Reclaimed (Angel's Halo MC 4)

Jet clenched his jaw for a few seconds before an evil smirk lifted at the left side of his mouth. “Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. Get back to work.”

“Fuck you,” Hawk snarled.

“Nah, I’ll let Bubbles do that, but you can have my sloppy seconds, brother.”

Colt stood. “How about we stop with all the language. Flick doesn’t need to hear that shit.”

My heart clenched at how protective Colt was. He’d always been the thoughtful one of the four brothers. He was as hard as Jet, but he had a softer side too. Why couldn’t I have fallen for him?

“Flick shouldn’t even be in here,” Jet told his youngest brother, the fire in his eyes rising as he glared down at him from the inch-and-a-half height difference. “She’s not twenty-one yet. She has no business being in here.”

“Hey, what the fuck is your problem?” Hawk demanded, stepping around the bar to face Jet. “She’s not drinking, so there isn’t a problem. Back off. She’s not hurting anyone. You never used to have a problem with her coming in here.”

I saw the way Hawk’s eyes narrowed on his brother and quickly got to my feet. I didn’t want to be the reason the two oldest Hannigans came to blows. “I was about to leave anyway. See you guys later.”

Colt took my elbow. “Wait. I’ll walk you to your car. It’s dark out.”

I felt the temperature drop about ten degrees around me as Jet pushed his brother’s hand off my arm. When he replaced Colt’s hand with his own, it didn’t matter that the temperature around me had dropped from the coldness of Jet’s glare. My body instantly heated, feeling as if he were literally scalding my flesh where he touched me. “Get your lazy ass back to work, little brother. I’ll make sure Flick gets to her car.”

My first thought was to refuse. I didn’t want to be alone with Jet when he was coldly angry. Then I realized he was the reason I’d left my mother’s house tonight. If I didn’t talk to him now, I might never talk to him again. I almost preferred it that way, but knew that Jet needed to know he was going to be a father.

Raven was suddenly in front of me. Her green eyes lingered on my face for a moment before she stepped forward and hugged me. Surprised, I hugged her back. “Are you okay?” she whispered at my ear so only I would hear her.

“I’m fine, Rave. Honest.” I kissed her cheek and stepped back, letting Jet pull me out of his bar.

Neither of us spoke as he practically dragged me to my Jeep at the back of the parking lot. To his every one step I had to take three. I’d been lucky to find that empty spot when I’d arrived, the place had been so crowded. As soon as we reached my Jeep he turned to face me. The look on his face had me taking several steps back, only stopping when I felt someone else’s car at my back.

Jet followed until there was only an inch separating us. I could feel his breath on my cheek and see his eyes clearly from the glow of all the lights in the parking lot. Those green depths were at war with a mixture of emotions: rage, lust, disgust. It was the disgust that felt like a punch to the ribs. Was he disgusted at himself…or me? I was pretty disgusted with myself, so I would have understood if he was disgusted with me too. I didn’t want to chase after this stupid biker, and I wasn’t. As soon as I told him what needed telling, I was gone. He wouldn’t have to acknowledge me if he didn’t want to. I was done with him.

The need to run away—far, far away—from this fucked-up life that I’d been born into was growing stronger. Did I really want my baby to grow up like I had? Sure I knew it would be loved by its uncles and aunt, but what about Jet? Would he even want our baby? Or would he tell me to get rid of it? Would my child grow up not knowing its father like I had?

I didn’t know the answers to those questions, but I was about to get them.

“What do you want, Flick?” Jet muttered as he continued to look down at me with those three emotions still swirling around in his eyes. “I know you came to see me, what I don’t know is why.”

I swallowed, trying to get my dry tongue to work. Why did he have to smell so good? Even under the scent of smoke and booze, I could still identify his unique scent. Something a little spicy mixed with citrus. Maybe it was from my new awareness of scents because of my pregnancy, but I doubted it. I’d always been able to pick out Jet’s scent. This close to him, with his scent filling my nose with each breath I took, my body was reacting in ways that disturbed me. After everything he’d put me through in the last few weeks, I couldn’t understand my ever growing need for this man.

“I needed to talk to you,” I finally got out after a few seconds of trying to ge

t moisture back into my mouth.

He moved half an inch closer, lowering his head until all I could see were his irises. “So talk.”

Easy for him to say. I’d been working out in my head for days now just how to tell him. From the second I’d found out I was pregnant I’d been trying to figure out how, or even if I should tell Jet he was going to be a daddy in a few short months. Everything I’d come up with had sounded stupid and lame. How exactly did you tell the man who only wanted you for a few quick fucks that he was about to be tied to you for at least eighteen years?

Blowing out a long breath, I just blurted it out. “I’m pregnant.”

For a long moment it seemed as if he hadn’t heard me. He didn’t react, not even so much as blinking. I knew the instant what I’d said really sunk in. His face paled and his eyes widened ever so slightly. He took a step back, his eyes going straight to my not-so-flat stomach. I’d always struggled with my weight, but I’d actually lost five pounds in the last week. Morning sickness was the best diet seeing as all you did was vomit and tried to stay hydrated throughout the day.

“Are you joking?” he demanded in a rough voice, as if he couldn’t believe what I’d told him. Or he didn’t want to believe it.

“Do I look like I’m joking?” I snapped, unable to keep my contempt in check any longer. Did he think I had planned this shit? That I honestly wanted to be tied to him for life by an innocent little baby? “I’m pregnant, asshole. There, you know. Do what you want with the info, I don’t give a damn anymore.”

I pushed at his chest and he went willingly. Free, I stepped around him and unlocked my Jeep. Jet didn’t move again until I was sitting in the driver’s seat and had the engine started. Seeing him standing there, frowning down at me like that, I rolled down my window and waited for him to speak.

“Have you seen a doctor?” he demanded in that same rough tone. “Are you okay?”

The first question didn’t surprise me, but the second hit me in the heart. Was he concerned for me or the baby? Did it matter? “I saw him two days ago. Everything is fine. I go next week for a scan to determine my exact due date.”