Claiming His Forever (Battle Born MC Book 8)

by Scarlett Black

  My hands shake as I hold the aftermath of what happened three weeks ago. What the hell have I done? Two little pink lines have drastically changed my life. Things will never be the same ever. My heart sinks and fear of the unknown sneaks up my spine. I missed my period and just noticed that I’m two weeks late.

  “Jazmin, are you ready to go to dinner?” my mother sweetly questions from the other side of the bathroom door just as a single tear falls free. I wipe the errant drop away and scramble to stuff the test in the bottom of the trash.

  “I’ll be right out,” I call back, and I reapply the mascara that smeared. I pep myself up to do what I must, to spend time with her. When I get home, I can then fall apart. Opening the door, I find her in the living room, waiting for me.

  “Let’s go, beautiful girl.” She holds her arms out. My mother is a free spirit. She met my father a long time ago. It wasn’t a typical love—he was a biker, and she was what many would describe as a hippie. The shawl she has is wrapped around her arms, and it fans out as Mom extends her hand to me. She slings an arm around me when I step into her caring gesture as we leave the house.

  She owns a little red Beetle but prefers to walk anywhere she needs to go. “When are you going to leave the city and move here?” Never has she ever made me feel bad about my choices, but after the death of my dad, she left the city. I couldn’t leave the family I had there to go with her. Mom needed to find herself again, and in this quaint town, she has healed as much as she can.

  “I don’t think I would fit in here, Mom.” We are a stark contrast of each other. While it is a mellow and artsy community, I don’t think I could live here. It doesn’t feel like home to me, like it does her. Dad was never here.

  “You remind me of him,” she muses. “I met your dad when he was on a trip away from the club. He was passing through and had lunch at the diner I was working at. He stopped every time he could, to spend time with me. He didn’t like it here either. You both love that raw insanity the city provides. He definitely inspired a side to me that is uniquely him. One day, you will find that man.”

  Biting my lip, I fight back a smile and look away from her. Mom has never been a fan of Kilo. The free loving spirit in her has always said, ‘He’s a journey you must see through.’ She’s waiting for me to wise up. Sticking my hands in my pockets, I give her words a lot of thought.

  Mom has told me the stories about her and my dad several times. They never get old. I want her to relive the times she was the happiest. Her arm suddenly falls away, and I know she is thinking about the night he passed. He was on his way home when he was hit by a drunk driver in the early morning hours. My father died at the scene, never made it home like he always promised.

  Wrapping my arm around her, I say, “He lives in us, Momma. He gave us all the best parts of him.” I squeeze her as hard as my heart aches inside. I was little, ten years old, when I went to his funeral. “How did you do it alone, when I was little?”

  My question stuns her, and she takes her time to remember the past. I’ve never asked before. With a big inhale, she starts to remember and explains, “It wasn’t easy. The club did a lot to help me keep you fed and the lights on at first. Eventually, I found another job. I stayed at home with you since you were born. Later on, we did okay, and I was able to take care of you on my own. They still helped with some things. They always gave me money on your birthday to take you on a vacation.” She smiles and together we fight the agony of the past. Bittersweet memories sweep us up in their path.

  “I didn’t know they did that. Because of them we had some great memories together.”

  “We sure did, baby.”

  We walk through the small iron gate of her favorite restaurant. In front, there’s a small table for two that we sit down at together. Through dinner, she tells me what she’s been doing. Her paintings have been selling well at galleries in Los Angeles and San Francisco. My dad wanted her to become a famous painter. If he could see her now—the thought chokes me into silence. Forcing myself to push past it, I give her my brightest smile with the force of my pride behind it. She was happy at home with us and didn’t feel the need to make money for her work.

  The emotions have caught me in their grip as they circle around me. What will my life and future be like now? She catches my pensive mood and her hand comes out to capture mine. “Jazmin, what is going on?” Her eyes scrunch and her wrinkles become more pronounced. Mom’s concern etches across her face.

  My other hand comes on top of hers. Clenching my eyes shut, I blurt out what has been eating me alive. “I’m pregnant, Mom.”

