WOLF: An Evil Dead MC Story (The Evil Dead MC Series Book 4) (7 page)

She looked down at the box in her hand. It was a pregnancy test. Her brow rose. “You keep these in stock?”

Shannon shrugged and admitted a little shyly, “Crash and I have been trying.”

“You have?” Angel squealed, excitedly.

“No luck yet.”

After Crystal peed on the stick, they all stood around staring at it for three minutes watching the little plus sign form, until it couldn’t be denied. It was positive. Crystal felt the room spin.

“I think I need to sit down.” They guided her over to the couch. Shannon got her a bottle of water, and she sipped on it and again thought about the shots she did last night.

“So who’s the father?” Angel asked softly.

Shannon sat down next to her and took her hand. “Is it Wolf?” When she didn’t answer Shannon pressed, “Shane?”

She’d had her period since the one time she’d been with Shane. But Wolf had been with her one night last month. No, wait, twice.

Oh, God.

“I haven’t been with Shane.”

Shannon frowned. “You haven’t? I thought…”

She shook her head. “A couple of months ago. Once. But not since then. It can’t be his. There’s just been…”

“Wolf?” Angel’s face was soft with sympathy as she prodded.

“Yes.”

Shannon and Angel exchanged a look.

Crystal felt the blood drain from her face. “What am I going to do?”

“You should tell him,” Shannon advised.

Crystal shook her head. “No. I can’t. He’ll be so pissed.”

“No, he won’t,” Angel insisted, frowning. “Why do you say that?”

“He doesn’t want a kid.”

Shannon cocked her head. “How do you know that? Have you asked him?”

“No, but…”

“Men don’t know what they want until you give it to them,” Angel advised.

“Oh, really? Is that how it goes?” Crystal asked with a smirk.

Angel smiled. “Kind of.”

“Are you afraid Wolf won’t step up?” Shannon asked hesitantly.

“I don’t want him if it’s that way,” Crystal replied with conviction. The last thing she wanted was a man that resented her or that was with her because he felt trapped into it. She finished the water and set it down. “Promise me this is between us. You can’t tell Cole or Crash. Promise me.” She searched both their faces.

Shannon nodded. “All right. I promise.”

Angel squeezed her hand, looking meaningfully into her eyes. “Take some time to get used to the idea yourself. You don’t have to share the news with him right away, or decide anything yet, but no matter what you decide, he needs to know.”

Crystal just stared at her. If anyone knew about that, it was Angel.

“Crystal, you know how things went down with Cole and I. He was so upset that I’d kept it from him. And now look at how happy we are.”

Crystal nodded. “But that’s you and Cole. Wolf…he’s…”

“He’s what?”

“He’s always been so adamant right from the start that he wasn’t looking for an ol’ lady.”

“You think Cole didn’t say the same thing to me?”

Shannon smiled. “I think Crash may have said about the same thing to me, too.”

“See?” Angel insisted.

Crystal managed a tremulous smile. Her friends meant well. And in their cases, things had worked out. And she was glad for them. But she and Wolf were a different story. They had such a complicated relationship as it was, if you could even call what they had
a relationship
. And now to add this to it? She couldn’t even imagine what Wolf’s reaction would be. He was such a hard man to figure out. He took the term complicated to a whole other level.

On one hand, he didn’t want to be tied down. No strings. That had been his requirement from the very start. Yet, at the same time, he was so territorial and possessive of her. Hell, when they first met, he’d made sure the rest of his brothers knew to back off her.

She nodded, more to reassure her friends than anything else.

CHAPTER THREE

Crystal was at the clubhouse, behind the bar slinging drinks for the club’s weekly Friday night party. The place was packed with members, hang-a-rounds, friends and sweet-butts.

Crystal was partially distracted by her thoughts. A week had passed since she’d discovered she was pregnant, but she still hadn’t come to terms with her situation or worked up the courage to say anything to Wolf. God, what a coward she was turning out to be.

Red Dog reached across the bar and tugged on a lock of her hair. “You doin’ okay, doll?”

She blinked, putting a smile on. “Sure, Dog. You want a beer?”

“Does a bear piss in the woods?”

She popped the top on a bottle and slid it in front of him. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

Red Dog grinned and took a long pull off the bottle. Her eyes slid over his shoulder, and her smile faded. Wolf strolled in with his arm around Misty.

She watched as he greeted several of his brothers with back slaps, and then his eyes lifted and connected with hers. He had the gall to wink at her.

Red Dog noticed her gaze aimed at the door and twisted to look over his shoulder. He let out a loud, “Huh. Don’t even concern yourself, Crystal. She’s ain’t worth it. He’s just trying to make a point.”

“And what is that point, Dog?”

“That he can’t be caught, can’t be tied down.”

