Page 51 of Angel

Both of them had been careful not to reference their shared experience at the bar or the consequences of that union. Angel wondered if it was better to just not include that night in their history but knew that they couldn’t just forget about forgetting about it. They’d created a child that night. The universe had deemed it wasn’t a child they would get to ever meet, but it had still been theirs.

Angel felt a tear escape her eye. She went to wipe it away but Cage’s thumb got to it first. “They call it a chemical pregnancy,” she explained softly. “The egg never attached itself to my uterine lining. They claim it was never real. That, if I hadn’t taken that pregnancy test so early, I’d have never known.” She took in a shuddering breath. “But it felt real to me.”

“Maybe what you need is closure. A chance to say goodbye.”

Angel looked up at him. “Maybe you need that too.”

He nodded slowly. “I can see it, you know. A little girl with your spunk, covered in mud, and not taking shit from anyone, even her parents.”

Angel’s smile was sad. “She would have had you wrapped around her little finger.”

“Completely,” Cage agreed. He wiped another tear from her cheek. “Just like her mother.”

Angel turned her face into his hand. “It can be small, but I think you’re right. I need closure. We can’t tell Bree the details, but she has the right to mourn too. She lost a sibling.”

“We can put together a little service,” Cage told her softly. “Maybe light some of those floating candles to give our baby a proper sendoff.”

Angel felt her chin start to tremble again. “I think I’d like that.”

“It’s late,” Cage reminded her. “There’s no way in hell either of us is sleeping in my apartment. Why don’t we get dressed and head home. Bree’s probably asleep at Bulldog’s already. We’ll take her out to the park or somewhere nice tomorrow and tell her what happened.”

Angel nodded. “Thank you.”

As they got themselves dressed, Angel grabbed the paper towels she’d used earlier and threw them out. She was a mess. Still, she needed to clean herself up enough to walk home.

Cage stood behind her and watched as she wet a paper towel and scrubbed her face. “I meant what I said, you know.”

Angel looked into the mirror and met his eyes. “What’s that?”

“When you’re ready, we can try again.”

Angel’s heart pinched at the idea, but she was open to it. “I need to talk to Tessa. I don’t remember everything the doctor told me that night. I need to make sure the chances are low of that happening again. I don’t think… I couldn’t…”

Cage’s arms encircled her middle from behind. “We’ll talk to Tessa or make an appointment with your vagina doctor.”

Angel snorted. “Really? Vagina doctor?”

He placed his chin on her shoulder and smiled at her in the mirror. “Whatever happens, whatever comes next, we face it together, sweetness. You are no longer alone.”

Angel leaned back against him. “I like that, not being alone.”

“Well that’s good because my mom is going to flip her shit that I am now in a committed relationship and am going to be a dad.” He added softly, “I’d like to adopt Bree too. I’ve been thinking about it basically from the beginning. I want to be more to her than just her kidney donor.”

“We’ll ask her,” Angel told him. “I don’t have an issue with it as long as it’s what she wants too.”

Cage kissed her cheek. “Hurry up. I want to get you home and in the shower. You smell really bad.”

CHAPTER 9

Angel wasn’t expecting an audience upon leaving the clubhouse bathroom. Those with kids like Harper and Tessa were gone, but their men were still present. She didn’t know what they’d heard or knew, but the sorrow in the room was palpable. If anyone had overheard Cage inquire about a pregnancy, they would have been cheerful and excited. Hell, there wasn’t an alpha male in this room who didn’t turn to mush when a baby was put in his arms.

Cage followed closely behind Angel, a hand at the small of her back. She leaned into him, taking solace in his presence and commitment.

Angel took a deep breath and addressed the room. She saw Ivy hanging in the doorway that led to the apartments. Jenna and Jasmine were the only ol’ ladies present. Beyond that, it was only their club brothers. No kids or family members.

“I was pregnant but I lost the baby. I don’t want to go into detail about how, just know that I lost it before Bree’s and my attack at the tattoo shop. Cage was the father.” Her voice cracked on the word ‘was’. She had to close her eyes for a moment to get herself under control. “We don’t have the details yet but we’re going to plan a small funeral service for our baby. We’d be honored if you would attend. Bree does not know,” she added more sternly. “Cage and I are going to take her out tomorrow and tell her what happened.”

Silence followed her speech. Angel reached behind her and took Cage’s hand with the intent of leaving the building. Steel stepped forward, blocking her path.

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