Piston (Iron Reapers MC #2)

Chapter 18

EIGHTEEN

JENNY

I sit on the edge of my bed, staring blankly at the wall. The past few months keep replaying in my mind like some twisted highlight reel I can't shut off. Meeting Piston, falling for him hard and fast, getting sucked into his world of leather and chrome and danger. What the hell was I thinking? A kindergarten teacher playing house with the VP of the Devil's Wrath MC? I must've lost my damn mind.

A soft knock on the door barely registered. Carlie poked her head in, her blonde curls framing a face etched with concern. "Hey, Jen. Mind if I come in?"

I shrugged, not taking my eyes off the wall. The bed dipped as she sat beside me, her arm sliding around my shoulders. The simple gesture threatened to shatter the fragile hold I had on my emotions. I leaned into her, drawing strength from her presence.

We sat like that for a while, not speaking. Carlie always knew when to push and when to just be there. I was grateful for that now more than ever.

"I don't know if I can do this, Carlie," I finally said, my voice barely above a whisper. "This life, with Piston, it's...it's insane. The club, the danger, never knowing if he's going to come home in one piece or in a body bag."

A shudder rippled through me at the thought. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block out the image of Piston lying broken and bloody somewhere.

Carlie's arm tightened around me. "I know it's scary, Jen. But I've seen the way Piston looks at you. That man would walk through fire for you."

"That's what I'm afraid of." I opened my eyes, finally meeting her gaze. "I don't want to be the reason he gets hurt. Or worse."

The door creaked open, and we both looked up. Piston stood in the doorway, his heavy boots thudding against the floor as he stepped inside. He gave Carlie a nod, his eyes flickering to me, filled with a mix of concern and something else I couldn't quite read.

"Mind if I have a minute with my girl?" His deep voice sent a shiver down my spine, even now.

Carlie gave my shoulders a final squeeze before standing up. "I'll be right outside if you need me, Jen." She slipped past Piston, closing the door behind her with a soft click.

Piston crossed the room in a few long strides, the bed dipping under his weight as he sat down beside me. The scent of leather and smoke clung to him, familiar and comforting. He reached for my hand, his calloused fingers engulfing mine.

"Talk to me, babe. What's going on in that pretty head of yours?" His thumb rubbed circles on the back of my hand, a gesture that usually soothed me. But right now, it only served to amplify the churning in my gut.

I swallowed hard, trying to find the words. "I'm scared, Piston. Scared of losing you, of not being strong enough to handle this life. I love you, but I don't know if I can watch you put yourself in danger day after day."

Piston's jaw clenched, his grip on my hand tightening. "You knew what you were getting into when we started this, Jen. I've never hidden who I am or what I do."

"I know." My voice cracked, and I hated myself for it. "But knowing it and living it are two different things. I thought I could handle it, but I...I don't know anymore."

His free hand cupped my cheek, tilting my face up to meet his gaze. Those piercing blue eyes seemed to see straight into my soul. "I can't promise you a safe life, babe. But I can promise that I will always come home to you. No matter what."

Piston reaches into his cut, pulling out a small, wrapped package. He held it out to me, his expression a mix of hope and vulnerability that I'd never seen before.

"What's this?" I asked, taking the package from his outstretched hand.

"Just open it." His voice was gruff, but I could hear the underlying nervousness.

My curiosity piqued, I began to unwrap the package slowly. My hands trembled slightly as I tore away the plain brown paper. When I finally revealed what was inside, my heart nearly stopped.

A pregnancy test.

I looked up at Piston, my eyes wide with surprise and confusion. "What...why...?" I couldn't seem to form a coherent sentence.

Piston ran a hand through his hair, a gesture I recognized as a sign of his discomfort. "I found your grocery bag in the bathroom. Saw the test inside. I didn't mean to snoop, but I couldn't stop thinking about it."

My mind raced, trying to process this new information. I'd bought the test on a whim, after realizing my period was late. But with everything going on, I hadn't had the courage to actually take it.

"I don't...I don't know if I'm pregnant." My voice was barely above a whisper.

Piston's fingers brushed my cheek, tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear. "I know you're scared, Jen. Hell, I'm terrified. But if you are...if we're going to have a kid...I want you to know that I'm all in."

I searched his eyes, looking for any sign of doubt or hesitation. But all I saw was love and a fierce determination that took my breath away.

"I've made a lot of mistakes in my life," Piston continued, his voice steady but filled with emotion. "I've been selfish, reckless, and I've hurt people I care about. But with you, I want to be better. I want to be the man you deserve, the father our child deserves."

His words hit me like a tidal wave, crashing over me and leaving me breathless. A part of me wanted to believe him, to trust in the love and commitment I saw shining in his eyes. But another part of me, the part that had been hurt and let down so many times before, hesitated.

"What if I'm not pregnant?" I asked, my voice trembling. "What if this is all just a false alarm?"