“Yeah. I think I’ve had my nose rubbed in that ‘point’ before.”

“Then fucking do something about it.”

Crystal looked at Dog, and then smiled. “You’re right, Dog. I should do something about it.”

She saw the curious look in Dog’s eyes as he watched her plunge her hand in the tub of ice, pull out a bottle of beer, then throw the hinged end of the bar top up and walk around out from behind the bar. She saw him out of the corner of her eye as he twisted with a frown, following her with his eyes. He was probably going to be real surprised when he saw what she was about to do, because she had a feeling it wasn’t what he’d meant, a
t all
. And she also knew there’d be hell to pay, but right now she was an emotional, hormonal wreck, and she just didn’t give a fuck anymore.

She made her way through the crowd. Wolf was now off by the pool table talking to Cajun, while Misty was standing off by the jukebox, looking bored and too above it all.

Crystal walked right up to her, taking in her trashy outfit, a short halter mini dress in bubblegum pink with a plunging neckline that went all the way to her navel. The little tramp.

Misty noticed Crystal coming toward her, and Crystal sure as hell didn’t like the way she looked her up and down like she wasn’t worth her time. Think again, bitch.

“Would you like a beer?” Crystal asked, holding out the bottle.

“I don’t drink beer,” Misty said with distain.

“Aw, that’s too bad because I’ve got a cold one right here
just for you
.” Then she twisted the cap off the beer, shook it and sprayed it all over Misty, who shrieked her lungs out. Crystal had a moment’s satisfaction watching Misty’s big hair dripping with beer, and her makeup running down her face.

“You little bitch!” Misty shrieked, holding her arms in front of her trying to fend off the worst.

Crystal continued to spray her, until suddenly two strong arms locked around her waist and dragged her back. Cole’s voice growled in her ear.

“That’s enough, Crystal. Goddamn it.”

Crash grabbed the bottle out of her hand. “Damn, girl.”

“You bitch!” Misty shrieked again, and Green got in front of her as she tried to rush Crystal, claws ready to scratch her eyes out.

“Whoa there, babe. Back off,” Green barked, his hand in her chest, pushing her back.

Cole squeezed Crystal, giving her a little shake. “Don’t suppose I even have to ask, but
what the fuck
, babe? You know better than this. This shit does not fly. Not in our goddamn clubhouse. You hear me?”

She nodded.

“I mean it, Crystal. You want to take her out, have at her. But it won’t be goin’ down on Dead fucking property. We clear?”

“Yes, Cole. We’re clear,” Crystal replied tightly.

****

Wolf was at the pool table talking with Cajun when all the shit went down. One minute everything was chill, the next all hell broke loose. Looking over, he was shocked to see Crystal smack dab in the middle of it. Crystal hosing down Misty with a bottle of beer.
Jesus H. Christ
.

Before he could shove his way through the wall of leather clad brothers to get to them, Cole had Crystal in a chest lock from behind, and by the look on his face as he bent his head to her ear he was reading her the riot act.

Shit.

As Wolf shouldered his way through the crowd, his eyes focused on the hold Cole had on Crystal, and a shot of pure adrenaline zapped through him. And suddenly he was filled with the overwhelming feeling of wanting to tear his VP apart for putting his hands on her like that.

He glanced to the left and saw Green restraining Misty. Misty, who was now drenched in beer and stinking like a brewery. If the situation wasn’t so fucked up, he’d have a hard time holding back his laughter, something his brothers apparently weren’t having a problem with as they were all now laughing their asses off. Every one of them except Cole and Crash, who knew just how fucked up this situation truly was.

When Wolf stepped between the women, it was Crystal who had all his attention. He glared at her, his temper flaring. Then his eyes lifted over her head to Cole. Cole, who looked ready to tear him a new one. Cole, who knew exactly who was really to blame for this shit. Cole, who rightfully held him one hundred percent responsible.

“You and I need to have a talk,” Cole ground out.

Wolf nodded once and bit out, “Let her go.”

Cole stared him down. “You want to say that again?”

Wolf swallowed his anger. “Let me talk to her a minute, VP.”

Cole released her, and Wolf clamped a hand around her forearm and dragged her through the crowd to the back hall.

****

Crystal was fuming as she stumbled behind Wolf as he pulled her into the hall. Then he did what he always did, he backed her into the nearest wall. She stared up at him. He was pissed at her, yet again. And it took her right back to that fight night last fall, and how he’d pinned her against the wall in this very hall that night, telling her how he was going to wipe the floor with Shane that night.

“A cat fight, Crystal,
really
? What the hell’s gotten into you?”

“Leave me alone. Let me go.” She slapped him.

Struggling between them was almost foreplay, but he didn’t respond like he usually did. Instead he glared down at her coldly.

“Don’t do that again.”

