She throws her arms around me, hugging me tight and crying harder. “I’m okay,” she sniffles. “I’m scared. I was scared, but now…” She burrows her face in my chest. “I think I’m okay.” There is a long pause as we hold each other. “We’re going to be parents, Jett.”
I rub her back, still in shock. “We are.” I know what she’s saying is true, but it still feels surreal. What does it even mean to be a parent?
Sure, I know late-night feedings, being responsible for another human, but the reality has to be so much more, so much bigger.
“My father’s going to kill you,” she whispers into the material of my shirt. “We can’t tell him. Not ever.”
I laugh for a moment and then sober, knowing Michael Gallo is going to beat me to a bloody pulp. “He’ll be okay. Your dad will be happy,” I lie.
“We can hide it, right? I mean, at least for, like, six months or so.”
I shake my head. “Baby, your dad is going to know. We might as well rip off the Band-Aid and tell him now. What’s the worst thing that could happen?”
* * *
The door opens, and Mike’s eyes swing from Lily to me and back to Lily. “What’s wrong?” he asks immediately, knowing his daughter better than anyone else in the world.
“Nothing, Daddy,” Lily says, somehow plastering a smile on her face. “We just thought we’d stop by and say hi.”
Michael’s eyes narrow on me. “And you brought him because…?”
I swallow, knowing this may well be my last minute left with the ability to walk or, at the very least, the ability to eat without the help of a straw because my jaw has been wired shut. “Hi, Mr. Gallo,” I say, smiling, trying to hide the fear from my voice.
“Michael, let the kids in,” Mia says in the background. “Lily told me they were coming by.”
Mr. Gallo turns his head, but his wide neck barely moves. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I know you love surprises, especially when it involves Lily.”
Mike grumbles under his breath as he turns back to face me. “When Lily is involved, yeah. But him…”
“Daddy.” Lily places her hand on his chest, smiling up at him with so much love. “Be nice. For me… please.”
“For you, baby, always,” he says, scooping her up into a hug. “I’ll try, at least.”
Mike stalks backward, still holding Lily in his arms, leaving me on the front step. I follow, not saying a word as we walk into the living room where Mia’s curled up on the couch with a book resting on her leg. “Come sit,” she says to me, patting the open spot next to her.
I sit, and Mia grabs my hand, giving it a tight squeeze. “It’ll be okay,” she whispers while Lily and Mike are busy chatting about nonsense. “Just breathe, kid.”
I give her a tight smile as my stomach turns and fear sets in. I run my free hand along my jeans, trying to dry the sweat that hasn’t seemed to calm the hell down since Lily told me the news.
“So,” Mia says, looking at Lily and Mike as they sit on the couch across from us. She’s so tiny compared to her father, but I see bits of him in her features even though she’s a dead ringer for her mother. “What brings you kids by?”
“Um, just wanted to say hey. I haven’t seen you two in a while,” Lily lies, and Mike eyes her, knowing she’s totally full of shit.
“Lil, I just saw you at work. So, what gives?” There’s confusion all over his mean-looking mug.
Mia chuckles, uncurling her legs and sitting up. “You know young people, sweetheart.”
Mike’s eyes move to his wife, forehead wrinkled in more confusion. “What’s wrong? What aren’t you telling me?”
“Nothing, Daddy,” Lily whispers, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear as she peers at the hardwood floor beneath her sandals.
“Oh. My. God. Are you sick?” he asks, his tone panicked. He reaches out, grabbing her hands and covering them with his own. “Tell me. Are you sick, baby?”
Lily shakes her head, unable to look up at her father. I know how she feels about him, never wanting to disappoint the man she’s always loved the most. “I’m not sick, Dad.”
“Someone better start talking and quick.” He slices his eyes to me, and I gulp. “Because I’m getting the feeling everyone knows something I don’t. You know how I feel about that too.”
“Well, I…” I run my hand back across my hair, knowing I’ve got to man up. I should be the one to break the news that I knocked up his daughter. I won’t say it in those words, but that’s what happened. I slept with his virgin baby girl, and in the end, she’s now carrying my baby.
Lily shakes her head and glares at me.
“Lily?” Mike asks, seeing her movement out of the corner of his eye. “Tell me, baby. You know nothing you can say will ever make me mad.”
Lily moves her body toward him, gripping his hands tighter. “Okay, Daddy. Promise you won’t freak?”
Oh God. That’s code for freak the fuck out.
Mike raises an eyebrow. “I’ll reserve my right to freak until after you tell me.”
“Promise you won’t kill Jett?”
That gets me a look of death from the man who used to beat people half to death for the fun of it.
“I won’t kill Jett, but I’m not promising anything more.”
“I’m pregnant,” she blurts out again. Same tone. Same words. Same sweetness as when she told me.
