Page 20

Rebel

“Y ou can’t stay here,” I roared at Nikki the minute I was sure Livvy was out of hearing range. The little girl had put on a brave face but when I picked up her trembling body, it illustrated the truth. “It’s not safe.” Those fucking assholes would pay when I found them. I planned to take my time with them and make them hurt.

Bad.

Nikki inhaled deeply and licked her lips. Her expression was oddly blank even though the pulse in her throat beat like a killer drum solo. “I get it Logan, you’re freaked out. Hell, I’m freaked out too, but I can’t just uproot Livvy’s life because of these fuckers. Changing her environment will be more harmful.”

I knew what she was saying, but seriously? “More harmful? Do you hear yourself Nikki? It might not be ideal, but today could’ve gone really fuckin’ bad, real fuckin’ quick. I know what these assholes are capable of—that’s way more harmful. Trust me.” I couldn’t believe we were even arguing about this shit right now. “They’re escalating.”

“Isn’t that what you’re here for?” Her question was sarcastic, and my hands balled into fists. “Sorry,” she sighed. “That wasn’t fair.”

As much as I hated to admit it, I had to be honest. “No, you’re right. I checked and we weren’t followed. That means they put a tracker on your car or something else. Either that or they just got lucky and nobody’s that damn lucky.” I was damn good at spotting a tail and we were all clear on the way to the store and as we headed home, they came out of nowhere. “Has to be a tracker.” I took off out the front door, marching to her car like a man on a mission. It didn’t matter that it was on an inclined driveway or that it was broad fucking daylight, I needed to satisfy my curiosity.

“Logan, what are you doing?”

“Looking for the tracker,” I grunted and checked all the usual spots. Under the car. The tire pit. The trunk. Front hood. Even inside the car, until I eventually found it inside the ashtray lid. “Son of a bitch.”

“What?”

“I found it.” It took a few grunts as I slid from the driver’s seat and held up the tiny black disk.

“I never leave the car unlocked.”

“You don’t have to. A good thief can get in and out without a trace. I’m just pissed I didn’t think to look for it before this shit happened. I’m sorry, Nikki.”

“No,” she shook her head. “This isn’t on you, and we have enough to worry about without your extra guilt.”

I smiled at her. “Thanks. I needed to hear that.”

She folded her arms, a smile still curving her lips even as she wore a defiant expression. “We’re still not leaving.”

“Stubborn woman,” I grumbled and spun her around as I gently pushed her back inside.

“I’m sorry Logan, I know this makes your life a hell of a lot more complicated and I’ll understand if this means we’re on our own.”

“Don’t even fucking say that to me.” I paced the length of the living room while my mind raced through scenarios. If it was just Nikki, I’d just drag her kicking and screaming to my place or to the clubhouse. But I wouldn’t do anything to traumatize Livvy. If she wouldn’t leave, there was only one option. I stopped pacing and smiled as I took out my phone and texted my brothers.

“What? What’s on your mind?”

When I looked up, Nikki was nibbling her bottom lip with worry. “Not much. Just texting the guys to bring me a few things since I’m gonna be here a while.” My lips curled into a teasing grin that only widened as her expression grew more shocked by the second.

“What?” She shook her head. “No offense, but you can’t just move in.”

“Why not?” I took a step in her direction and cupped one side of her face, loving the way she leaned into my touch. “We’re already sharing our bodies and Livvy’s already seen me in your room.”

“Logan,” she sighed.

“And if she has questions, we’ll just tell her a version of the truth, I’m protecting you guys from those bad men.” No matter how scared she was, Nikki loved her daughter and would do whatever it took to keep her safe, even if it meant having me under foot.

“You just have answers for everything, don’t you?”

“Not everything.” I didn’t have an answer for the things she made me feel. For the softness that formed in my chest when I was with Livvy. It was confusing as hell, and I didn’t have time to find answers right now.

“Fine, you can stay. There’s no guest room but there’s a small office on the first floor.”

I pushed my lips out. “I can’t just sleep with you?”

“You can,” she grinned. “But only after Livvy goes to bed.”

I held out my hand and wrapped it around hers. “You have yourself a deal.”

“Mommy? Mr. Rebel?” Livvy appeared at the top of the stairs, eyes sleepy and still red with tears. She sniffled. “I heard yelling.”

“We weren’t yelling,” I reassured her. “Your mom is stubborn and sometimes forgets to use her inside voice.”

That made her giggle, and she came down the stairs one step at a time. “Are we still gonna make cookies,” she asked hopefully.

I laughed because I couldn’t help myself. “You are a very determined little girl so I guess I accept your mommy’s apology so that we can all make cookies.”

“Yay!” She leapt off the bottom step and right into my arms. Seconds later she was chatting about cookies as if this was a typical Saturday.

