Page 3 of Death's Devotion
Yeah, not a night I’ll forget anytime soon. I’ve been trying since it fucking happened. This tiny woman has gotten under my skin and I don’t see it changing anytime soon.
“Well, you know it only takes having sex once without protection to get pregnant, right?” Doc questions her, raising an internal alarm in me.
Is she saying what I think she’s fucking saying?
“I know this. Just like I know if you’re on birth control and take antibiotics it messes with your birth control. That’s how I got pregnant with my son. I’ve done my research on everything up until this point. There’s no way I can be pregnant if that’s what you’re suggesting, Doc,” Kelsey says, a small, nervous laugh filling her voice.
“That’s exactly what I’m saying, Kelsey. You’re definitely pregnant. We can wait for the blood test to get back, but the sample you left came up with a positive result quickly and very dark. Now, there are several options you can take for this pregnancy. I’ve got information about all of your options. I can also be your doctor through this pregnancy. I’m an obstetrician who hasn’t focused on that for a while. Or there’s a very good doctor the other women of the club use,” Kathy says as my heart races and I can barely hear anything over the pounding in my head.
Kelsey’s pregnant. She’s only had sex once in a very long time. That one time was with me. Fuck my life! She’s carrying my kid.
The need to get the hell away from her becomes overwhelming. I can’t think, talk, hear, or barely see as I abruptly stand from my chair. It slams into the wall behind it with much more force than normal considering there was barely any space between the chair and wall to begin with. I can feel eyes on me as I storm from the room only to stop in the hallway. Bending over, I take several deep breaths while keeping my eyes closed. Nothing helps with the pounding of my heart or getting oxygen into my lungs. This can’t be fucking happening.
I have no clue how long it is before Kelsey comes out of the exam room with several papers in her hand. She doesn’t speak or look at me as she steps around my body and continues down the hallway without looking back. The need to follow her fills me, but I’m rooted to the spot still trying to get my heart and breathing under control.
“I’m guessing from your reaction, you know exactly who the father of that baby is,” Doc says, coming to stand next to me. “Death, don’t fuck around with that girl. She’s extremely upset right now and doesn’t need you to add any shit to what she’s currently feeling. The only thing you need to do is support her decision and offer her what you can. Don’t give her pretty lies wrapped up with bows or all that bullshit. That’s the last thing she needs. I’m gonna take care of her off the books and you can do what you gotta do.”
Kathy leaves me standing in the hall alone as I finally force myself to move. The only thing I have going on in my head is that Kelsey’s carrying my baby. Nothing else fucking registers to me and that’s never a good thing. Especially not when I have to drop her off and head out on a run. Fuck!
I finally manage to catch up to Kelsey as she’s walking out to the parking lot. She should fucking know better than to leave on her own. Unless she’s in a fucking daze like I am. I can’t even ask her what’s going on because I’m so fucking lost in my own head. This is the last thing I want, or need, in my life. Kelsey has no clue I don’t want kids or a woman at my side. She’ll never fucking understand my reasons either.
“I’m gonna drop you off at the shop and head out. Gonna be gone for a few days on a run,” I manage to growl out, my voice coming out harsher than intended.
Kelsey nods her head in response, never even looking in my direction. I’m fucking this shit up and making it harder on her and there’s nothing I can do to stop myself from doing it. It’s for the best if I’m not around her right now. Not until we both figure out what this means moving forward. I know what it means for me, but I don’t know what she’s going to do since she already has one child who’s so young. Can she really handle two kids on her own? I’m not sure if she can or not. Though, I wouldn’t be surprised to learn of her doing just that because she really is an amazing woman. A great mom. One of the best I’ve seen without counting the ol’ ladies in the club.
Pulling up outside the shop, I make sure I’m stopped and the engine’s shut off before handing the keys back over to her. Neither one of us says a word to the other as we get out of the SUV and head inside. Sabotage and Jae are in the kitchen when we get in there. Kelsey immediately steps over to check on her son as I let Sabotage know I’m heading out. I remind him I’ll be on the run for a few days and to call me if anything happens. He simply offers up a nod and tells me to watch my six before I leave without another word to anyone. I’m so fucking lost there’s nothing to say right now.
Chapter Three
FIVE DAYS HAVE passed since I last saw Death. The day I found out I was pregnant. So much was left unsaid between us and I have no clue how to bridge the gap this baby news has created between us. I mean, there really wasn’t anything there to begin with. However, it would be nice to know what he’s thinking or feeling about the situation we find ourselves in. Plus, he needs to understand I’ve been on my birth control and haven’t ever stopped taking it since having Brent. As soon as I was done breastfeeding I went back on it. Mainly to regulate myself, but also because things happen in the heat of the moment and I wanted to ensure I was prepared to prevent this very same thing from taking place. Now, he’s gone on some run and I have no clue when he’ll be back so we can talk.
