Ride or Die (Rejects Paradise 4)

“I … I don't even know what to say,” I whisper, struggling to meet his eyes as I try to come to terms with the fact that Nic could potentially know that I’m plotting against him. “Why aren’t you running? I’m pregnant. Normal eighteen-year-old guys would be running so damn fast, especially when it’s not their kid.”

“If you think I’m the kind of guy to run away when things get hard, you don’t know me very well,” he says, offended. “I get it, and yeah, it’s probably going to take a while to wrap my head around, but I want you in my life. If that means playing the role of baby daddy to your kid just to keep you by my side, then I’ll do it.”

I pull back and stare at him in shock. I surely didn’t hear him right. I could have sworn that he just said that he’ll be the father of my baby, despite knowing that this child’s biological father is a rapist. “You’d do that?”

“I’d do just about anything if it meant hanging onto you.”

A fat tear rolls over my cheek and drops off my chin, splashing onto my white school blouse. I can’t find the words to tell him how much his admission means to me, but I don't have to, he gets it. He tugs me into his body, and he holds me with everything he’s got. His big hands claim my skin and make me feel alive for the first time since peeing on that damn stick this morning.

“It doesn’t make sense to me, Jade. Why’d you come here?” Colton asks after a moment of silence, making me realize that I was standing in his arms far too long. The minutes are quickly counting down, and I don’t doubt that Snake wouldn’t hesitate to take Colton out. In fact, he’d probably enjoy it just to spite me.

I run my tongue over my very suddenly dry lips. “It’s Nic,” I explain. “I don’t know what came over me, but after my doctor's appointment this morning, a fierce protectiveness for this baby just settled inside of me. I realized that I can’t bring a baby into this world while I’m still at war with Nic. He would use the baby against me, and I can’t allow that to happen.”

I let out a heavy sigh and meet his eyes, knowing how much the fact that I’m currently pregnant with someone else's child must be hurting him. “This baby is innocent. It didn't ask for any of this, and while we’re on the topic, you need to know that I didn’t purposefully keep this from you. I only found out this morning, and I was freaking out. I didn’t want to tell you until I knew for sure, so I went to the doctor’s appointment with Eli, and he told me that I was seven weeks along, making it Jude’s baby. I just … I couldn’t think clearly after that. My head is literally a mess. I don't know what to do, if I’m going to keep it or what my options are. But, I know that I have a responsibility to keep this baby safe until I can finally make that decision, and having Nic against me is not safe. I have to end this, Colton, and I have to do it without bringing you into it either.”

He shakes his head. “Jade, no. What were you thinking? I told you that I could handle Nic. Call this shit off, and let me take you home. I swear to you, Jade, I'll handle this, and you’ll never have to think about him again. I won’t let him get away with it.”

I clench my jaw and just as I’m about to explain myself a little more, Snake’s deep, rumbly tone carries across the gravel drive. “Two minutes,” he warns, making a show of already having his gun out and ready to go.

I take Colton’s hands and squeeze. “I wish I could,” I tell him, letting out a heavy breath and wishing that I was anywhere but here. “Thinking that they already knew, I said that Nic was the one who killed my father, and it all spiraled out of control from there. They want me to hand over every little bit of information that I have on Nic and the boys, and then they’re going to go to war. I told them that’s not what I wanted but it’s too late. I fucked up. I should have trusted you, but I hated the idea of you getting hurt in all this. Eli, Sebastian, and Kai are going to hate me when they find out what I’ve done.”

“They'll be fine,” he says, his tone filled with distaste. “Don’t worry about them. We just need to worry about getting you the fuck out of here.”