“Fine. I'll see her. Just calm down; you're getting worked up.”
“I know.” She tucks her dark hair behind her right ear. Maria still looks so glamours, motherhood didn't change that. Being married to a biker didn't change that. Good. One thing I was worried about was Jett changing the woman Maria is. “It's just that Jett would never raise a hand to me. Hammer would never raise a hand to a woman, no one in the MC would, and I know you wouldn't either. When Brooke told me what happened, that Marnie has suffered for five years with that pig of a man, I looked at my little girl, and I envisioned her being older with a man like Paul.”
“Don't think like that. No man will ever lay a hand on her, Maria. I'd kill the son of a bitch if her father didn't first.”
“I know. I know. It's just, I'm pregnant, Dray.” Again? Damn.
I can't say that I'm not happy for her, I am. She's married to a man who adores her and their daughter. My sister is safe and cared for, she's in love, and that's all I care about.
“I'm almost three months, I'm hormonal, and I want you to know that I love you.” She sniffs. Here we go again. She was like this when she found out about Jessica — crying a lot, emotional about everything.
“I love you, too, angel. I am so happy for you, Maria.” She smiles. “You're a wonderful mother. I am so proud of you.”
“It's because of you. You raised me to be a good girl with morals. I have Jessica because you allowed me to keep her. I'm married to the man I love because you believed it was the right thing to do. If you hadn't, I wouldn't have my little girl and this little bundle on the way.” She places her hand on her flat stomach, and for the first time in my life, I'm sat here wondering what it would be like to be a father.
“You have these wonderful gifts because of you, Maria. Because you,” I smile and take her hand across the table. “Are the most amazing woman I've ever known. You're just like mom.” I wink at her. “Now, about Marine.”
* * *
I'm sitting at a private booth in my restaurant waiting for Marnie. Maria told me that Marine needed to see me today. Apparently, whatever she needs to talk to me about cannot wait until tomorrow.
I sip my Scotch and tip my head, letting Jonny know to let Marnie through. Just the sight of her walking towards me dressed in that pretty peach, sheer dress with the silk underneath, long sleeves, and sitting perfectly on her knees, even those silver sandals, has my heart beating faster. Her long blonde hair is tied up in a ponytail. She's wearing sunglasses, to hide the black eyes, no doubt.
She slides into the booth opposite me, placing her purse beside her. “Marnie,” I smirk. She's wearing the same perfume she was wearing that night. It drove me crazy then, and it's driving me crazy now.
I shouldn't want to throw her on the table and feast on her, but I can't help the thoughts rushing through my head. She's like a damn drug to me. I've never taken drugs in my life, but if I had to, she'd be mine.
“Draven,” Her tone is clipped. Obviously, she knows who I am now, but it hasn't made her look at me like I'm someone to be feared, even though I am. I like that about her. “You're probably wondering why I'm here. I want you to know that I'm sorry for what happened that night.”
“You're sorry?” She's fucking sorry? She regrets what happened between us!
“Not about the fact we slept together umpteen times. I will never be sorry for that,” I smile. Of course, she wouldn't. “I meant for the way I left the following morning. I had to get home.”
“Your husband?” She nods. “Marnie, take off the glasses.” Her shoulders sag with a sigh, but she takes them off. Son-of-a-fucking-bitch! He really did a number on her face. “He did that to you, didn't he?”
“I didn't come here to talk about what my ex-husband did and didn't do to me.” Ex-husband? “Well, technically, we're still married, but I left him. He'll be my ex-husband as soon as I can sort the divorce. Anyway,” She shakes her head. “I'm getting off the subject. Paul and I have never had children. He can't have them. You are the only person I have slept with in over six months.”
Her husband doesn't even sleep with her? Is he blind? This girl is fucking everything a woman should be.
“The man cheats on me all the time,” She shrugs in answer to my unasked question. “I don't think I'm his type. Anyway, I'm pregnant, and you're the father.”
Okay, what?
I think my mouth is hanging open a little too wide. Did Marnie say that she's pregnant and its mine? Is she fucking insane?!
“Draven?”