I headed towards the kitchen and stopped, turning to Nikki. “You coming?”

She flashed a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Yeah, I need a minute. I’ll be back in a minute, yeah?”

I nodded and hoisted Livvy up on my hip. “We’ll be down here making a mess of your kitchen. Take your time.” I winked and distracted Livvy with cookie ingredients. “So, what should we make first?”

“Chocolate chocolate chip, please!” She clapped her hands as I set her on her feet. “Chocolate is the best. Is it your favorite too?”

“No.” I kept my expression serious as I turned to her. “Chocolate is good, but everybody likes chocolate. My absolute favorite is peanut butter cookies. Nothing tastes better.”

She looked up at me as if I had two heads and five eyes. “No way! Really?”

I nodded. “Yep. My mom used to make them whenever I won a football game or got a good grade. They’re perfect. I promise.” I laughed at the skeptical expression she sent my way and dropped down, so we were eye to eye. “Let’s have a contest. We’ll make one batch of each and see which one is better.”

“More cookies, yes!”

***

It took us a few false starts, a lot of fucking flour—all over the place—and a lot of eaten chocolate chips before we finally got two dozen cookies baked and cooled and ready for us to eat.

And Nikki was still up in her room. I knew she was upset but I doubted she was that upset. “Hang on kiddo, I’m gonna go make sure your mommy didn’t fall in the toilet.”

Livvy laughed and then frowned. “She’s too big to fall in the toilet.”

I laughed and handed her one cookie, peanut butter. “Eat it and tell me what you think when I get back.”

She frowned. “Do I have to?”

“No, but it’s a free cookie that your mom doesn’t need to know about.”

“Okay.” She snatched it from the cooling rack, smiling.

“Be right back.” I took the stairs two at a time, suddenly worried that something was wrong because the clock said more than an hour had passed since we started making cookies. “Nikki,” I knocked before twisting the knob and opening the door. She was curled up on the bed, half undressed, sound asleep. “Hey Nikki.”

She groaned and stretched before her eyes fluttered open and the smallest—so small you blink and you miss it—smile on her face. “Hey.”

“Good nap?”

“Funny,” she grinned bigger and then sat up. “Seriously?”

“Been more than an hour. Livvy wants you to test our cookies.”

She laughed and pushed off the bed. “Let me wash my face and put on some clothes. Five minutes,” she promised.

“Feel free to come down just like that. I don’t mind.”

“I’m sure you don’t, but I have a rule about eating cookies with my stomach exposed.”

I shrugged. “Weird rule, but okay. Five minutes.” I made my way back to the kitchen just as the doorbell rang.

“I’ll get it,” Livvy said.

I scooped her up before she made it past me, lifting her with a grunt. “No you don’t. No more answering the door for a while, okay?”

She pouted and nodded at the same time. “Fine.”

“You want to wait in the kitchen, kiddo? Maybe test one of those chocolate chip cookies too?”

“Yay!” Livvy said and skipped off. After the drama of earlier I was pleased she seemed like her normal self. She was one resilient kid.

I pulled out my piece and checked the window beside the door before I opened it to find my brothers on Nikki’s doorstep. “Aw, you fuckers missed me.”

Gio grinned wide and shoved a black duffel bag into my chest. “You gotta free ball it, brother. I’m not touching your dick covers.”

“Real mature Gio.”

“Right?” He flashed a smile and stepped inside, followed by Sniper, Maverick, Hawk, Rocky, and Diesel.

“Where’s Slate and Dagger?”

“Where else? Slate’s looking into some shit, and Dagger’s at the tattoo parlor. You get a good look at any of the Blood Fangs who attacked?”

I shook my head. “They all had on helmets like they didn’t want to be recognized. But I know the bikes anywhere.”

“Mr. Rebel the cookies are getting cold!” Livvy’s sweet voice rang out from the kitchen and my brothers smiled and then laughed.

“Come on.” They would give me a lifetime of shit, but for now I had to put up with it. “Livvy, these are my friends.”

Her expression lifted as she waved at them all in wide-eyed wonder. “Hi!” Her smile dimmed. “I don’t think we have enough cookies for everyone.”

Rocky’s deep laugh was the loudest. “That’s okay, sweetheart. I’ll take one and you keep the rest. These guys are on a diet.”

“Auntie Mia is always on a diet,” she said with a huff of someone a decade older. “She says it’s impossible.”

The guys laughed again, but my gaze was on the woman coming down the stairs with the wary expression on her face. “I wasn’t invited to the party?”

“Mommy we don’t got enough cookies for Mr. Rebel’s friends.” Livvy pouted adorably, chin resting in one hand as the other tried to steal a cookie.

Chocolate chip, of course.