Jake’s Angel (King’s Of Fury MC #2)

Chapter 16

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

AVERY

I don’t understand why everyone is looking at me like they’ve just seen a ghost. Well, most of them. Gabe, Mack, and Caleb are all looking at everyone else in anticipation. For what, I’m not sure, but it doesn’t feel like it’s going to be anything good.

I have to ask. The panic I feel inside is slowly making its way up my chest, gradually cutting off my air supply. Clearing my throat, I try to choke past the lump currently residing there. “I’m sorry. Will someone please explain to me what’s going on? Why is everyone looking at me, like, all weird?”

Mack stands near Gabe in a protective stance, as if he’s prepared to go to war with the other men in the room. Caleb is leaned forward, his elbows on his knees, his chin in his hands, regarding me intensely. Gabe looks up at me, a glazed look of despair spread over his face. He doesn’t speak, he just stares at me, like everyone else in the room.

Fear and anger are both knotting inside me. I don’t understand what’s happening, but the overwhelming need to run has my stomach on the verge of releasing its contents here on our sacred carved wood table.

“Mack, why is everyone looking at me like that?” I ask, my voice barely a whisper, as I try to contain my anxiety and frustrations. Mack doesn’t answer, just gives a slight shake of his head. “Will someone please tell me what’s going on?”

“Who is she?” Jake asks. I haven’t been afraid of him since meeting him, but the sudden tightness in his voice has me terrified. I can hear how hard he’s struggling to keep himself calm.

Gabe places his elbows on the table, dropping his head in his hands. I assume he’s collecting his thoughts.

Why is everyone asking that?

“I’ve already told you who I am. I’m Avery West. Russell and Eleanor West’s granddaughter.” I stand to my feet, clenching my fists at my sides so tight my nails are digging into the palms of my hands. Sadie moves to stand with me, but Mack forces her to stay in her spot on the ground.

“You are Avery Rose Jenkins. Daughter of Maggie and Gabriel Jenkins,” Gabe says softly, removing his hands slowly from his face and releasing a deep, throaty sigh. “You’re my daughter.”

What the hell?

There’s a collective gasp of air, followed by several mumbled curses. I can't help but notice how Sadie's eyes appear magnified, almost as if they are too large for her face. She’s pale. Her hands shaking as she reaches to grab mine. My head is spinning, my breathing is coming in shallow pants.

Fucking hell! I can’t do this. I can’t succumb to my anxiety right now.

This can’t be possible. Can it?

Certain I couldn’t have heard him right, I cautiously ask, “What did you just say?”

Glancing across the room, I find Jake’s eyes trained on Gabe’s. There are so many emotions in his blue eyes, but it’s the anger that has me concerned. He’s ready to hurt someone. The question is— why ?

Focusing his eyes on me, Gabe’s mouth turns up at the corner in an uncomfortable half smile. “I said, you’re my daughter. Mine and Maggie’s.”

“No, that’s not possible. My mother died and my grandparents adopted me because I have no father. ”

“When Mags died, Russell adopted you and took you to live with him because I asked him to.”

“ You what? Why? ”

My chest is heaving, straining to take in air. The burning heat of fresh tears coming to the surface makes it hard to see. My hands shake, my body slowly follows suit, while a dizzy sensation takes over my mind. I grab for the edge of the chair, trying to keep myself from falling over.

I need to leave. This isn’t real. This isn’t happening. He can’t be my father. Because if he is, he left me rotting in hell.

I hear several voices barking orders for me to sit down, take a breath, and calm myself, but all of it becomes too loud and soon gets masked by the thrumming of my heart echoing in my ears. Sadie is crying somewhere off to the side while what sounds like Hawk is trying to hold her back and soothe her. Mack is yelling at someone to “sit the fuck down and remember your place,” but I’m too lost in my own scrambled thoughts to see who he’s arguing with.

A warm and soothing hand rests on my shoulder and a calm voice, much like my grandfather’s, whispers, “Have a seat, darlin′. We don’t want you passing out on the floor and hitting that pretty little head of yours. Let us explain before you run for the hills, yeah?”

I blink through my tears and nod once, acknowledging what I now know is Caleb’s voice.

“Your daughter died, same as Maggie! We buried them for fuck’s sake!” Jake shouts, his voice harsh and full of rage.

I take another look at the people in the room with me. Strangers. All of them. Loneliness hits me like a wave at this moment. Even Sadie seems distant to me. Hawk has her wrapped in his arms as they sit on the floor. She’s curled up into him, sobbing. I’m the one they’re all arguing about and yet here she sits, sobbing.

Why?

Jake and Gabe are yelling in each other’s faces, standing almost toe-to-toe with Mack and Declan standing between them, serving as a buffer. There’s an older looking gentleman sitting at the table. He’s typing away on the laptop where Hawk was once sitting. Jameson leans over his shoulder, looking at what he doing on it.

