Broken Angels MC Book 3

TRIGGER

Jackson bolts towards Hannah as she lets out a piercing cry. “What’s wrong?” He’s in a panic, unsure of what to do. Is this a first-time dad thing, or does it happen with every pregnancy?

“The baby. She’s coming,” Hannah gasps, setting everyone into motion. “Damn it! I wanted food.” Tears start to stream down her face.

“Jackson! Get your shit together!” Hannah cries out in pain. He’s frozen in place. Her emotions are giving me a serious case of whiplash.

“Damn it, son! Your daughter is about to make her grand entrance and you’re going into shock! Let’s get her to the car. The hospital bag is already in there.

“Someone knock some sense into my son,” Robert, Jackson’s dad, orders. Rita steps forward and stands in front of her son. She pulls her hand back and slaps him across the face.

He snaps out of his daze, lifts Hannah up in his arms, and rushes to their SUV.

“We’ll meet you at the hospital,” he shouts as he speeds out of the clubhouse.

“You handle this. Meet us at the hospital when it’s done,” Westyn instructs. Everyone leaves and heads to the hospital to wait for the newest member of the Angel Crew.

I turn my attention back to the woman who was supposed to have been dead for twelve years. I walk past her, heading straight for the bar.

“You have five minutes to explain this shit,” I growl. I grab a beer and take a seat at a table in the room. Megan and the kid sit across from me. I take the time to study the kid.

He’s got my black hair, my brown eyes, and my nose. He looks like a younger version of me. He can’t be more than eleven or twelve. She didn’t just fake her death, she had a kid. My kid.

I’ve overheard Ali and Hannah talking about books where men lose the “one,” and when the woman comes back years later with a kid, the guy takes her back.

I’d probably have done the same damn thing if she had told me about it all those years ago, but too much time has passed, and I don’t think I can ever get past that.

“This is Morgan. He’s your son. It’s hard to deny that. He’s your spitting image,” she begins.

“Twelve years ago, my parents decided to move. I later found out that they owed some very dangerous people money. I thought we were moving to escape them.

“I was wrong. They moved because they sold me to the family. Their son was next in line to take over and needed an heir.

“I didn’t know I was pregnant at the time, and when I found out, my parents tried to make me get rid of it. But my husband decided to let me keep it because it gave him leverage.

“He could control me by threatening my baby.”

Husband? “You’re fucking married?” I roar. “You should have come to me! We could have helped you! You left.

“I went to your house and found a note saying you’d snuck out the night before and were killed in a hit-and-run. I was devastated. But here you are, alive and fucking breathing.

“You couldn’t find a way to let me know you were alive. You couldn’t find a way to tell me I had a fucking kid?!”

I’ve missed twelve years of his life. How am I supposed to make up for that? Damn it! If she thinks we’re getting back together, she’s got another thing coming.

“I was constantly watched. If I tried anything, they would have killed not just me, but Morgan too. I couldn’t let that happen. My hands were tied, Eliot,” she says.

“Trigger. You don’t get to call me Eliot anymore. Why the fuck are you here now?” I snap.

“I need you to keep us safe. I managed to escape, but they will come for us,” she pleads.

You’ve got to be kidding me. She wants me to fucking help her. I’ll help my kid, but she’s on her own.

Fuck me. I can’t even do that. I can be an asshole sometimes, but I’m not heartless enough to leave the mother of my child to fend for herself.

“I have to bring this to the club. For now, you’re under my protection. Wherever I go, you go until I talk to the club. Now, get your stuff. We’re going to the hospital.

“My niece is being born and I’ll be damned if I’m missing that because of you.” She looks like she’s about to argue, but I turn to my son.

“Hey, kid. I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you when you needed me. I would have been if I knew you existed. You’ll be safe with me.”

“She told me you died overseas. She said that my dad was a Marine who was killed in action,” Morgan tells me. I turn my seething gaze to Megan. She doesn’t even look sorry for what she’s done.

Is any of what she told me even true? If she lied to me about my son for twelve years, what makes me think she wouldn’t lie to me about this?

“Why don’t you go over and get a drink from the bar? The prospect will get you any nonalcoholic drink you want,” I say without taking my eyes off a smug-looking Megan.

Once he’s gone, I sit down. “Care to explain that shit to me?” I can tell she’s trying to come up with a lie, but I put a stop to that before it even leaves her mouth.

“Don’t fucking lie to me. I’m not the same kid you knew twelve years ago. I will take you to court and get custody of that boy, and you won’t see him again.”

