Page 49 of Rebel

“Something weighing on your mind, beautiful?” Logan’s voice was deep and teasing in my ear, and it sent a rush of heat down my spine and around my waist like a caress before it settled between my thighs. Hot and wet and heavy.

“A lot, actually.” I turned to face him and took a step back. I couldn’t touch him or let him touch me or else I’d never get the words out.

“What’s wrong? Tell me.” His hands gripped my shoulders. “Nikki.”

My eyes slid shut for just a moment. “I have to tell you something. It’s something big and I’m just trying to find the words to tell you without you hating me.”

“You’re scaring me.” His brows dipped and he searched my face.

“Logan, the reason that I was so upset with you about leaving without a word was, initially, all about my ego. I thought I had misread everything between us, that maybe I had rose-colored goggles on and the night wasn’t what it seemed.”

“You didn’t and it was exactly how it seemed.” His jaw clenched tight, but his gaze held mine. “It was a mistake, that’s all.”

“Yeah, I know but a couple months later it was about more than my ego.” I sighed, searching his gaze to see if he knew where I was going with this long-winded speech. Or was it a monologue? “It was because my period was late, and I was pregnant.”

He froze. I mean still as a fucking statue.

I was terrified but I had to move forward. “Yeah. I did a few shows with a garbage can beside me so I could get sick during commercial breaks. I went to the doctor and found out I was pregnant.” I shook my head. “I was terrified. And angry. And hurt.”

“Pregnant.”

“Yeah,” I sighed.

“Livvy?”

I nodded, the words stuck in my throat. “I know I should have told you sooner and I understand if you hate me.” I held my breath and waited for Logan to yell, to shout, to call me all sorts of angry names.

But he said nothing.

“Logan. Say something.”

“Livvy is my daughter.” Again it wasn’t a question, just a statement of fact.

“Yes, and I’m sorry that I didn’t say anything sooner.”

“Damn right you’re sorry.” He frowned and his lips pinched into a scowl. “You should have said something. Sooner.”

Whatever else he said was muffled by the sound of rapid gunfire followed quickly by the sound of my living room windows shattering. “Shit!” I ducked instinctively but my mind went to Livvy who would, no doubt, come running. “Livvy!” I knew she couldn’t hear me and would probably be scared, today had been too fucking eventful, so I rushed towards the steps and therefore towards the gunfire.

“Nikki, get your ass back here!”

I didn’t listen. Livvy needed me and now that he knew, he could do whatever he wanted. I had to get to Livvy. It was almost impossible to duck and run up the stairs at the same time, and I tripped several times before I made it to the top. “Livvy,” I whispered to myself, focused only on getting to my daughter.

Making sure she was safe.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Rebel

“Hey man, are you okay?” Diesel stood beside where I stared up at the night sky and the twinkling stars. I saw fuck all as I gazed up, nothing but the white hot rage of betrayal. “Rebel?”

My shoulders lifted and dropped in answer. A huff of laughter escaped. “Yeah man, I’m fucking great. Can’t you tell?” I turned to face my Prez, ignoring the way my stomach dropped, and acid filled my gut.

“The Blood Fangs shot up your woman’s house—of course you’re not all right.”

“She’s not my woman,” I spat out, my anger surged to the forefront. I should be focused on the goddamn Blood Fangs MC shooting up Nikki’s home, instead my mind was on something else. “But Livvy is my daughter.”

I expected shock, at the very least surprise. But Diesel’s expression was blank, damn near placid. “She told you.”

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