Caleb is standing behind me with his hand still firmly planted on my shoulder, tethering me to what is my current reality, but my mind is playing everything like a movie reel, panning in and out on the details. Unfortunately, the soundtrack playing along with this horror flick doesn’t seem to match the movements of people’s mouths. The voices overlap excessively. Too much chaos. I cover my ears to shut it all out, left with only the rushing sound that is my breathing. The soft, sporadic, whooshing sound of my own body trying to regain some type of control.

I feel a twinge of loss when Caleb removes his hand from my shoulder, taking the only little comfort I had with it. Wrapping his lips around his fingers, he whistles loud enough that the men all stop what they’re doing immediately.

“Everyone, sit your asses down and shut the fuck up!” Jameson shouts. They all give their undivided attention to me and the massive man who is now looming over me from behind.

The men take turns glancing around at one another. Everyone, that is, except Gabe and Jake, who appear to be engaged in a major staring contest. Gabe’s filled with indignation. Jake’s with disgust and outrage.

“Son?” Caleb nudges Gabe. “We need to talk this out with Avery, then you two can finish ripping each other apart.”

“Jake, go sit your ass down. You’re scaring the hell out of her.” Declan’s voice, though hushed, carries a warning to it. Jake’s eyes immediately snap to mine, looking distraught and sympathetic. He gives Declan a slight nod as he takes in my fraught state. I draw my knees to my chest in a last-ditch effort to protect myself from what’s coming.

“Gabriel, you better explain yourself and quickly, son. She’s not looking so good over here. I think we’d best get this done and then let your mother come and take care of her, yeah?”

There’s a heavy sigh coming from where Gabe has finally seated himself once again. He leans his elbows on his knees and studies me.

“I’m sorry you had to find out this way. This wasn’t … I didn’t plan …” He swallows hard, choking back on his own emotions. “I don’t know where to start.”

“How about at the part where you fucking lied to everyone in this room, even her?”

“Jake! Reign your shit in or you can get the fuck out!” Mack stands beside Gabe as he shouts his orders. Jake’s face has hardened. His jaw is tense and his mouth is pulled tight, keeping him from speaking, but he doesn’t need to. Everything he’s thinking, all the murderous thoughts, is there in the depths of his narrowed blue eyes.

Skyler’s husband takes up a spot behind him, gripping Jake’s shoulder. I don’t know if he’s trying to hold him back, calm him down, or showing solidarity. I have no clue what is happening.

“I may have lied, but it was to protect Avery and this family. The club. I had no other choice.”

“That’s bullshit!”

“Jake. One more and you’re gone. You got me?” This time Declan is there, putting his hand to Jake’s other shoulder in a firm grip.

“I don’t … what is going on? Will someone just please tell me why I’m here? What this is all about?” I hate how shaky my voice sounds. I hate how a place meant to make me feel safe is making me feel anything but. Jake watches me cautiously. He’s furious, but not at me.

When his eyes meet and hold mine, there’s pain, maybe even a little guilt there.

Gabe clears his throat and starts again.

“I don’t know what you were told about your mother’s past, but I feel like I need to set a few things straight for you, starting with the fact that she was my wife.”

“That’s not possible. My mother was never married.”

“Yes, sweetheart, she was. She was my wife and you are our daughter, Avery Rose.” I can’t breathe. I want to run, but my ass feels like it has cement in it, holding me to the chair.

This has to be some sort of cruel joke .

“I told you— I don’t have parents .” I grit the words out between clenched teeth. Hearing him talk about my mother, pretending to be my father, has caused an uncontrollable pain in my chest. The more he talks, the further the burning sensation spreads. I left to get away from this pain, and yet here it is again, clawing at me with every word he speaks.

“Science would beg to differ.” My head snaps up at Hawk’s smartass comment just in time to see him holding his ribs where Sadie has elbowed him in my defense.

“Asshole,” she hisses.

“Yes, you do, and I can prove it. Ghost?” He calls over his shoulder and the older, bald gentleman who was on Hawk’s computer slides his chair out and walks over to us to show me the laptop. There on the screen is my birth certificate with both their names on it. When he switches the screen, there’s an image of my mother’s death certificate, listing her name as Margarette Rose Jenkins, and her spouse as Gabriel Jenkins.

“I know this is a lot to take in. We’ve given you so much to think about already, but you need to know the truth about your mother and me. Everything going on right now, we believe it has everything to do with your mother’s accident and the events that happened sixteen years ago with this club. We haven’t put all the dots together yet, but we’re hoping you’ll be able to help us with it.”

I find myself feeling betrayed and angry as I look around the room and wonder how many of them are in on this little secret.

Is Sadie? Could she have known? After all, she’s the one who brought me here in the first place. Told me these men would help protect me.