  Her other hand comes on top of mine. “I’m here for you. Tell me why you are so upset.” It is just like her to not find the bad in any situation. Mom finds love in everything, and her grin tells me she would love a grandbaby.

  The waiter interrupts us and our hands are pulled back into our laps. He sets our salads down and winks at me. I roll my eyes and pick up a fork, ignoring him. My mom’s eyebrows hit her hairline and she patiently waits for me to tell her my sordid tale from start to finish. She is all about free love, so she doesn’t mind some of the details I share.

  “I fucked him in the back room and then strutted out of the clubhouse like hot shit. Now, I’m a hot mess.” Dropping my fork, it clatters to my plate and I rub my face. If I rub hard enough, will I wake up from this nightmare? “The worst part is, I really pissed off Kilo. I thought he would leave me alone.” I’m not brave enough to tell her exactly what happened, and I hide the pain of betrayal from him.

  She chokes on her food and picks up her napkin to hide her laughter. I push aside the ugly and focus on her face and the smile she wears, stealing as much of her brightness as I can. Forget what happened, I tell myself. It’s over. “You certainly don’t mess around when you want to blow up or get your point across.” Her shoulders shake at my expense. “You are your father’s daughter.” She shakes her head at me. “He always went into any situation balls to the wall.”

  “Helpful, Mom,” I scold and sit back in my seat.

  “Honey, it will all work out as it is meant to. Give yourself time to take in the news and accept the future,” she recommends.

  “What about Spider? I told you how big of a dick he is. He isn’t going to want a baby.”

  “You don’t know that. Let him decide how he wants to feel about it. Quit being so judgmental.”

  She pops a tomato into her mouth and winks at me.

  “Mom, he told me to get the fuck out.”

  “You did bait him into a bad situation. I would have fucked you and then walked away too.”

  “God, please never say that to me again. Ever.”

  “It’s true what they say—you get what you give. And what did you give him? Don’t expect him to be sincere when you were horny off of revenge. So was he, in a sense. He hasn’t had a chance to see anything different from you. Or you from him.”

  This time, I shake my head at her. What am I going to do with all of this? Maybe she is right and all of this isn’t as hard as I’m making it out to be. Except it isn’t just me anymore. The probable news fueled me even more to be the dependent woman I always saw in myself. I stored that information deep away until I got here, where my mom would be in arm’s reach.

  My phone pings with a text, a tone I only have set for club members.

  Saint: You have time to come up for a tat?

  Me: WTF why? Of course, I got time, but why?

  Saint: Tell you when you get your ass here. Preferably, it would have been five minutes ago.

  “Asshole.” He is going to pay for being a cocky bastard. He’s a perfect target to work out my frustrations.

  “Trouble with men?” Mom questions with a knowing look of amusement.

  “You could say that. Sorry, Mom, I have to leave now.” I toss some bills on the table and she follows me out back through the small gate. “One of the guys needs a tattoo done. I think it's for Jenn. It must be special if he’s asking. Usually the guys g
o to Blade or Axl.” The last person on Earth I want to see right now is Spider.

  “Just come back soon, baby. I know you love him. Go, take care of this. You’ll feel much better once it’s out in the open.”

  She has no idea about the man she is commenting about. “Love him? I would love another orgasm, Mom, not have his evil spawn take up residence in my body.”

  “Sure, honey, keep telling yourself that. Why are you really so worried? Hmmm? Could it be that it’s the man and not the baby?

  “It’s only been two times we’ve been together.”

  “With your dad, I knew the second his lips touched mine. When two souls meet, they feel their bond. Quit being so logical, because love is far from it. It’s not some problem to work out.”

  Once we reach the house, she helps me load my car. Mom places extra snacks and water in the front seat. She wraps her arms around me, and I do the same, not wanting to let her go. Every time gets harder the older I get, and the thought of her being alone pricks at my heart.