“You won’t win. It’s a mother’s state,” she smirks.

“I’m capable and I’ll do it. Push me. I dare you to push me. It might be a mother’s instinct, but I have my methods and you don’t want to see them. When did you turn into such a scheming bitch?” I asked.

The woman sitting across from me is unrecognizable. She’s transformed into someone else.

If the club allows her to stay, she’ll need to be monitored closely. There’s no way my son will be kicked out, but this woman might be.

“I have no idea what you’re implying. I’m the same person I’ve always been, Eliot. I told him you died in action because he kept questioning why he didn’t resemble my husband.

“He kept asking why he doesn’t look like his other siblings. Why his father didn’t want anything to do with him. So, I told him the truth. Well, part of the truth.

“I told him that the man he thought was his father wasn’t really his father. That his real father was someone from my past who joined the military and never returned,” she tells me.

Her other children aren’t here, so they must not be in immediate danger. With every word she utters, my anger intensifies.

I noticed she hasn’t mentioned who this husband of hers is.

“Would you care to share who your husband is? If you have other children, why aren’t they here with you?

“This man can’t be as dangerous as you claim if you trust him with your other children.

“I hate to break it to you, but your story is sounding more and more like a fabricated tale you’re spinning to get what you want.

“I can assure you this, if you get kicked out of the club, my son will not be leaving with you,” I growl.

“You’re not taking him away from me. If he’s here, so am I. If I leave, he leaves with me. I can’t tell you who my husband is, and I won’t,” she retorts.

My eyes flash dangerously, and my breathing becomes ragged. She thinks she can just waltz in here and take control. Hell no. That’s not how this works.

She’s nothing more than dirt beneath my shoe. She lied about dying, and then she lied about my son. Who knows what else she’s lying about. I intend to find out though.

She’s not going to like me when I uncover the truth. I can sense it. She’s saying whatever she thinks will help her achieve her goal. It’s not going to happen.

“You have one minute to tell me, or I swear, you can march your happy ass right out that door. Without my son,” I say calmly.

My anger has reached its peak. I’m now eerily calm—and that’s not good for anyone.

“My husband is Venom. He’s the President of the Fallen Devils, MC. I have three children with him. They’re perfectly safe with their father. I’ll get them out when the time is right.

“I have people on the inside keeping an eye on them until I can get them out.”

Damn it. The Fallen Devils. They’re involved in human trafficking, prostitution, drug trafficking, and extortion. This situation is more messed up than I thought.

“Are you fucking kidding me, Megan? Do you understand the kind of shit they’re involved in?” To say I’m furious would be an understatement.

“Don’t pretend you’re any better than they are, Eliot,” she snaps back.

“We are better than them. We’re a legal MC.” There’s no way in hell I’m going to tell her about the guns we run. That’s the only illegal activity our club is involved in.

“We don’t sell people, or drugs. We don’t do any of the shit that club does. You dragged my son into that life! As of now, you have no rights to my son. Gather your things. We’re going to the hospital.”

With that, I walk over to the bar where my son is chatting with the prospect. “Hey, kid. We need to go to the hospital. My brother’s woman is having her baby.

“Grab what you want to take. I’m not sure how long we’ll be there. You can meet your uncles.”

“Yes, sir. I can’t believe I have a dad!” he exclaims before he rushes off. I can’t believe I have a son.

Megan is waiting by the door, looking furious, but I couldn’t care less about her feelings. She brought this on herself. She should have told me from the start.

Grabbing her arm, I follow Morgan to my truck, pulling Megan along. I open the passenger door and wait for her to get in. Morgan is already sitting in the back.

She gets in, shooting me one last venomous look. I shut the door and head to my side. Sliding into the truck, I start it and drive towards the hospital.

This is a disaster waiting to happen.

We reach the hospital in record time. I find a parking spot and Morgan is already out of the truck before I can park and turn off the engine.

“Get out,” is all I say before exiting the car myself. “You excited, kid?”

“You have no idea. I was always locked away in a room. I never had anyone to talk to or hang out with. Mom barely came to see me.

“She would just come when it was time for me to eat. I wasn’t allowed to eat with the family. Do you think they’ll like me?”

The more I learn about this kid, the angrier I get. He shouldn’t have had to endure what he did.

She should have just brought him to me. He would have been happy here. Not locked in a damn room.

“They’re going to love you. You’re family. You never have to worry about being locked in a room again. You have free rein at the clubhouse, and you’ll be living with me at my house.

