a detour, to trust him because I’d end up exactly where I was supposed to be.

Here I am.

And he’s walking toward me.

Exactly where I’m supposed to be.

With him.

I pushed off the car, my feet making the choice, siding with my heart and not my head as I started for him.

A truck pulled into the lot, distracting me momentarily and I froze in my tracks, watching as Pipe started shouting at the driver.

“Park the truck over here,” Pipe hollered to the driver. “Over here!” He demanded. “What the fuck, are you assholes deaf? Park the fucking truck over here,” he shouted.

“Shit! Get down.”

I felt my heart lurch into my throat and my eyes widened as Pipe tried to warn us of the danger before the back of the truck opened and men started firing machine guns.

“Lauren, get down!” Riggs, hollered.

“Riggs!” I cried, knowing he probably couldn’t hear me over the gunfire.

No. This can’t be happening.

My eyes darted around the property fearful of what was happening.

There was nowhere to turn, nowhere to hide and it was pretty damn impossible to stop, drop and roll with this belly.

“Get down,” Riggs shouted.

I crouched down as low as I could get and tried to run toward the clubhouse. I stopped in my tracks and turned to look at Riggs.

“NO! NO! NO!” Riggs screamed. “Lauren!”

I never thought I’d die young, but we already know all the plans I’ve made for myself have been a joke. Maybe that was why they all went astray, not because God was a prankster and I was his victim, but because he knew I was going to join him and never be able to fulfill any of my plans.

He had a greater plan.

One that didn’t include Kitten and Tiger.

One that didn’t include Pea.

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