But Mike’s head doesn’t jerk back. His body doesn’t move. He doesn’t even blink. He sits there, motionless. I’m not even sure he’s breathing at this point. “You’re what?”
“Pregnant.” She smiles nervously.
“Like a baby?” he asks and finally blinks.
“What other pregnant is there, Michael?” Mia says, rolling her eyes. “Of course, she’s having a baby. You’re going to be a grandpa.”
With the one word, Michael gasps as he looks around the room as if he’s lost. “Grandpa?” he whispers so softly I barely hear him. “I’m going to be a grandpa.”
I lock all my joints, readying myself for him to throw his body across the coffee table and choke me out. I know it’s coming. It has to be. This is Lily, and I not only deflowered her but put my baby inside her too.
“Don’t be mad. I’m so sorry, Dad. I never meant…”
Mike shakes his head, releasing her hands and covering his face. “Don’t talk for a minute,” he tells her.
She snaps her mouth shut, gawking at me in total fear.
“Do I run?” I mouth to her.
She shrugs with a grimace.
But my question is answered when Mia places her hand on my leg and says, “Stay calm and don’t move.” God, she makes it sound like there’s a wild animal across the room and I should try my best not to spook it into attacking me.
“Grandpa,” Mike mutters into his palm. “Grandpa. Grandpa. Grandpa.” He repeats the word almost a dozen times without moving.
“Dad.” Lily touches his shoulder. “Are you okay?”
He drops his hands away from his face, but there’s no anger. “Am I okay?” He smiles. “I’m going to be a grandpa.”
I breathe a momentary sigh of relief because I can see he’s happy, but I know the joy is geared toward Lily and not me.
“So, you’re okay with…” Lily glances down, moving a hand over her stomach. “With this.”
Mike’s arms are around her, pulling her to his body. “I’m excited, baby. So excited. We’re having the first Gallo great-grandchild. I’m going to be a grandpa.”
Lily smiles at me over her father’s shoulder, and I can see the relief all over her features. She was so worried about telling him, I thought she was going to pass out from hyperventilating on the way to their house.
“And you,” Mike says after releasing Lily and turning to face me.
I freeze, gripping the couch and closing one eye, waiting for his fist to strike. I’ve seen videos of his nasty uppercut, and I’m pretty sure my head would come clean off if he hit me the r
ight way.
“I’m sorry,” I say quickly, my voice squeaking as I ready myself for the worst ass-beating I’ll ever receive.
Mike stands and stalks around the coffee table as I crane my neck back, waiting for the moment. I squeeze my eyes shut as he gets closer and I see his upper body move my way.
This is it. The end.
I had a good run.
Life has been fantastic until this moment.
I served in the military. Traveled the world. Made the girl I’ve loved forever mine.
But tragically and suddenly, everything must come to an end.
Mike looms over me, hands fisted at his sides like he’s about to swing on me.
“I’ve hated you from the moment you stole my daughter, Jett.”
“Daddy,” Lily chides him. “Don’t say that.”
“And today...I still hate you.”
“I’m sorry.”
He narrows his eyes for a moment before his face softens. “I’m not happy about how this happened. Not happy you knocked up my daughter. Not happy that you’re not married. But this is a baby, and I will love this child because it’s my blood.”
“You’re happy?” I almost choke on the words. “You aren’t going to kill me?”
“No. Not yet, at least, but if you break her heart or skip out on your responsibilities as a father, I will rip your limbs from your body.”
Mia’s off the couch, tucking herself under his arm and placing her hand on his chest. “I can’t wait for that new baby smell again,” she says to him.
“Babysitting’s where it’s at, sweetheart,” Mike tells her. “We get all the perks and then get to send the kid home.”
I blink, my heart thumping in my chest as I try to catch my breath. Lily’s at my side a moment later, tucking herself under my arm exactly like her mother did with her father.
I peer down, smiling at my girl, who looks like she can breathe for the first time in hours. “I love you, Lily,” I whisper.
“Love you too, Daddy.” She winks, and my belly flops, knowing soon…someone is going to call me that same name.
My phone vibrates in my back pocket, and I nearly jump, still on edge.
“Answer it,” Lily tells me when I don’t reach for it right away.
“Fine.” I groan, hating to ruin the moment. But when I pull out my phone and look at the screen, I see Mammoth’s name on the screen. “Yo.”
“Yo, man. I need you,” he says in a rushed voice.
“What’s wrong?”
Lily’s eyebrows furrow, and her happiness evaporates.
“I’m on your side of the state and need some backup. Pike’s headed my way, but I need you too.”
“Whatever you need, I’m there.”
Lily curls into me, staring up at me with wide eyes. “What’s wrong?”
I shake my head, listening to Mammoth’s instructions.
“Be there in an hour,” I tell him before disconnecting the call.
“Jett, tell me what’s wrong,” Lily begs as her parents fall silent, and then three sets of eyes are on me.