I can’t hold back. “Did you know?” Sadie’s tear-filled eyes bore into mine, but I don’t waver. “All this time, we’ve been friends. Sadie, did you know about any of this when you agreed to bring me here to live with you?” If she knew, if she lied to me … then I will have no one left to trust in this world.

She looks horrified. Maybe I shouldn’t have asked, but it’s a valid question and I need the truth. Sadie shakes her head as she softly sobs. “I swear, I knew nothing about this. I would’ve told you. You know I would.”

“She had no idea.” Gabe answers. I don’t even turn to acknowledge him anymore. “As far as anyone knew, you died the day after Maggie. Only a few people know who you really are and where you were.”

“Who else knew?” My voice is trembling. I’m losing the last shred of control I have over the hurricane of emotions building up inside of me.

“Mack, myself, three other officers at the time, and, of course, Russ. All of which are in this room now except for your grandfather.”

The whole room spins.

Gramps knew. Of course, he knew. The man said Gramps adopted me because he asked him to. Everyone’s been lying to me this whole fucking time.

Something inside me snaps. The last shred of calm I had left leaves me as the depths of their betrayal take root within me.

“Let me see if I’m understanding all of this correctly.” Willing my body to relax long enough for me to get to the truth, then I can fall apart, once I’ve gotten myself far away from here and these people. The door to my right is beckoning me to run through it and never look back.

“You’re my father.” I point an accusing finger at Gabe’s face. “You’ve known about me for the last eighteen years and you suddenly came to your senses and decided you need to be part of my life? Now ?” Throwing my arms up, scoffing as if I’ve been struck by the same epiphany he has. “Some asshole named Cusenza has some type of dealings with my grandfather, who also knew about this clusterfuck of a lie I’ve been living in.” A small, frustrated laugh leaves my lips. “And since Gramps told this person to fuck off, Cusenza, whoever he is, has threatened my life to force Gramps’s hand.” I pace a few steps, waving my arm through the air as if I’m pulling each explanation of this whole fucked-up fairytale from thin air and weaving it into reality myself.

“Then when you find out my life is in danger, you decide it’s the perfect moment for you to grow a fucking pair and become father of the year.” I pivot, my body facing Gabe, who looks like I’ve just physically slapped him across the face. “Did I get that right— Dad?”

Mack comes to stand next to me, resting his hand on my shoulder, his voice quietly beseeching me not to overreact. I don’t give a shit what he wants. When I fail to respond to his command, his voice becomes assertive.

“Avery,” a warning hangs in the air between us, but I won’t be moved by their shit anymore. I’ve lived my entire life being warned, disciplined, made to concede. Not anymore.

“Get. Your. Damn. Hands. Off. Of. Me.” Jake is suddenly on his feet, fists poised at his side, ready to strike. Maybe he thinks Mack had something to do with the bruises he saw. I wonder if Mack knew Chuck was Eleanor’s ‘yes man.’

Maybe Jake feels the same betrayal and rage I do over this situation. It doesn’t matter why he feels the need to come to my defense. What matters is the way his reaction causes Mack to take a step back, giving me the space I need.

Whirling around to face Mack, poking my finger into his chest with every word as I grate them out. “You knew.” It’s not a question. There’s no denying all the bullshit he’s been hiding from me for all these years. “All this time, you knew. Everything she put me through. The town put me through. You could’ve stopped it if you’d just told the truth!”

A thought crosses my mind, and the room starts to spin in slow-motion.

“Who else knew about this?” I need to know. She knew. Did she? If my grandmother knew the truth, why would she let everyone believe all those lies about my mother? About me? All those times she hurt me. How she’s always hated me. Was it because she knew I had a father, and he dumped the responsibility of raising me on her? She couldn’t have known about this part of my mother’s life, could she?

It’s then I remember some of the last words she spoke to me the night I ran away. “ Your mother made the mistake of not doing as she was told and look where her decisions landed her .” My fingers are cupped over my mouth as I glance around the room for answers, all while holding back the sob that’s trying to escape out of me.

Thoughts of her insults continue to bombard me.

Your mother was nothing but an ungrateful whore.

Was my mother like those women out there wearing little to no clothes?

Even your own father was ashamed of you. So much so, he abandoned you both before you were even born.

Was my mother a whore he slept with and accidentally got pregnant?

You’re nothing but a constant reminder of the poor decisions your mother made. Even the man she laid with didn’t want either of you.

Did he marry her for her money, then decide we were too much trouble after all, so he threw her out on her ass instead?

My knees buckle. To keep myself from passing out, I drop to the floor and sit. “I don’t feel so good. I need water.” My throat is dry, my eyes burning with unshed tears. I draw my knees closer to my chest as a protective shield as I try to process everything said so far this morning.

“Hang tight, Bug. We’re going to tell you everything you want to know, but you have to stay here and let him explain it to you. You got me?” Knowing there’s no way any of them would let me make it out that door without tackling me to the ground, I give a slight nod and grip the arms of the chair as I move to sit back in it again.