Sacred Vow (Angels Halo MC Next Gen #5) - Terri Anne Browning Page 0,17

had it on Friday.”

“Girls, what’s taking so long…?” Aunt Raven’s voice trailed off when she saw the puddle of puke at my feet while Nova and Monroe held on to me. “Damn. That bug hit you hard.” She came over to take Monroe’s place and pulled my arm over her shoulder. “Let’s get you cleaned up.”

“I-I’m okay now,” I tried to assure her as she took most of my weight, instructing Nova to finish carrying everything inside so Aunt Flick could put everything out on the bar top.

“I bet you are,” she murmured quietly as she helped me to the bathroom.

I glanced around, but it seemed that Dad was either in the office or had gone out the back door to get more decorations. In the bathroom, Aunt Raven locked the main door and then helped me over to the sink. Turning on the faucet, she grabbed a few paper towels and dampened them before wiping my face.

“It shouldn’t be called morning sickness if you’re ill all day.”

My entire body turned to ice, and I knew I had a deer-caught-in-the-headlights look on my face as I lifted my gaze to hers. “I don’t—”

“Don’t lie to me,” she warned, crossing her arms over her chest. “I know a pregnant woman when I see one.”

Tears instantly started spilling from my eyes. “Please don’t tell Dad,” I begged.

Her face softened. “Of course I won’t, River. I know this might be hard to believe, but I’ve been in your shoes.”

“I doubt it,” I mumbled to myself as I cupped my hand under the faucet and washed my mouth out.

Her laugh echoed off the bathroom walls. “It’s the truth. Bash and I snuck around for months without telling any of my brothers we were together.” Her face darkened, and she shivered at the memories. “Then they all found out, and Jet beat him so badly…”

“Oh God,” I whimpered, my knees going weak. “Maverick is going to die, isn’t he?”

“No!” she told me, steel in her voice. Grasping my arms in a firm hold, she gave me a gentle shake until I lifted my head. “I won’t let that happen, River. But you have to trust me. I only want to protect you and Maverick, so you have to have a little faith in me. In all of us. Your mom, Willa, and I, we won’t let anything happen to either of you. I swear it.”

What little color there might have been in my face drained. “Mom and Aunt Willa know that I’m pregnant?”

“Not as far as I’m aware,” she assured me. “But we suspected Maverick would probably tell Colt today. We’ve been preparing for this day. As for your pregnancy… Maybe you should hold off a little while before you make any announcements regarding that joyful news.”

I knew if anyone could make this situation less volatile, it was Aunt Raven. Her husband might have been the Angel’s Halo MC president, but she was the queen of our family. She ruled us all, and we put our love and faith in her. If she said she would take care of something, I believed her.

But not everything was in her control.

Six

River

After cleaning up in the bathroom, I felt somewhat better. By the time Aunt Raven and I walked out, Nova had helped her mom set up all the food, and more people had arrived at the party.

“Drink some lemon-lime soda,” my aunt encouraged quietly beside me so only I could hear her. “And then eat a few crackers. Nothing too heavy. It should help with the nausea. Take it easy. Your blood pressure seems to be giving you some issues.” She paused at the bar and frowned down at me. “Have you been to a doctor yet?”

I shook my head. The only doctor I’d seen so far was the one at the abortion clinic, but I wasn’t about to admit to that. I still felt guilty over even walking through the doors of that place.

“Don’t worry. We’ll get you in to see one soon,” she said with a grim smile, pushing a few strands of my hair out of my face. “Now, go sit. I’ll have someone bring you a drink and the crackers.”

I walked over to one of the round tables and sat down. No sooner had my ass hit the chair than I was surrounded by a group of guests. I put on a bright smile and greeted them all, thanking them for coming. Fortunately, none of them lingered or sat with me. I was