  Chapter 6

  Spider

  That night from weeks ago in Sacramento haunts the hell out of me. Jazzy was on a mission and I was her target. She got under my skin and no woman has ever been able to do that. Many have tried but all have failed. You can’t fake that kind of chemistry or confidence. She used me and I let her. I used her right back. I wanted to fuck her, but I didn’t know what her circumstances were with her man.

  When she approached me at the bar, I kept my eyes on Kilo. He saw her, and when he didn’t come for her, I took Jazzy. That was enough of a green light to me. Whatever she was playing with him, at that moment I didn’t care. I fucked her, because I needed to. Kilo wanted to rip me to shreds. He may have an unspoken claim to her in this club, but it’s one that doesn’t extend to me. So fuck him and his warning glares. The next day, I wrapped up my assignment I was sent on in record time.

  Then all hell blew up when Jenn revealed who raped her. I flew down the freeway home to get back to work. The club has been focused on helping her find revenge. It’s been a wild ride, one we didn’t know was coming, and I’ve been busy. I kept an eye on Jazz when I could. She’s been working herself to exhaustion, which is good, until I can wrap my head around what the hell is going on with my own problems. Distractions could kill us all, and that can’t happen.

  “Brother,” Cowboy says as he stands at the door, “we’re heading over to the shop. Axl needs some help. You got a free second?”

  Removing my black-framed glasses, I toss them on my desk. “Yeah, I’m right behind you.” Tank and Saint are ready on their bikes, waiting for us to head out.

  We roar into the parking lot of the shop, Battle Born Tattoos. It’s not the amount of cars that catches my eye but one in particular—a black sports car that belongs to Jazz. What the hell is she doing here? My temper flares at what could be going on here. Why they keep bringing her around is a thorn in my side. Each time I see her teases my dick and that’s not something I like. I kick my stand down and rest my bike on it, then storm in to find the shop intact, my woman in the center. She’s mine because we started a storm that is yet to bring the rain. We’ve taunted and teased at the possibilities. I’ve given her parts of me I wasn’t ready to give, it’s not time yet. There is too much to smooth over, too many moving pieces to bring her into the mix. If she was hurt, I would lose myself in revenge. If she was using me to play her man in Sacramento, I would have to kill him if he tried to keep her. This way, I can see what she wants. What will she choose?

  The brothers surround her, laughing and joking around. The girl sits among a pack of wolves and feels completely comfortable. Interesting. Stalking over, I observe her and the crew from the side. I find a seat in the back corner and watch her enjoy the company. Jazz turns her body away from me and continues her conversations. Why the hell is she so cold with me? She switches the temperature on me so often, I have no clue what the woman wants. Maybe it’s just me, thinking that I know what a woman would want, and it's usually dick.

  The longer I wait for the crowd to get the hell out, the more my mood dives. “Bro,” Axl says as he nudges me, “are you going to claim this woman? Now would be the time.” Cowboy throws an arm around her shoulders. My gaze rakes up her body—tight black pants and a short top exposing her golden skin. He touches her and she allows it. Cowboy can’t look away from those dark caramel brown eyes. Heat stirs the possessive beast from within. I don’t answer Axl. I observe the woman who is turning me into a savage. I’ve never wanted to spill a motherfucker's blood more than Cowboy’s at this moment.

  My body itches to shoot any fucker who lays a finger on her. My fists clench, but I hold back. Jazzy’s head drops back and the full belly laughter that escapes her threatens my instincts. Take her and show her who’s woman she is—mine. I’m not a man who brings laughter. A lifetime of being alone, I like it. I had a brother, and what happened to him was my fault. The mistakes I’ve made have sculpted the man contemplating murder in order to claim what’s mine and protect it.

  Shaking my head, I shut it down.

  There are no feelings.

  She doesn’t belong to me.

  Jenn and Saint meet the crew in the shop and all attention is turned to them, including Jazzy’s. So, it is revealed. She ran up here at his request to brand Jenn. After they are done with their bullshit chit chat and happy exchanges she takes them into the room.

  “Do we have shit to do here? I have more than enough at the clubhouse to work on, not here.”