“I have a house close to the clubhouse that’s on the same land as some of my brothers.” I throw my arm over his shoulder and lead them into the hospital.

“Where’s Mom going to stay?” he asks in a hushed tone.

“If she’s allowed, she’ll be at the clubhouse. But either way, you’re staying with me,” I assure him. Megan shoots me a glare, but I return it with a stony expression.

She’s got another thing coming if she thinks I’m going to let her take my son, especially after finding out how she’s been treating him. As we reach the waiting room doors, I pause and look into Morgan’s eyes.

“Listen, there are some people in there who aren’t too fond of your mom. They might not be thrilled that she’s here, but you don’t need to worry. They’re going to love you.”

He nods, takes a deep breath, and follows me into the hospital.

“What the hell, Trig! Why’d you bring her here? She’s not welcome,” Aliana snaps, her eyes burning holes into Megan. If Axyl wasn’t holding her back, I’m sure she’d be laying into Megan again.

“Just hear him out, Ali, baby,” Axyl soothes. She relaxes a bit, but her glare is still locked onto a smirking Megan.

She needs to wipe that smirk off her face, pronto. She’s disrespecting the VP’s old lady. No one gets away with that.

“Oh! He’s the spitting image of you at his age!” my mom exclaims before I can get a word in. “He’s your son, isn’t he?”

She turns her gaze to Megan. “She kept him from you, and you brought her here!”

“Mom. Please.” I glance at my dad as he whispers something into Mom’s ear. She calms down and nods, signaling for me to continue.

“I can’t say much until we hold church, but this is Morgan and he’s my son. He’s twelve. Megan moved away because of her parents, and she didn’t know she was pregnant then.”

Or so she claims. I leave that part out.

“Why the hell didn’t she find a way to tell you then? Something’s not adding up here, boy,” Rob growls.

“That’s a matter for church. All I can say is that they need protection. But my son will be staying with me permanently, even after all this blows over.

“The things he’s told me in the short time I’ve known him have me wanting to put a bullet in her head, and you know how I feel about hurting women.”

Rob nods and drops the subject for now. I turn to see my son looking nervous. They really did a number on him.

I can’t help but wonder what else he’s been through besides being locked in a room. I’ll find out, and when I do, all hell will break loose.

“Morgan, I’d like you to meet everyone.” I introduce him to everyone, and my mom and dad pull him into a bone-crushing hug.

“You’re not keeping my son from me. As soon as you help me out, we’ll be leaving,” Megan snaps.

“I don’t think so,” my mom retorts. “You think you can keep him from us for twelve years and then just show up because you need help? That’s not how this works.”

Megan rolls her eyes at my mom’s outburst. She’s treading on thin ice, and it’s getting thinner by the second.

“You better watch your attitude. You’re disrespecting my mother. You disrespected the VP’s old lady. Watch yourself,” I growl so only she can hear me.

“I want to stay here, Mom. They’re nice to me.

“They’ve accepted me in less than ten minutes, when I’ve been with you for twelve years and you just left me in a room by myself.

“I don’t want to go back with you,” Morgan says, fear flickering in his eyes.

“Son, you’re not going anywhere with her. You’re staying here with your family. Trust me,” my dad reassures him, pulling Morgan back into his embrace.

My dad gives the best hugs. It might sound silly, but it’s true. He has a way of calming you down with just a touch, but when he hugs you, you feel invincible.

“You’re safe now. No one will ever hurt you again.” A sob escapes him and my heart shatters.

This kid has managed to break down every defense I had around my heart in less than two hours.

We spend time in the waiting room getting to know Morgan better. He’s a great kid, and I can’t wait to learn everything about him. He’s incredibly smart.

While he’s distracted by the mom squad and Aliana, I gather the men on the other side of the room.

“She’s married to Venom. She wants protection until she can get her other three kids out of the clubhouse. She won’t tell me why, but I’m going to find out if it’s the last thing I do.

“She’s neglected my kid. He wasn’t allowed to eat with the family, so he was stuck in a room by himself most of the time. I’m not sure what else he’s had to endure.

“We need to get him evaluated for school since I’m not sure if he’s had any education. I need to get him to a doctor because I doubt he’s had any medical care.”

I relay some of what Megan told me. As soon as I finish explaining everything that happened at the clubhouse, a beaming Jackson bursts through the doors.

“Nine pounds, eight ounces, and twenty-one inches long. She looks just like her mom. Linden has arrived. Both baby and mom are okay. I need to get back.”

He’s gone in a flash and everyone laughs at the overjoyed father. Time to meet the newest addition to the family.