Cupid's Arrow (Devils Rejects MC 4)

“Why would I lie?” She grabs my hand and holds it to her belly. “I’m almost through my first trimester. Do the math.”

This can’t be happening. Life is fucking me up the ass without any lube. If she is telling the truth…about Boogeyman…about the baby she’s going to use both against me. “We don’t have to be together for me to raise this baby with you.”

“No, but it’s what I want. I want us to be a family. I haven’t told my folks. My daddy will kick me out. You know how religious he i

s. He’ll disown me if I have a child out of wedlock…I’ll have nothing.”

“I’ll get you an apartment once I see proof that this baby is real, and you hand over whatever you have on Boogeyman.” She cackles sounding like a witch from an old Halloween movie.

“I know all about your whore you have living with you. Let me tell you how this is going to go down. First, you are going to send that tramp packing. Second, you will move me back in. Third, we are going to renew our vows.”

“Why the fuck would I do that?”

“Because if you don’t I will go to the police and tell them how you and your club kidnapped those college girls. I will tell them how Boogeyman brainwashed Shelly. You didn’t think him killing that prospect was all I had on you. Baby, I’ve missed you and I have been watching your every move.”

I grab her throat and squeeze. “I could make you disappear,” I grit in her face.

“But you won’t,” she croaks as I let her go. “You won’t hurt your baby.”

I turn away from her, biting my knuckle. What the fuck am I to do? Hades will want her dealt with. No matter what I do, I’m going to be hurting a woman and my child. Two fucking kids coming at the same time. Motherfuck me. “I need a week.”

“You have three days to kick her to the curb and bring me home. If anything happens to me, I have a friend who knows to go to the police,” she warns and there’s a confidence in her tone that tells me she isn’t bluffing. Mandy means every word. She’s never been a good liar.

Swallowing, I nod. We part ways and I wonder how in the fuck she knows so Goddamned much. Someone has been feeding her information but who? I want to tell Boogeyman but am afraid of what he will do. If what she says is true, then I have another child to protect.

Maybe if I explain to MaryAnn…tell her the truth…if she makes it convincing for Mandy then it will buy us time to find out who in the hell she is getting her intel on the club from. Hades is going to have my balls chopped off.

There are only two people I can trust right now in the club. Hades and Boogeyman. I’m going to have to investigate every Goddamned member and prospect. Hell, it could be an old lady whose old man talks too damn much.

Chapter Fourteen

—MaryAnn

I knew today…hell the past few months were too damn good to be true. I can see it written on his face. Whatever Ryan is about to say to me I don’t want to hear it. He’s going to destroy me. I finally let my walls down and he’s going to demolish the rest of my foundation. When I came through the door after going shopping with the girls he was sitting at the kitchen table nursing a beer. Next to the beer was an empty bottle of Jack Daniels. I don’t know if it was full when he sat down with it but judging by the smell of him it was close enough. His head hung low and when his eyes lifted to mine I wanted to cry.

The man who had promised me the world this morning was getting ready to take it all back.

I’ve been standing at the sink washing the same plate for five minutes waiting for him to get the courage to say what he needs to say. However, he decides to spin it, I already get the gist of it—we’re over before we really began. At least he possibly gave me something beautiful that no one can take away from me…this child growing inside me.

I feel his breath on the back of my neck and his arm curling around my waist. “I want you, sweet Mary.” His torturous lips that I crave touch the base of my neck. His hot, sticky, liquor coated breath clings to my skin as his tongue darts out and licks before his teeth bite and suck me there.

“You’re drunk.” I move to dry the plate and put it away, but he tightens his hold.

“Don’t pick a fight. Tonight I need to hold you. I need to love you. I need to get lost inside you.”

I twist around to face him, on the verge of tears. “It won’t change whatever is eating away at you.”

“No, but it means I can deal with it tomorrow.” So many emotions are swimming in his eyes. I feel dizzy trying to recognize them all. “Give in to me.” He cradles my face and I am powerless to deny him. He’s right. Whatever it is can wait until tomorrow. Even if he breaks my heart at least we’ll have tonight. “I hope you know how much I love you and how damn happy you make me.” His voice though doesn’t match his words. He sounds so sad and faraway. Detached.

Trying not to focus on the worry that is harping in the recess of my mind I muster a smile. “I love you too.” Our lips meet, his tasting of liquor and regret. Mine so full of want and hope, praying I have enough love in me to get us through whatever we are about to face. I want to believe that Ryan loves me but something is already coming between us. I thought maybe the stuff with Zo Zo, but I’m not so sure. I wanna know what’s changed since this morning but I won’t dare ask him.

Not yet.

Not tonight.

With my hand in his he leads me to the bedroom. I’m moving through the motions unable to concentrate on anything other than giving him this. What could possibly our last night together. I belong to him so completely. I don’t know how I will let him go because he’ll take all the good parts of me with him.

Ryan takes his time undressing me, studying my naked form, committing every curve, every mark, and dimple to memory. He’s memorizing every inch of me with his lips, eyes, and hands. I repay the favor, tracing every tattoo, every line of ink. The smooth touch of his hard chest. The softness of his passionate lips. The tender way he holds me. The deep longing in his gaze. I want it all forever and a day. I want to live here in this moment. The one where I get the boy. Where he chose me, and everything is okay. I don’t want tomorrow to come if it means losing him.