Strays

Like A Band-Aid

Chapter Thirteen

Jaycee

After one of the most uncomfortable exams of my life, I leave the office with a bottle of prenatal vitamins. Everything is moving so quickly that I can barely keep up with it all.

I'm going to be a mother. That's crazy.

Never in my life have I even thought about having children. As far as I know, I don't have a single maternal instinct. At least I'll have Aunt Gemma. Out of everyone, she has that instinct in abundance — which is exactly why we're on our way to Charming. I have to bite the bullet and tell my family before I start showing.

Or... at least tell them as much as they need to know. If it gets Jax off my back, that's an added bonus.

Now if only Tully would call me back so I can fill him in on the situation. Donny tried to reach him earlier, but he hasn't responded yet. That's... new. I've never had an issue getting ahold of him before, and worry isn't a feeling I enjoy.

Anything could be happening to him — or Juan — in that prison right now. That thought knots my stomach, so I just keep telling myself they're fine. Maybe it's just one of those days he doesn't have a guard on the payroll.

"When did you meet Tully?" I ask Donny after getting sick of the silence — and my own spiraling thoughts.

He shrugs indifferently. "We did some time together a few years back. He watched my ass in there, and I do the same for him out here."

"You got any family?" I ask without thinking. If he does, I know his wife has to be pissed he isn't home every night.

Shaking his head, regret flickers across his face. "Nope. None that are alive anyway."

"Sounds like such a familiar story," I murmur absently.

It doesn't matter if you're in a street gang or an MC — the stories are all the same. Greed and corruption always win. In the end, you lose everything. I've always tried to keep myself grounded so I'd never end up like Clay.

Donny leans back in his seat. "We all got one. But hey, not having anyone has its advantages. Look at Tully." He gestures lazily. "He's made more money than he'd ever know what to do with. If he had a family? He probably wouldn't have been running the streets."

Part of me wonders if the news about the baby will make him completely disregard our deal and tell me to fuck off — choosing not to retire after all. Or... is he serious about the arrangement with Juan and me? Will the baby ground him, keep him to his word, and out of the streets once he's home?

With Leland dead, there's a fifty-fifty chance I end up back in Charming... with the baby of a dead rat growing inside my womb.

Once we pull into TM's parking lot, Donny parks the truck, and I get out quickly, wanting to get this over with. Georgie and Theo get out of their trucks, scanning the lot like shadows on guard duty.

"Over here," I call, opening the door and stepping inside. "Hey, Ratty."

He nods at me in passing. "Hey, Jaycee," he says before disappearing back into the garage.

"Well, if it isn't Miss Teller?"

I know that Southern drawl anywhere. "Venus!" I exclaim, practically running up to hug the fabulous woman.

"Oh, lovely, it's been too long!" She beams like always. "Alexander says you ran off with some klansman. Please tell me that's not true."

Pulling back from the embrace, I shake my head. "There's a bit more to it than that, V. We need coffee soon. I'll tell you everything."