I lean down, kissing Lily’s forehead as I jam my phone back into my pocket. “Mammoth’s in trouble. I have to go, baby. He needs my help. Pike’s on the way too.”
“I should come,” Mike offers, stepping forward.
I shake my head, and Mike stops moving. “Stay with the girls. I got this. There’s no need to worry. I’m sure it’s nothing.”
Lily slides her hand into her purse. “Take Statham. He’s always been lucky for me.”
I put my hand over hers as she pulls out her cute-ass pink Glock. “Keep it, baby. I got my own. I want to know you’re protected.”
She places the gun back in her purse before she grips my shirt and rests her cheek against my chest. “Be careful,” she tells me and peers up. “We need you.”
“I promise to come back, Lily. I love you,” I whisper, hoping I’m not lying to the girl I love and the future mother of my baby.
* * *
Thank you for taking the time to read Blaze. I hope you loved reading it as much as I did writing it. But don’t worry—The family saga continues…
But wait, there’s even more!
Spark is also coming in Winter 2020
A Note from Chelle Bliss
Hey Gallo Girl,
Thank you so much for reading Jett and Lily’s story. I’m having such a ball writing the next generation. I have so many more books coming in this series too. ALL THE KIDS will have stories.
Ignite is next and it’s Tamara and Mammoth because their story isn’t finished. Afterward Spark releases and that’ll feature Nick Gallo, Thomas’s son. He’s going to be a hoot to crawl inside his head. He’s somewhat of a rebel.
Just be patient. The characters lead me where they want to go. You know how bossy the Gallos are… I can’t force them to go another direction.
I promise there’s going to be more awesome Gallos to come.
Love Always,
Chelle xoxoxo
P.S. I hope you’re well and being safe.
Want more Men of Inked?
Thank you for reading Blaze! I hope you love the Gallo Family as much as I do. Want to start at the beginning? Download your THREE book boxset FREE HERE or read the rest of the series by visiting menofinked.com/men-of-inked
Already read the original Men of Inked series? Get to know the other branch of the Gallo family. Learn more by visiting menofinked.com/southside1 and download the first TWO books FREE.
Want to know how the books connect? Turn the page and check out the Gallo Family Tree.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Chelle hails from the Ohio, but currently lives near the beach in Florida even though she hates sand.
She's a full-time writer, time-waster extraordinaire, social media addict, coffee fiend, and ex-history teacher.
She loves spending time with her two cats, sometimes pain in the ass alpha boyfriend, and chatting with readers.
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Original Men of Inked Series
Join the Gallo siblings as their lives are turned upside down by irresistible chemistry and unexpected love. A sizzling USA Today bestselling series!
Throttle Me - Book 1 (Free Download)
Ambitious Suzy has her life planned out, but everything changes when she meets tattooed bad boy Joseph Gallo. Could their one-night stand ever turn into the real thing?
Hook Me - Book 2
Michael Gallo has been working toward his dream of winning a MMA championship, but when he meets a sexy doctor who loathes violence, his plans may get derailed.
Resist Me - Book 3
After growing up with four older brothers, Izzy Gallo refuses to be ordered around by anyone. So when hot, bossy James Caldo saves her from trouble, will she be able to give up control?
Uncover Me - Book 4
Roxanne has been part of the dangerous Sun Devils motorcycle club all of her life, while Thomas Gallo has been deep undercover for so long, he’s forgotten who he truly is. Can they find redemption and save each other?
Without Me - Book 5
Anthony Gallo never thought he’d fall in love, but when he meets the only woman who doesn’t fall to her knees in front of him, he’s instantly smitten.
Honor Me - Book 6
Joe and Suzy Gallo have everything they ever wanted and are living the American dream
. Just when life has evened out, a familiar enemy comes back to haunt them.
Worship Me - Book 7
James Caldo needs to control everything in his life, even his wife. But Izzy Gallo’s stubborn and is constantly testing her husband's limits as much as he pushes hers.
* * *
Men of Inked: Heatwave Series
The Gallo’s Next Generation
Flame - Book 1
Gigi Gallo’s childhood was filled with the roar of a motorcycle and the hum of a tattoo gun. Fresh out of college, she never expected to run into someone tall, dark, and totally sexy from her not-so-innocent past.
Burn - Book 2
Gigi Gallo thought she'd never fall in love, but then he rode into her world covered in ink and wrapped in chaos. Pike Moore never expected his past to follow him into his future, but nothing stays hidden for long.
Wildfire - Book 3
Tamara Gallo knew she was missing something in life. Looking for adventure, she takes off, searching for a hot biker who can deliver more than a good time. But once inside the Disciples, she may get more than she bargained for.
Blaze - Book 4
Lily Gallo has never been a wild child, but when she reconnects with an old friend, someone she’s always had a crush on, she’s about to change.
Blaze: Men of Inked Heatwave #4 Page 24