“No, you wouldn’t.”
“Raven, I was new. I’d moved to a town with an MC and yet claimed to want the quiet life. I get it. Now, I get it, but I didn’t. You trusted Smokey. He became your one constant. The one person you could rely on, and he had bad information, but you did it to protect him because that is who you are. You protect. You did it for me, and I know that’s not going to stop you from doing it again. You do whatever you can to protect those you care about. Even if it means hurting yourself in the process. You are a good person, Raven.”
“How can you even say that?”
“Because I’ve seen it. I watched you that day. You … were fearless. You saved me and you saved Umberto.” Ava put a hand on top of hers. “And there is no way I could ever hate you. Not anymore.”
Tears filled Raven’s eyes, and this time, she didn’t fight them off. She let them fall.
****
Carlos knew Ava glared at him, but he didn’t care.
He’d followed them both to the clubhouse, and then to the doctor’s. When he realized what Raven was doing, he’d parked his car and barged into the waiting room. Raven and Ava sat together. She had looked annoyed with him, but he’d taken a seat beside her. He’d told her Ava could go, that he was here to take care of her.
She’d told him that Ava was there to stay, so when her name was called, he and Ava walked into the room.
Raven was asked to climb up on the bed. She had needed to lift her dress up. From what Carlos understood, she had already had her blood taken, and they were waiting for the results. She didn’t trust him, and he hated that.
They had an ultrasound machine, and Ava removed her leather cut marking her as Smokey’s woman and placed it over Raven’s legs. The dress she wore, and she seemed to always be wearing dresses, was pulled up toward her waist.
Ava wouldn’t allow him to get any closer to Raven, which did piss him off, but he also didn’t push his luck. The doctor watched them from time to time.
“This will be a little cold,” the doctor said.
Raven nodded. She hadn’t spoken to him.
The gel went on her stomach, and he watched as Ava held Raven’s hand. It was a tight grip. He saw from the white-knuckle marks.
The doctor placed the ultrasound device thing, Carlos had no idea what it was, on Raven’s stomach.
No one spoke.
Raven wouldn’t even look at him.
He wanted her to look at him.
“I can confirm, Raven, you are indeed pregnant.” The doctor turned the monitor and pointed at the screen. “It is early days yet, so you have to give your baby time to grow. But there it is. The blood tests will be along shortly. I can confirm with you via a phone call if you’d like.”
“Yes, I’d like that.”
“Wait, this is just to determine if you’re pregnant? Raven, I told you that you were.”
The gel was wiped off her stomach.
“Will I get to come up with a treatment plan?” Raven asked. “All the necessary appointments after the blood tests?”
“Yes. I will have the nurse arrange everything and call you with the dates.”
“Thank you,” Raven said.
The doctor shook her hand, and then looked toward Ava and Carlos. Ava was there first, shaking the doctor’s hand.
“Lovely to see you again, Ava.”
Carlos glared at the man, and this time, he refused to shake the bastard’s hand. Raven walked out of the office with Ava. He followed close behind, hating that he didn’t know what the fuck was going on, and it pissed him off.
“You didn’t believe me?” Carlos asked as they stepped out of the doctor’s office.
Raven turned toward him, finally acknowledging him. “Why should I believe you?”
“I haven’t lied to you.”
She burst out laughing. “Oh, my God, do you really think that?”
“Raven?”
“You do, don’t you?”
Ava hadn’t left.
“You can leave,” he said to her.
“Don’t you dare talk to her that way,” Raven said. “She is here because I asked her to be here. I wanted to know for myself, and no, I don’t trust you. Why should I trust you?”
“I’ve never done anything to hurt you.”
“Wow, oh, my, really? That’s what you’re going with?” she asked. “You’ve never done anything to hurt me.” She shook her head. “I can’t believe you.”
“It was for your own good.”
“My own good! Lying to me. Knocking me up. That was for my own good? That beat just telling me the truth?” Raven asked.
“I was trying to protect you.”
Raven closed her eyes. “I’m not the best judge of character when it comes to protecting people, but what I have learned is that you don’t lie to people. You don’t manipulate them. You don’t … play with their feelings.” Raven stepped toward him. “You lied to me, Carlos. You made me— I fell in love with you, and it was all a lie. You were just dealing with Smokey’s problem. Why? You wanted a bit of fun with the biker chick with attitude. Once you get bored, and you will, you’ll move on.”