Page 74 of Unmasked Anarchy
“It doesn’t belong to you, Kael.I’m sorry.”
My lungs fold in half.My mouth won’t work.I don’t know if I’m making a sound.I force myself to look at Kael and his expression is neutral, not angry or calm.Just blank.The doctor says some words about follow-ups, scans, and other things we will need, but I am zoned out.
We finish the appointment and get the hell out.
The walk to the bike is silent.Kael hands me the helmet, and my hands shake so bad I almost drop it.When I climb behind him, I wrap my arms around his ribs like if I let go, I’ll float away.He starts the engine and revs it until the world goes meaningless, and I want to scream.
We get back to the clubhouse, but I barely remember the ride.The second I am off the bike, I turn to him.Tears burning under my eyelids as I blurt out, “I’m sorry.I’m so fucking sorry.I understand if you want me gone, if you want to leave, I would too.This is so bad, I’m so sorry.”
He takes my face in his hands and pulls me close, his eyes locking on mine.“I told you there ain’t nothin’ that could happen, that would ever make me not want you in my life, Sable.I love you.I love that baby.We’ll make this work.”
I make a pained sound in my throat.“But it isn’t your baby, that will come back, that will bother you one day...”
“Millions of people out there lovin’ someone else’s baby.Just because it ain’t my blood, don’t mean I won’t love that kid like it’s my own.Gotta know that about me.”
I stare at his face, trying to see a single sign that this is bullshit, that he’s just trying to make me feel better.But it’s not there.I see only Kael, the man who broke his own rules to love me.His hands are rough as he lets them drop to my stomach, gentle.It makes me want to cry, and that’s pathetic, but I don’t care.He brings me close, presses my forehead to his and breathes me in like I’m the only thing that matters.Then he lifts my chin and makes me look at him—really look at him.
"We’re gonna have more of them," he says, his voice low with promise."A whole damn football team if you want.And this one, this one is goin’ to be just as much mine as the rest of them.”
He pulls me against him, and for the first time since I could remember, I let myself feel safe.Not because everything was fixed or easy or possible, but because Kael said it was, and that was enough.
He presses a kiss to my head."We do this together," he says."No matter how fucked it gets."
"Deal," I say, burrowing deeper into his chest, letting his heartbeat thrum against my cheek.
Now is my chance to do right.
So right I will do.
EPILOGUE
Idon’t plan the morningI walk into Gage’s clubhouse.I just do it.I wear my old boots, my battered black jacket, and a top that covers my slowly rounding belly.The place smells of gasoline and hot metal, the roller door thrown open and full of bikers working on cars and trucks.
That’s when I notice him.Gage is halfway under the frame of a Harley, shirtless, grease on his arms, sweat beading at his spine, muscles bunching with every movement.For a full minute I stand there, staring at him, a stark reminder of just how fucking perfect he looks when he doesn’t know anybody is watching.
I’m in love with Kael, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say that Gage has a way of sucking the breath out of any woman who passes him.
