Fighting Fate (Fighting #7)(57)

“Why not?” My mom’s eyes narrow as she studies me.

I sigh and resign to the inevitable. “Because I’m pregnant.”

My mom gasps and rocks back on her heels as if the news was a punch to the gut. “No.” Her eyes glisten, and her trembling fingers press against her quivering lips.

The fury rolling off Blake is so intense I’m afraid to look at him. “Explain.”

“Pretty sure you understand the mechanics—”

“This isn’t a f*cking joke, Axelle! Who the hell did it?”

I meet his eyes and wish I hadn’t. It’s not fury I’m seeing in his green glare; it’s unadulterated disappointment. “I’d rather not say until—”

“You’d rather not say?” He scowls at Killian. “You know, don’t you? Who the f*ck got my girl pregnant?”

My mom places a palm on Blake’s chest. “Blake, calm down—”

He swings his glare to her, and his face softens when he sees a single tear trace down her cheek. “Fuckin’ hell.” He turns toward me. “How could you do this? You f*cking know better!”

“It was a mistake.”

“You’re damn right it was a mistake.” He seems to be getting angrier and pushes in front of my mom to stand less than a foot from me. “Who did it?”

“I don’t want to say.”

“Why not!”

Because I’m embarrassed. Humiliated.

“You’ve made this man a father and you can’t even tell me his name?”

“I didn’t make him a father, Blake. He was there too.”

“Shit, Axelle, does he even have a job? Can he afford to take care of you and this baby? Have you thought about any of this?”

“No,” I whisper.

“How are you guys going to do this on your own? You’re twenty-f*cking-years-old! You can pretty much screw getting an education.” He rips his hands through his cropped hair. “God, Axelle…” His voice breaks. “I wanted so much better for you.”

My mom sobs behind him, her shoulders shaking and tears streaming down her face. Her tears only make him madder.

“Who did this to you!” He roars in my face.

I shy away from his anger just as Killian’s hands settle firmly on my shoulders.

“I did.”

The entire room goes still. Static blares in my ears.

Blake’s head swivels in slow motion to stare blankly at Killian. “What did you say?”

Killian moves from my back to my side and pulls my hand into his. “It’s mine. The baby, I mean.”

What the f*ck is he doing?

I stare up at him and gape.

“I’m sorry. We didn’t mean for this to happen, but it did.” He squeezes my hand firmly. “I’m going to take care of them.”

“Killian, no—”

“Blake, I’ve loved Axelle from the day I met her. I want to marry her and start a family. This is sooner than I expected, but it doesn’t change what I want.”

“You got my daughter pregnant,” Blake growls through clenched teeth and takes a step forward.

“She’s pregnant, yes, and I’m in love with her.”

I jump to my feet. “No, Killian’s not—”

“You son of a bitch!” Blake’s fist whizzes by me and cracks Killian in the jaw.

His hand is ripped from mine as he falls to the ground.

“No!”

Blake follows him down and straddles him. His arms fly, but he’s not punching him as much as he’s slapping Killian’s face. He doesn’t even put up a fight but allows Blake to punish him for my mistake.

“Stop!” I race to Killian, drop to my knees, and shield him with my body. One of Blake’s palms smacks my upper arm, but it’s nothing more than a quick sting of pain.

“Blake, no! You’re going to hurt her!” My mom pulls at Blake, and he easily hops to his feet.

Killian’s cheeks are red, and the space below his left eye is already turning a sickening shade of purple.

“Look what you did to him!”

“He deserves worse!” Blake looms over us, his eyes no bigger than slits and filling with tears. “I trusted you with her!”

Killian pushes up to sitting and rests his arms on his cocked knees. “I love her.”

“If you loved her, you’d protect her!” Blake wipes his eye with a thumb.

I push to stand and put myself between Blake and Killian. “He does protect me! That’s all he’s ever done since I’ve known him! God, he gave up a dream opportunity to be close to me, Blake! This isn’t Killian’s fault—”

“He should’ve taken care of you.”

“He did!” I motion to Killian, who’s on the floor with his head between his hands. “He still is! Killian is not this baby’s father! He’s taking responsibility for me, and you hit him for it!”

All eyes go to Killian.

“Can’t you see what he’s doing? He’s protecting me even now.”

“Killian didn’t get you pregnant?” Blake’s shoulders slump a little and tension falls from his muscles.

“No, up until two nights ago, I was dating someone else.”