  The brothers turn their attention to me. I doused the mood of the evening and I could care less. Especially Cowboy, that fucker can eat a fat one for all I care. I just want away from their happy family reunion. “Blade has more chairs and security equipment to be installed,” Axl fills in for me. Pushing off the wall, I follow him to the equipment in the back room. I get to work as quick as possible.

  Their voices float down the hallway and I eavesdrop as much as I can, listening around the tasks at hand. I catch bits and pieces of their conversations. Jenn found out recently that Cuervo is her father, making her blood related to Jazz and Vegas. Jazzy’s father, who passed away years ago, was Fuego and Cuervo’s brother. They called him Diablo Negro. He was the Road Captain, until an accident took his life. From what I was told, the cut that hangs in the clubhouse with the black devil patch belonged to him.

  “Catch you later,” Saint hollers on his way out. I give a non-committal head nod and stare ahead. The last thing I give a shit about is seeing their happy faces when my head is trained on not storming into that room and giving Jazzy all my pent-up rage. It’s not fair, but at the same time, I don’t give a fuck either.

  The software syncs up with the new equipment and I’m shutting things down. I was hopeful to beat her out of here, but no such luck. A soft knock alerts me to Jazzy standing in the doorway of the office. “Hey, can I come in? I wanted to talk to you.” I don’t acknowledge her request. After shutting the door, she sits in the chair across from me at the desk. “I wanted to let you know… to tell you something important.”

  I don’t like feeling cornered in a situation. This whole night was full of surprises, the biggest one being having to see her flirting with my brothers. If she needed me, Jazz should have called me. She wouldn’t be in that room picking her prized dick to get dirty with tonight. I hold up my hand to her.

  Jazz’s mouth snaps shut and her eyes bulge. The room changes to an icy chill along with my stare. I dig deep to show her everything, all my frustrations and misfortunes. I want her to feel disappointment like I do. It’s never easy to walk away, but it is better this way. Before we hate each other. “You don’t need to alert me to the fact that you’re going to screw another man.” My words bite and it shows when her head snaps back. “We had a few good times. That’s all it was. It's not like there isn't club pussy at every stop, and I’ve had my fun. Go, spread your legs for anyone you want.” Her shoulders fall slightly before she pulls them back up. Finding her r
esolve, she glares back, her lips piercing with words she holds close. Tearing my eyes away from hers, I stand. I wanted to drive a dagger in her so deep, she would forget about me and I can be left alone. A few steps and she pops out of her chair and blocks my path leading out of the room.

  “You think I need to fuck just any man? I don’t! You will regret those words you just spit in my face.” Her voice is low, and Jazz growls out each word. She steps aside and holds out an arm. “Be my guest, go fuck anything you can stick your dick in. Fuck you, Spider. Remember this day as your last chance with me.”

  My body stills and I snap. Heat races up my spine, a cruelty so raw that my body shakes. She thinks I don’t want her. Everything in me is screaming to claim her, but I can’t. My hands are in her hair. Our bodies collide and land against the wall. I am so close that I can smell the faint sweet scent of lotion on her skin. I can feel the beat of her heart, pumping the anger through her body. “Don’t pretend I don’t want what we had. It was everything. I can’t take care of another person. I have enough to deal with.” It feels too late. My temper went too far. She doesn’t melt into me. Instead, Jazzy tenses and her hands grab hold of my wrists, her nails digging into my skin.

  Electricity shoots between us. My nose runs across her collar bone, up her neck, and then to her ear. I take in her scent, inhaling her. None of this makes any sense. Why her? Passion mixed with her feral need feeds my desperate pull to her. My fingers dig into her jaw and I tug her head to face me. Solid ice radiates in her eyes, cooling my heart even further. I can’t survive another loss again.

  Jazzy’s eyes flare and she spits her words at me. “Just because you can fuck me well, doesn’t mean that is good enough for me. I want everything, not just a good fuck.” Her arms flex and she shoves me back with every muscle in her body. The shock throws me off and she slides out my grip.