It’s taken everything in me to try and wrap my head around being pregnant. Of knowing I’ll more than likely be the single mother of two. I’m perfectly fine being a mom to two children even though I know it will be hard as hell and cost even more than what I’m spending now on Brent. However, I’ll make it work. I always do. The main problem I see with this situation is not being able to move very far from Braedon. I won’t ever take Death’s son or daughter from him. Or his family. Even if he wants nothing to do with the child, there’s nothing to say his family won’t want to have anything to do with him or her. So, now I have to think of a different plan and figure out how to hide from Vince while protecting two innocent lives.
Jae and I had to push the grand opening of the shop back a few days. She ended up in the hospital for a day because they believed she was going into labor and didn’t want her to be home if it happened. Sabotage and Zeus were going crazy as hell thinking the time they were about to become dads was here already. If I’m being honest, it was funny. Still, I’ve been in the shop every single day preparing all sorts of candy, cookies, cakes, cupcakes, food, and all sorts of other things. My favorite thing was making bread and rolls. I love the smell of bread baking. It made my mouth water the entire time I was making it. Honestly, it was the first time I’ve really been hungry since learning of the pregnancy and when I started getting sick.
Today, we’re opening the shop to the public and everyone’s been helping out. Jae’s supposed to be taking it easy and her men aren’t letting her do a damn thing. She’s lucky she can lift her arms higher than her sides right now. Sabotage watches her like a hawk while Zeus tries to control everything she does. It’s sweet and something I wish I had in my life. I know it won’t ever happen for me, but it’s still something to dream about. Something to wish I could find if this shit with Vince ever ends and I’m not constantly looking over my shoulder. Or waiting for the other shoe to drop.
“How are you feeling today, Kelsey?” Jae asks, her face flushed as she walks around the kitchen and tries to figure out what else she needs to have in the display case. The only reason she’s getting away with it is because her men are occupied with something else. “You’ve been getting sick an awful lot lately and I want to make sure you’re doing okay.”
The worry and concern on her face warms me from the inside out. No one has really ever cared about me the way these people have. Perfect strangers have cared more about my wellbeing than anyone else ever has before. Hell, my own parents disowned me when they found out I was pregnant. When I told them what happened and everything, they took Vince’s side and accused me of purposely getting pregnant to trap him. I didn’t want him and was already working on a way to get away from him. Why would I trap him if I were just going to take my child and run from him?
“Um, well, I’m okay. I don’t have anything you can catch if that’s what you’re worried about,” I tell her, not meeting her gaze.
“So, care to fill me in on what’s going on? I’m really worried about you, Kels,” she says, bringing tears to my eyes as she begins rubbing her stomach.
“I’m pregnant, Jaelyn. Yes, I know who the dad is. No, we haven’t talked about anything. I don’t know what I’m gonna do,” I tell her, breaking completely down as I collapse onto the stool at the counter I’ve been working at.
Sabotage enters the kitchen to find me a complete mess. Jaelyn is waddling around the counter to get to me as she finally wraps her arms awkwardly around my body.
“It’s fuckin’ Death’s baby,” Sabotage states, his voice low so no one else can hear him. “What a fuckin’ asshole! He just left you to deal with this shit on your own.”
I can’t even say anything to defend Death. Not only is Sabotage right about him leaving me to deal with this on my own, but I’m sobbing uncontrollably right now. Those damn pregnancy hormones. Sabotage joins our little group hug and offers me comfort. At least someone is right now. I didn’t really know or understand how much I was missing something as simple as a hug until this very second.
“What are you gonna do?” Jae asks when I finally managed to get myself back under control.
“I don’t know yet. More than likely I’m going to keep it because I don’t think any other option works for me. I’m unsure about remaining here in Braedon, but I won’t be far from here if I leave,” I tell them honestly as Zeus makes his way in the kitchen to find out what’s going on. “I’d never keep him out of the baby’s life. The only reason I am with Vince is because of who he is and how he’s treated me. I just can’t put my son through that shit. I know that’s not the case here.”
“No matter what the fucker decides to do, you’ve got us. The three of us will have your back and help any way we can. That’s a fuckin’ promise,” Zeus adds in, not sure what we’re even talking about to my knowledge.
