Page 53 of Jake's Angel

I blink through my tears and nod once, acknowledging what I now know is Caleb’s voice.

“Your daughter died, same as Maggie! We buried them for fuck’s sake!” Jake shouts, his voice harsh and full of rage.

I take another look at the people in the room with me. Strangers. All of them. Loneliness hits me like a wave at this moment. Even Sadie seems distant to me. Hawk has her wrapped in his arms as they sit on the floor. She’s curled up into him, sobbing. I’m the one they’re all arguing about and yet here she sits, sobbing.

Why?

Jake and Gabe are yelling in each other’s faces, standing almost toe-to-toe with Mack and Declan standing between them, serving as a buffer. There’s an older looking gentleman sitting at the table. He’s typing away on the laptop where Hawk was once sitting. Jameson leans over his shoulder, looking at what he doing on it.

Caleb is standing behind me with his hand still firmly planted on my shoulder, tethering me to what is my current reality, but my mind is playing everything like a movie reel, panning in and out on the details. Unfortunately, the soundtrack playing along with this horror flick doesn’t seem to match the movements of people’s mouths. The voices overlap excessively. Too much chaos. I cover my ears to shut it all out, left with only the rushing sound that is my breathing. The soft, sporadic, whooshing sound of my own body trying to regain some type of control.

I feel a twinge of loss when Caleb removes his hand from my shoulder, taking the only little comfort I had with it. Wrapping his lips around his fingers, he whistles loud enough that the men all stop what they’re doing immediately.

“Everyone, sit your asses down and shut the fuck up!” Jameson shouts. They all give their undivided attention to me and the massive man who is now looming over me from behind.

The men take turns glancing around at one another. Everyone, that is, except Gabe and Jake, who appear to be engaged in a major staring contest. Gabe’s filled with indignation. Jake’s with disgust and outrage.

“Son?” Caleb nudges Gabe. “We need to talk this out with Avery, then you two can finish ripping each other apart.”

“Jake, go sit your ass down. You’re scaring the hell out of her.” Declan’s voice, though hushed, carries a warning to it. Jake’s eyes immediately snap to mine, looking distraught and sympathetic. He gives Declan a slight nod as he takes in my fraught state. I draw my knees to my chest in a last-ditch effort to protect myself from what’s coming.

“Gabriel, you better explain yourself and quickly, son. She’s not looking so good over here. I think we’d best get this done and then let your mother come and take care of her, yeah?”

There’s a heavy sigh coming from where Gabe has finally seated himself once again. He leans his elbows on his knees and studies me.

“I’m sorry you had to find out this way. This wasn’t … I didn’t plan …” He swallows hard, choking back on his own emotions. “I don’t know where to start.”

“How about at the part where you fucking lied to everyone in this room, even her?”

“Jake! Reign your shit in or you can get the fuck out!” Mack stands beside Gabe as he shouts his orders. Jake’s face has hardened. His jaw is tense and his mouth is pulled tight, keeping him from speaking, but he doesn’t need to. Everything he’s thinking, all the murderous thoughts, is there in the depths of his narrowed blue eyes.

Skyler’s husband takes up a spot behind him, gripping Jake’s shoulder. I don’t know if he’s trying to hold him back, calm him down, or showing solidarity. I have no clue what is happening.

“I may have lied, but it was to protect Averyandthis family. The club. I had no other choice.”

“That’s bullshit!”

“Jake. One more and you’re gone. You got me?” This time Declan is there, putting his hand to Jake’s other shoulder in a firm grip.

“I don’t … what is going on? Will someone just please tell me why I’m here? What this is all about?” I hate how shaky my voice sounds. I hate how a place meant to make me feel safe is making me feel anything but. Jake watches me cautiously. He’s furious, but not at me.

When his eyes meet and hold mine, there’s pain, maybe even a little guilt there.

Gabe clears his throat and starts again.

“I don’t know what you were told about your mother’s past, but I feel like I need to set a few things straight for you, starting with the fact that she was my wife.”

“That’s not possible. My mother was never married.”

“Yes, sweetheart, she was. She was my wife and you are our daughter, Avery Rose.” I can’t breathe. I want to run, but my ass feels like it has cement in it, holding me to the chair.

This has to be some sort of cruel joke.

“I told you—I don’t have parents.” I grit the words out between clenched teeth. Hearing him talk about my mother, pretending to be my father, has caused an uncontrollable pain in my chest. The more he talks, the further the burning sensation spreads. I left to get away from this pain, and yet here it is again, clawing at me with every word he speaks.

“Science would beg to differ.” My head snaps up at Hawk’s smartass comment just in time to see him holding his ribs where Sadie has elbowed him in my defense.

“Asshole,” she hisses.

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