Page 6 of Broken

“I’m not in labor,” I whisper. His forehead crinkles as he looks at me with obvious confusion. My gaze lifts to the crowd that’s gathering around us, and I rethink the whole killing Lottie thing. Maybe I could just take nasty revenge on her. Then, I remember I’m not the person I used to be and, as such, revenge is out of the question. “I’m not in labor,” I deny again, so that everyone around us can hear me.

“What’s going on, then? And why was Lottie driving like a bat out of hell?” Rory, Diesel’s old lady, asks.

“I was having pain, but it wasn’t labor pains. It started as we turned onto the road leading here and supercool, normally badass Lottie disintegrated—leaving me with panic-ridden-thinks-she-is-Mario-Andretti Lottie. If I’d known that was going to happen, I would have kept the pains to myself.”

I see King’s lips twitch and realize he’s still holding my hand, helping me to stand. I quickly let go and take a step back, forcing a smile on my face for everyone here.

“You think I’m badass?” Lottie asks with a grin. I roll my eyes. “Coolest chick I know, Lottie.”

“Stop, it will go to her head and we’ll never hear the end of it,” Aspen, her sister, responds. I let out a giggle.

“Are you sure you’re okay, Gabby, honey? Maybe Dragon and I should take you to urgent care just to make sure,” Nicole offers, walking toward me and running her hand over the side of my face—as if her touch could take away the pain. It kind of does, but it’s more so because no one has touched me like that except my parents and that was before I turned into a crazy, she-bitch from hell and got my brother killed on the side of a road. I manage to hold back the tears that threaten to spring up out of nowhere. I chalk it up to pregnancy hormones and smile at her, capping my hand over hers.

“I’m fine. The doctor said as I get closer to delivery it would happen. She even warned me that my little jellybean would stop moving as much because she didn’t want me to panic. I’m good, promise.”

“I still think you should be seen,” she argues.

“I do, too,” Dragon adds in. My gaze jerks up to look at him in shock. He’s been so nice to me—super nice, honestly. I know I suck, but he freaks me out. I’m scared of him. He’s always hated me, and I know that I’ve given him every reason to. No matter how nice he is being, there’s no way that just disappeared. He’s holding it back for his wife. He’d do anything for Nicole. That’s how my dad is about my mom. It is what I wanted from Dom. It’s something I never got and then I tried to force him to give it to me, which led to me making sure he wouldnevergive that to me.

I slam the mental door on my past shut, the sound echoing in my mind like a gunshot. I know it’s only in my head, but I’m surprised everyone around me can’t hear it.

“There’s really no point,” I argue, although even I can hear the nervousness bleeding through my words.

“I don’t agree. C’mon, I’ll get Diesel’s truck and Nic and I will take you. Mine is still hooked up to the trailer.”

“I’m fine, really. I just had a long day, and I walked over to look at cribs while I was waiting on Lottie. Actually Lottie, I forgot to ask, do you think you can run by and pick up the pack and play set for me tomorrow? I’msupposedto have my car back, but I am working a double shift at the diner. I don’t want to risk them being sold out. I can give you the money, plus gas money,” I ask, rubbing my stomach.

The pain really isn’t that much. It’s light and more like sharp stinging pains. I know it’s not labor. It’s nothing like they discuss in the books or the Lamaze classes.

“Sure thing, Gabby.”

I smile, feeling warm from my head to my toes. I’ll have a bed for my baby soon. The landlord of my soon to be rental home said I could paint the walls as long as it was neutral. I’m going to do a beautiful gray and just add color here and there with my accessories. We may not have much, but I’m going to make sure my baby is safe and happy. I’ve been checking employment in Denver. I’m hoping I can get on at a call center and work from home. I don’t have a ton of experience, but I’ll have good work recommendations and I’m hoping that will help. If not, I’ll have to leave my baby in daycare, and that’s something I know I’ll have to do eventually, but I’d rather not when she’s still a baby.

“Thanks,” I answer, still smiling. “I’ll just put my purse and crap up. What do we need for the barbecue? How can I help?” I ask, directing my question to Rory and Dani. The rest of the old ladies are sitting in lawn chairs under a pop-up shelter the men put up yesterday.

“You can help by going to the doctor,” Rory says, giving me her mom look. I sigh.

“Seriously, Gabby, you need checked out,” Nicole adds.

“What you don’t need to be doing is working another double shift at the diner. I’m going to have to talk to them,” Crusher grumbles. I didn’t even realize he was here. I don’t know how I missed him, but such is the way when Dragon is in front of me demanding I go to the doctor.

“No, please. I don’t want to give them a reason to get rid of me. They’ve already been great hiring a pregnant woman. Not many places want to do that, especially when you get as far along as I am,” I practically beg. Crusher stares at me—clearly unhappy. He gives me a chin lift, which I interpret—hopefully—as acquiesce. I grin my thanks. “I’ll just go get changed and then come back out to help,” I murmur.

“I’ll take you to the doctor,” King replies, stopping my escape.

“Um …”

“You can take my vehicle,” Crusher says, tossing King the keys—which somehow, he catches easily. My face jerks up and I look at Crusher. His gaze isn’t on me, though. He’s staring at Dragon, and he seems irritated. “And what the fuck are you talking about—you’ll borrow Diesel’s?Isthere some fucking reason you can’t take my vehicle?” he barks.

Uh-oh.I’m preparing myself for biker badass fighting. I’ve seen it before. I may have never felt like I fit in around the men in Dad’s club, but that didn’t mean I’ve not seen the men going at one another. Dragon laughs in Crusher’s face—something I’m not sure most men would have balls to do.

“Fuck, I’m not driving that thing you call a ride.”

Crusher’s eyes narrow. “Asshole, it’s brand new and is totally FCS Syndrome worthy.”

“What the fuck is FCS Syndrome?” Dragon barks, and honestly, I’m glad he asked cause now I’m worried he, Dani, or one of their kids is sick.

“Fancy Car Syndrome. Dani won’t have anything that doesn’t have all the options. Fuck, I don’t even know what some of those buttons do. There are buttons to heat your ass, cool your ass, and massage your ass. Hell, the only thing I haven’t discovered is the one that makes your woman shut up,” Crusher mutters.

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