“Then let me go.” She pulled but his hands were clamped tightly around her wrists now.

“We’re not done. So just settle down.”

She wouldn’t look at him, but she did stop struggling.

Wolf took a deep breath and slowly blew it out, and she knew he was trying to calm himself down. “Congratulations on your ability to create drama out of absolutely nothing.”

Her eyes flashed to him then. “Nothing?”

“You’ve seen me with women before, and you’ve never gone off like this. I told you they don’t mean anything to me. What’s so different about Misty? Why is
she
any different?”

She refused to answer.

“Crystal,” he shook her. “Tell me.”

“You’ve never gone back for more before. You’re usually done with them by now.”

“I told you, they don’t mean anything to me.”

“And do
I
mean anything to you?”

“Crystal, you’re reading too much into this. I’ve got to throw the guys off track, don’t I? I can’t let them know about you and me.”

“Answer the question. Do I?”

“You
know
you do.”

“No, I
don’t
know.”

“Yes, you do. You fucking do.” He took her head in his hands. “Baby, you know I care about you.”

She stared up into his eyes. It would be so easy to just believe him. But Dog was right, if Wolf being with Misty bothered her, she needed to do something about it. So, she did. She asked him for something she’d never asked him for before. “Then prove it.”

His chin pulled back an inch, and he frowned down at her. “I shouldn’t have to prove it.”

If a future with her was ever going to mean anything to Wolf, she had to know. Especially now. So, she did something else she’d never done before. She pushed. “Prove it or I’m gone.”

As he searched her eyes, almost as if he couldn’t believe her words, she teetered on the verge of telling him about the pregnancy. But his next words stopped her cold.

“You know men like me don’t do ultimatums.”

And that was all it took. She felt her heart breaking, falling to the floor and shattering into a million pieces. The one time, the
only
time she’d ever actually wanted something from him, had the courage to ask for more, he let her down.

“Yes,
that,
I do know.” She shoved out of his hold and stalked away, knowing if she stood there a moment longer she would end up a bawling mess. And Crystal didn’t do the whole crying thing. Not over him! And if she did, it sure wouldn’t be in front of him.

She dashed down the hall out into the main room and up the open metal stairs to the second floor. She darted down the hall, checking doorknobs looking for an open one. She needed a place to hide and lick her wounds until she got her backbone back and could go down and face everyone.

Damn it, they were all locked. She got to the end of the hall and tried the last one on the right. Cole’s. The knob turned. Thank God.

She stepped inside, closed the door, and collapsed on the bed. Her head in her hands, she burst into tears, letting the hormonal emotions wash over her. She was usually so thick skinned. They all thought of her as a tough bitch that would never in a million years burst into tears. Not Crystal. No way.

But here she was, an emotional wreck. It had to be the hormones. Which only brought her thoughts spinning back around to the pregnancy. She was pregnant! With Wolf’s baby. God, it still hadn’t sunk in. It still didn’t seem real.

But it was. And clearly, he wasn’t looking for that kind of relationship with her. If he found out, he’d think she’d done this on purpose. If he flipped his lid over the idea of being given an ultimatum, how would he take
this?

She wiped the tears away. She had to pull herself together. She had to be strong.

****

Wolf let Crystal go, staring after her. She’d said Misty was different because he’d never gone back for more before, that he was usually done with them by now. And only one thought had gone through his head.
Maybe because she’s the only one that had ever gotten this reaction out of you?
But he couldn’t say those words to her. Hell, he could barely admit them to himself.

Wolf liked to believe he understood women. But this whole situation with Crystal was spinning out of control. There was something more to this, something she wasn’t telling him. And he’d be damned if she was going to walk away without settling it. He yanked open the hallway door and moved into the main room, intent on going after her.

He didn’t get three steps into the room before Green waylaid him.

“Bro, do something with Misty. She’s one drenched, pissed-off
bitch
.”

“Can you get her out of here for me? Take her home?” Wolf asked him.

“Fuck no.”

“Please.”

“God, you’re pathetic when you beg.” Green rolled his eyes. “Christ, you’re gonna owe me for this one.”

“Anything, man. Do you know where Crystal went?” Wolf glanced to the bar, but she wasn’t there.

“I think she went in the john,” Green supplied, nodding toward the bathroom in the corner.

“Thanks, Brother.” Wolf moved past Green and was again waylaid. This time with a firm hand in his chest and an immovable wall of leather cut and pissed-off brother.

Cole got right in his face and growled, “We need to talk.
Now
.”

Wolf took a deep breath. Shit. Last thing he needed right now was a lecture from his VP, but fuck if he saw anyway around it. He followed Cole, who climbed the stairs to the second level.

****

Footsteps sounded coming down the hall, getting nearer, and Crystal froze.

Cole’s angry voice carried through the door. “This shit’s got to stop.”