Piston's grip on my hand tightened. "Then we'll face that together, too. I'm not going anywhere, Jen. Not now, not ever."

I closed my eyes, trying to calm the frantic beating of my heart. My mind raced with possibilities, each one more terrifying than the last. What if I was pregnant? What would it mean for our relationship, for our future? Could I really trust Piston to stand by me, to be the father he promised to be?

"I'm scared," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.

Piston pulled me into his arms, holding me tight against his chest. "I know, baby. I'm scared too. But we'll figure this out, I promise."

I wanted to believe him, to have faith in the strength of our love. But the doubts and fears that had been my constant companions for so long refused to be silenced. I clung to Piston, desperately hoping that he would be my anchor in the storm that was sure to come.

I took a deep breath and pulled away from Piston's embrace. "Okay," I said, my voice shaking slightly. "I'll take the test."

Piston nodded, his eyes never leaving mine. "I'll be right here, waiting for you."

I picked up the pregnancy test and made my way to the bathroom, my heart pounding in my chest. As I closed the door behind me, I leaned against it for a moment, trying to gather my thoughts.

This was it. The moment of truth. In just a few minutes, I would know if my life was about to change forever.

With trembling hands, I opened the test and followed the instructions. Then, I set it on the counter and waited, each second feeling like an eternity.

Outside, I could hear Piston pacing back and forth, his heavy boots thudding against the floor. I knew he was just as anxious as I was, maybe even more so.

I closed my eyes and tried to imagine what our future might look like if the test was positive. Would Piston really step up and be the father he promised to be? Would we be able to make it work, despite all the challenges we'd face?

My mind was filled with doubts and fears, but there was also a glimmer of hope. Hope that maybe, just maybe, this could be the start of something beautiful.

The minutes ticked by, each one feeling longer than the last. Finally, I couldn't take it anymore. I opened my eyes and reached for the test, my heart in my throat.

This was it. The moment that would change everything. I took a deep breath and looked down at the test, my eyes widening as I saw the result.

Positive.

I stare at the test, my hand shaking as I tried to process what I was seeing. Positive. It was really happening. I was going to be a mother, and Piston... he was going to be a father.

I took a deep breath and opened the bathroom door, the test clutched tightly in my hand. Piston was standing there, his eyes wide and filled with a mix of fear and hope.

I met his gaze, my heart pounding so hard I thought it might burst out of my chest. Slowly, I held out the test to him, my voice barely above a whisper. "It's positive."

Piston took the test from me, his hands trembling slightly. He looked down at it, his brow furrowed as he tried to make sense of what he was seeing.

For a moment, he was silent, and I felt a wave of panic wash over me. What if he changed his mind? What if he decided he didn't want this after all?

But then, slowly, a grin spread across his face. It was a grin I had never seen before, one that was filled with pure, unbridled joy.

He looked up at me, his eyes shining with tears. "I'm gonna be a dad?" he asked, his voice cracking with emotion.

I nodded, my own tears spilling down my cheeks. "Yeah, you are."

Piston let out a whoop of laughter and pulled me into his arms, spinning me around in a circle. I clung to him, my heart soaring with happiness and relief.

When he finally set me down, he cupped my face in his hands and looked into my eyes. "I love you, Jenny," he said, his voice fierce with conviction. "I love you, and I love our baby, and I'm gonna be the best damn father in the world."

I believed him. In that moment, standing there in his arms, I believed every word he said. We were going to be a family, and nothing was going to stand in our way.

Piston's arms tightened around me, and I buried my face in his chest, breathing in the scent of leather and oil that clung to his skin. For a moment, the world around us faded away, and it was just the two of us, holding each other, lost in the magnitude of the moment.

"I'm scared, Piston," I whispered, my voice muffled against his shirt. "I don't know if I'm ready for this."

He pulled back just far enough to look me in the eye, his gaze steady and unwavering. "You're the strongest woman I know, Jenny. You can handle anything life throws at you. And I'll be right here beside you, every step of the way."

I nodded, letting his words sink in. He was right. We could do this, together. "Promise me something," I said, my voice growing stronger. "Promise me you'll always be there for our kid, no matter what."

"I swear on my life," he said, his voice rough with emotion. "I'll never let our kid down. I'll be the father I never had."

I smiled, my heart swelling with love and pride. "I know you will."

We stood there for a long moment, just holding each other, letting the reality of our future sink in. It wasn't going to be easy, but nothing worth having ever was.

Finally, Piston pulled back, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "Come on," he said, grabbing my hand. "Let's go celebrate. I'm buying you the biggest damn cheeseburger in town."

I laughed, letting him pull me towards the door. As we stepped out into the sunshine, I felt a sense of hope and excitement wash over me. We were starting a new chapter in our lives, one filled with love, laughter, and the promise of a brighter future.

And I couldn't wait to see where it would take us.