“You expect me to believe this shit?” Her face drops, her eyes are wide. “You really think some other bitch hasn't tried to pull this crap before?” They have. Women will try anything to get to the boss. That's why I'm careful, and I was careful with Marine!
“I am not a bitch!”
“No?” I lean forward in my seat, my arms on the table. “Your husband beats the shit out of you, so you come here and tell me that you're having my kid? What did you think would happen? That I'd tell you that you've given me the best thing in the world, the thing I want the most? Did you think I'd tell you that you're my girl now? That I'll never let anything happen to you, that I'd get my men to drag your piece of shit husband here so I can break his fingers, threaten him to stay away from you or I'll kill him? Grow up!” I hiss at her, but she doesn't flinch, she looks me dead in the eye. This girl is strong and so fucking beautiful. Also, a damn liar! “This ain't the movies, bitch!”
“Call me a bitch again, and I'll cut your dick off!” Damn, she's fucking hot! No one talks to me like that and gets away with it. No one would dare for fear I'd end them, but why do I find her too damn intriguing to stop her? “I know this isn't the movies, jackass. I didn't come here expecting anything from you. I don't even want anything from you, but I thought my baby had the right to know its father, and you are the father, Draven. However, I don't need you, and this baby doesn't need you. I can manage on my own.”
“That kid you're carrying isn't mine, and you know it! We used protection!”
“Not the first time we didn't. You pinned me against the wall, got carried away and didn't wrap up.” Damn, fuck, she's right! “I didn't stop you letting your little swimmers off inside of me, and that's on me, and I'll deal with it.”
She gets to her feet, her purse on her shoulder. “For the record, Don Draven Vidal, I am not a liar. I didn't need to come here and tell you anything. I could've kept this from you, never letting you know that you're going to be a father. No one in their right mind would want you as a father to their child! However, this baby means everything to me, even with you as the father, and I believed I was doing what was right for it.” She slips her sunglasses on to her face and sighs. “I'm sorry I bothered you, I never will again. I'd appreciate it if you didn't bother me either.”
She stomps off, leaving me gobsmacked and rock fucking hard! Goddamn, I have to have her. If the kid is mine, then so is she.
I lean back in my seat and smirk to myself. DNA will put to rest any doubts I might have. However, if her husband can't have kids, and I'm the only man she's been with behind his back, then I think the evidence is pretty conclusive.
“Tony,”
“Boss?”
I turn to Tony and smirk. “Keep an eye on her. If anyone comes near her, you tell me, especially that cunt ex of hers. She's important; she may just be carrying precious cargo.”
He raises an eyebrow and smiles.
Me? A father? The biggest test of my life could be upon me, one I cannot and will not fail at.
Chapter Three
Marnie
Who'd have thought pregnancy would be this expensive?
Doctors visits are the most expensive. I'm not going to be able to afford everything I need without taking on a second job. Because there's no way on this earth I will let my sister and her husband pay for the things I need, this baby is my responsibility, not my sister's.
I need the second job because the job I managed to get at the pet stor
e in town doesn't pay enough. It wasn't easy to find that job, never mind a second one. Brooke said she'd ask Draven if there was any work going at his restaurant. I soon shot that down. There is no way on earth; I want to go anywhere near that man after the way he spoke to me. I did thank her though. It was kind of her to try.
After a couple of days, I managed to find a job waitressing in a restaurant not too far from Brooke's house, so I won't have far to drive. I don't know who's looking down on me right now, but two jobs are not easy to come by in this town.
Of course, Brooke is not happy about the second job thing; she doesn't think it's wise for me to work so many hours in my condition. However, if I want a home of my own, I need to save money. It's crazy to think of how much I need to buy for this child. Although, I'm not going to buy anything until I have my own place set up.
I've found a little apartment on the other side of town. It's tiny but big enough for the baby and me. I just need the bond and the first and last months rent — three thousand dollars, which isn't too bad for this area. I also need enough money for furniture and things for the baby. Then I need to keep my old banger of a car running. In truth, I need thousands of dollars that I'm not likely to get any time soon. It all seems so hopeless right now. How on this earth, am I meant to get the kind of money I need?