Spike’s Perdition (Saints Purgatory MC #7)

21. Ivory

CHAPTER 21

IVORY

What just happened?

Shock fills me as I watch Spike storm down the sidewalk and hop on his bike. He never even glances my way as he speeds off. I take a moment and gather myself, thankful that he wanted to sit at the back because no one can see my tear-stricken face. I pull my compact out of my purse and gently blot powder around my eyes to dull the run in my mascara.

I should’ve worn the waterproof kind. Nothing I can do about it now. Lesson for next time…

There won’t be a next time. Never again will I let this man hurt me.

The bell above the deli door rings again, and laughter fills the air. I’m not in the mood to watch happy-go-lucky people go about their business when my life is falling apart, especially after the father of my child walked out on me.

I push away from the table and turn, only to see a familiar face in front of me.

“Hey, Ivory!” Skye greets excitedly. “How’ve you…” Her voice trails off as her eyes roam over my face and body. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” I answer quickly, brushing at the lingering tears. “Sorry, I need to go. Nice to see you again.”

I grab my purse when another woman steps up beside Skye. “Who’s this, Skye?” she asks.

“Wait, are you pregnant?” Skye inquires, ignoring the other woman completely and staring at my protruding belly.

I lower my bag in front of my stomach in a poor attempt to conceal the pregnancy. “I’m sorry, Skye,” I apologize. “I’m in a hurry. I’ll see you around.” I scootch around the other woman and head for the door.

“Wait,” Skye calls. I halt a few paces from the door. “Please, stay and talk to me.”

I hang my head and weigh my options.

This could be a trap that Aubrey set up, or Spike could’ve called them to deal with me since Aubrey is probably at work. Don’t be stupid, it's broad daylight in a public place. They can’t do anything here.

I slowly walk back toward the table and sit across from Skye.

“I’m Cece,” the beautiful woman says. She reaches her hand over, and I shake it.

“Ivory,” I reply.

“Okay, woman. Spill,” Skye demands. “I can tell you’ve been crying, and hell, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see you’re pregnant.”

“There’s nothing to tell,” I mumble, tears welling in my eyes again. Damn hormones. I bite the inside of my cheek to keep them from tumbling over.

“Bullshit,” Skye spits out.

“Skye, enough,” Cece chastises. “It’s okay. We just want to help. I know you don’t know me, but obviously, you know who Skye is. I can tell she considers you a friend. She’s overly protective, and when she sees a friend hurting, she goes all mama bear.”

“Her opinion of me is about to change then… if she considers me a friend,” I say cryptically. “Do you remember that afternoon I came to Purgatory to find Spike?”

Skye nods, and realization dawns in her eyes. “Did you know you were pregnant?”

“Yes,” I admit. “I was looking for him so I could tell him.”

“I gave him your number,” she confirms. “Did he not call?”

“No, he called.” I sigh. “He called and was a royal dick and said some shit that pissed me off. I hung up on him before I could tell him.”

“Lord save us from hot-headed, bruised ego alpha men,” Cece says.

Skye giggles. “Unfortunately, I don’t think that’ll ever change. You, however, get to deal with the worst alpha.”

“Not true!” Cece throws a napkin at her. “Malice is way worse. I feel bad for Apple. Soul’s a puppy dog compared to that man’s temper.”

“You’re right.” Skye holds up her hands in surrender. “I wouldn’t let Soul hear you call him a puppy dog, though.”

“Why not?” Cece wiggles her brows. “The wall sex is worth it. What a punishment!”

“You’re incorrigible.” Skye focuses her attention back on me. “Spike went to see you that night.”

“He did,” I confirm, my head spinning from their back-and-forth banter. “It never came up. After I hung up on him, I decided that I would raise the baby myself. In my defense,” I rush to continue. “I was a hormonal mess, and Spike proved to me exactly what kind of man he is when he was screaming at me. Plus, I was trying to come to terms that I got pregnant after a one-night stand with a biker. I wasn’t thinking clearly.”

Cece’s eyes soften. “I get it. I was a hot mess the entire time I was pregnant with my daughter. It’s hard to navigate around all those feelings.”

My lip curves up slightly. “Yeah, it’s been a nightmare. A roller coaster of feelings. I never know when I’m going to laugh, cry, or pee my pants.”

Cece’s laughter echoes in the restaurant. “Girl, that won’t go away. Trust me.”

“Great,” I pout. “It’s bad enough I’m carrying a basketball, and my back is constantly sore. Now I have to worry about pissing myself for the rest of my life.”

“Yep!”

“Let’s go back a minute,” Skye interrupts. “Spike is the father, right?”

I nod. “I went to my first appointment a couple of weeks later and heard the baby’s heartbeat. I fell in love instantly with Peanut.” I glance down and rub my tummy. “I decided it wasn’t right to keep this secret from Spike and that I was being unfair.”

