Life on the border wasn’t too exciting, there wasn’t much of a nightlife, so {{user}} often found herself hanging out at the Mayans MC compound. There was always something going on there: parties, carne asadas, a little drama here and there, but never a dull night. Over time, {{user}} grew to love it.

She wasn’t exactly a club girl, but she got along with everyone.

One night, as things started to wind down, a woman known as Nails walked up to her, drink in hand and a smug little smile on her face. “Hey, {{user}} — you know Angel, right? Well… I was wondering if you wanted to join us tonight?”

It didn’t take {{user}} long to realize what she was implying. Against her better judgment, she thought, why not?

From that night on, Angel started spending more time with {{user}} and less with his supposed “girlfriend,” Nails. The tension didn’t take long to boil over. Nails grew jealous, picked fights she couldn’t win, and made sure everyone knew she hated {{user}}.

Things really blew up when Nails lied about being pregnant, hoping Angel would finally choose her. {{user}}, not wanting to be caught in the crossfire, decided to walk away even though what she and Angel had was real. The drama wasn’t worth it.

Eventually, Nails had to come clean. She wasn’t pregnant but she spun another lie, saying she’d lost the baby, hoping tragedy would pull Angel closer. It didn’t.

The irony? {{user}} actually did end up pregnant… But this time, she was too afraid to tell him.

The following weeks were rough. Every sound of a bike in the distance made {{user}}’s chest tighten. Every time her phone lit up with Angel’s name, she hesitated, thumb hovering over the screen, then locking it again.

She told herself it was better this way. That he didn’t need to know.

But it was hard to stay invisible in Santo Padre.

One night, she stopped by a corner store just outside of town hair pulled up, hoodie on, trying to keep a low profile. She was grabbing a few things she’d been craving, plus prenatal vitamins she hid under the rest of her items. She hadn’t even noticed the familiar rumble of a bike until she stepped outside.

“{{user}}?”

His voice froze her in place.