I reached for her, wanting to help her to her feet but she swatted me away. She pushed at the couch cushion and the arm of the couch. She lifted up a few inches and then plopped back down again. I started to laugh, thinking she was playing a little game or something, but then she burst into tears.
Her hands gripped the couch like she was in pain.
Only one thought came to mind: she’s having the baby. Right here. Right now. And I’m alone with her.
“Eden…” I touched her shoulder. “Is it the baby?”
She looked at me as tears rolled down her cheeks. “What?”
“Are you having the baby?”
She smiled and a tear trickled over her top lip. I hurried to wipe it away.
“Why are you crying and smiling?”
“Do you think Trev is fucking someone else?”
“What?” I asked.
“I’m serious. He’s away right now. He always has to go away. Look at me. My feet are bloated. My ass is huge. I can’t help my stomach. It’s…”
“You’re beautiful, Eden,” I said. “You’re doing something that Trev can never take away from you. There’s no chance…”
“Harlee,” Eden said. “It’s the life. Do you even know where they are?”
“Some fight thing.”
“Yeah. All these gatherings involve fights, drinking, and women. And the women are young, stunning, and willing to do anything. It’s part of it all, okay? What happens on a run stays on a run, I guess. But that doesn’t mean I don’t think about it. Or that it doesn’t hurt me.”
“So Trev has done…”
Eden shook her head. “No. But look at me now.”
I quickly moved off the couch and crouched in front of her. I touched her face. She was genuinely upset. And me? I was greedy.
Why?
Because if Trev was… what about Trent?
“You’re pregnant,” I said. “You’re beautifully pregnant. I’ve seen the way Trev looks at you. Nothing compares to you. Nothing ever will.”
“Pussy is pussy,” Eden said.
I had to admit - that took me back a few breaths to hear that come from her mouth. She was fast, smart, and face it, she had more experience in this life than I did. My existence with Night Soul was basically almost being the woman Eden was afraid of right then.
I lowered my head. “Dammit. I’m sorry, Eden. I wish I could say something.” I looked at her again. “You don’t have faith in him?”
“Of course I do,” she said. “I love Trev with all my heart. But drinks are drinks, guys are guys, and they all want the girls. Maybe there’s some brunette with nipple rings and that thing catches his attention for one night. I can’t compete with that.”
Compete? That’s what we were doing?
“I don’t want to believe that,” I said, damn well knowing I was lying and that Eden could see I was lying. “I…”
“I shouldn’t have brought it up,” Eden said. “I’ve just been thinking it for a while now. I know Trev is under a lot of pressure with things. But it gets to me, okay? I know I was tough back in the clubhouse, but I’m scared. I said it before and I’ll say it again, I’m scared for my daughter.”
“And I told you before she’s going to have the biggest and baddest family ever.”
“If they survive,” Eden said. “How soon will my daughter experience death?”
Yeah, that took my breath away again. Eden was going down a dark road that I had no answer for.
“Oh, Eden,” I said. “It could be anyone, anytime, wearing any shirt, jacket, leather. You know how death is.”
“They fuck with it though.”
“I know they do. I know.”
We just stared at each other. I felt like I was going to cry. Maybe somewhere in my mind I had already known that Trent claiming me didn’t mean I’d only be his. That’s not how it worked. I’d wear his ink. I’d wear his ring. I’d have his kids. But if his dick wanted to explore… that was the life. As long as he crawled back home to me to fuck me, let me care for him, give me his heart, and most of all, protect me. That’s all that mattered.
“Oh, I feel like an idiot,” Eden said.
I sat back and sat on the coffee table. “Don’t. You have every right to feel how you want. I’ve just been so caught up in everything going on I haven’t had a chance to really think about things.” I looked to the diamond ring on my finger. “Like this…”
“Shit. I hope you’re not worried about Trent. I’ll hate myself forever, Harlee.”
“Trent is going to do what he wants, when he wants. That’s what I’ve learned.”
“That’s Trev,” Eden said. “He was just a guy at the table when I met him. He knew about my father and was right there to help me. I watched him go from this bad ass guy into a charter President.”
“I don’t think Trent will be a President. He likes his patch. He likes to hurt people.”
“Only those who deserve it,” Eden said. “That’s the hardest thing to remember.”
I shook my head. “Look at us. Sitting here, worrying about what our guys are doing. Or who they’re doing. They’re out there fighting for us. Trent is going to win a fight to get back at the people that hurt me. Trev is doing it to make sure you’re safe… and your baby.”
“Still… if they’re fucking other women…”
“There’s no way we could find out right now,” I said. “Hey, maybe we should call some prospects in here to give us some action.”