“Hold on,” Cece interjects. “Spike still doesn’t know.”

“I told him today,” I admit.

“Why didn’t you tell him earlier?” Skye asks, her eyes narrowing.

I take a deep breath. “His old lady threatened me.”

Skye’s eyes dart to Cece, and both of their mouths drop open.

What the hell is going on? I should’ve kept my fucking mouth shut.

“I should go,” I rise to my feet. “It was good seeing you again. I won’t cause the club any trouble. You’ll never see or hear from me again. Tell Spike I’ll forget he exists.”

Cece is the first one to break the silence and grabs my arm. “Don’t go,” she pleads. “We’re just shocked.” Cece and Skye share a look. “Did you say Spike’s old lady threatened you?”

“Look, I-I-I don’t want any problems,” I stutter, my voice wobbling. “I’ll disappear with the ba-—”

“Spike doesn’t have an old lady,” Skye says gently.

I shake my head in denial. “Yes, he does. She works at my OB’s office. She knew his legal name, things about the club… This doesn’t make sense.”

It does make sense, though, the more I think about everything that’s happened. If Megan is right, then Aubrey’s been filling my head with lies to keep me away from Spike, but why? It doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things since she’s also pregnant with his child.

“What’s her name?” Cece prods.

“Aubrey,” I answer.

“Aubrey?” Cece taps her chin. “I don’t know anyone named Aubrey.”

“Did you say she works at your doctor’s office?” Skye inquires.

“Yeah, she’s a receptionist there,” I add.

“Fucking Glitter,” Skye hisses. “That stupid fucking cunt. I knew she was bad news.”

“Spike mentioned Glitter, too,” I say, confused. “Who the hell is she?”

“Glitter is Aubrey,” Cece explains. “Glitter is a club bunny.” My brows furrow in confusion. “Club bunnies are there to service the uncommitted men, the ones without an old lady. When our men commit, they do not cheat. I won’t lie to you. Spike has been with her, but they are not together. She’s not his old lady. In fact, he hasn’t been with her since he met you.”

I fidget in my seat. “There’s more.”

“More?” Cece asks incredulously.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath. “After Aubrey told me she was Spike’s old lady and that she was also pregnant, I vowed to her I wouldn’t tell Spike about my baby. Things changed when I went in for my ultrasound last week.” I pause. Skye squeezes my hand, giving me the courage to continue. “The baby has to have an emergency surgery when he’s born because he has a diaphragmatic hernia. It can be life-threatening if not treated immediately after birth.”

Cece gasps. “Omigod. Are you okay? Is the baby okay?”

“I’m okay, he’s okay,” I assure them both. “I really wanted Spike to know that he was going to have a son and that he was going to need surgery. I swear I wasn’t trying to start drama with Aubrey.”

“We know. What happened next?”

I tell them everything from how I asked Aubrey to meet me outside after my appointment and how I told her what’s wrong with the baby. I end the story with how she threatened me with the club and that if I told anyone, it would be her word against mine since she was an old lady and I’m just a homewrecking slut.

“It didn’t help that she told me I’d end up with a bullet in me before my son was ever born,” I tack on.

“She said what?” Cece sneers. “Glitter told you… The club would kill you and your unborn child if you told Spike you were pregnant?”

I slump back against the cushioned booth, extremely exhausted from all the revelations. All I can do is nod.

“Come on.” Skye stands and pulls me to my feet. “We need to go to the club and talk to Spike.”

That knocks me out of my stupor. “No… no… I can’t. Please don’t make me,” I beg. “You all might believe me, but I can’t take a chance with my safety. I have to think about my baby.”

“Spike deserves to know,” Skye counters.

“He does,” I say softly. “And I would’ve told him if he hadn’t yelled at me and stormed out. Obviously he doesn’t care one way or another about us. Please, just… let it go.”

Skye juts her chin out in annoyance. “I can’t believe that asshole left you here. I’m gonna kill him.”

“It’s not worth it.” I gather my things. “We’ll be okay. I have great friends who’ll be there for us. Spike can focus on Aubrey’s baby. He deserved to know, and now he does. Spike made his choice when he turned his back on me and walked away.”

“Come on, Ivory,” Cece begs. “Give him another chance. There has to be more we don’t know about. This doesn’t sound like Spike at all.”

“I can’t keep doing this,” I cry. “I have to think about my son. He is my priority. You might know Spike better than I do, but he has shown his true colors more than once to me. If you really want to help me, keep him and Aubrey away from me.”

I rush out of the diner before they can stop me again. Spike knows he has another child coming into this world. I can sleep at night knowing I’m no longer keeping this secret from him.

That doesn’t mean I have to let him into our lives. Aubrey or Glitter or whatever her name is, got her wish. She can keep Spike all to herself.