Page 22

Rebel

“H ey man, are you okay?” Diesel stood beside where I stared up at the night sky and the twinkling stars. I saw fuck all as I gazed up, nothing but the white hot rage of betrayal. “Rebel?”

My shoulders lifted and dropped in answer. A huff of laughter escaped. “Yeah man, I’m fucking great. Can’t you tell?” I turned to face my Prez, ignoring the way my stomach dropped, and acid filled my gut.

“The Blood Fangs shot up your woman’s house—of course you’re not all right.”

“She’s not my woman,” I spat out, my anger surged to the forefront. I should be focused on the goddamn Blood Fangs MC shooting up Nikki’s home, instead my mind was on something else. “But Livvy is my daughter.”

I expected shock, at the very least surprise. But Diesel’s expression was blank, damn near placid. “She told you.”

My eyes went so wide they started to water. “You knew?”

He shrugged. “Figured it out earlier when I saw the little girl, she has your eyes. That and the age is about right- ish .”

“You never said a damn thing.” My tone was accusatory, and I knew that, but dammit why the fuck didn’t he say something?

“It wasn’t my place. What are you gonna do?”

“I don’t know. I’m fucking furious right now, at Nikki and the Blood Fangs.”

Diesel nodded in understanding. “Listen to yourself Rebel. You’re just as mad at the woman who gave birth to your daughter as you are the assholes who shot up the house with your daughter inside? That’s fucked up.”

“Yeah, I get it, it’s fucked up but right now I’m fucked up. She’s been back in my life long enough that she should have said something!” How was I the bad guy in all of this?

Diesel nodded and looked away, but I noted the way his jaw clenched. He was angry. At me.

“I deserved to know.” The words came out low and pleading and I felt like a fucking pussy.

“Yeah, maybe you did, but that’s not what happened. This is what happened Rebel and now you have to choose how you want to handle it.” He turned and gave me a pat on the back. “Whatever you decide, we’ll keep them safe until the Blood Fangs have been dealt with.”

Shit. “I’m gonna keep them safe. Both of them.” The fact that he even questioned if I would, put me on edge.

“You figure your shit out and we’ll take care of them.” Diesel glared at me, watching me like he thought I might take a swing at him.

I wanted to, but it wouldn’t solve any of my problems. “Yeah. Whatever.” I walked to the door and yanked it open hard enough it bounced off the wall, stomping inside straight to where Slate sat behind his damn screens. “I need your help.”

Seconds later Diesel stood beside me in the doorway.

Slate’s gaze flicked between us, his curiosity piqued. “Sure brother, what’s up?”

I sucked in a deep breath and let it out in one long, slow shaky sigh. “I need you to look into Nikki. Everything you can find.”

Slate looked to Diesel as if to ask what the fuck was going on, but he looked at me again. “Sure. Anything specific you lookin’ for?”

“I don’t know, just I need to know everything there is to know. Please.”

He watched me for a long moment and then nodded. “Yeah okay, I’ll let you know when I’m done.”

“Thanks.” I turned to leave, but Diesel’s arm shot out to block my path. “What?”

“You sure you want to do this?”

“What fucking choice do I have?” My heart raced. “I can’t trust her to tell me the truth.”

“Have you tried asking?”

I laughed. “What would the point be if she’s a known liar.”

“She didn’t lie.”

“She kept my kid from me!”

“Whoa,” Slate whispered.

“Yeah, for what, a few weeks? You still would’ve missed everything but those weeks, but go ahead and make things worse.” He moved his arm and stepped back.

“Things can’t get worse,” I muttered.

“Wrong. Stacey was dead before I found out about Leo.” With that parting shot, he brushed past me without a look back.

And once again I felt like the asshole.

I needed to see Livvy. She had no clue what was going on, didn’t even know I was her father. Yet. She didn’t know yet , but I would make sure she did. And soon.

After Diesel left me with my thoughts, I paced around a bit, trying to calm down. Then I headed to the part of the clubhouse where our rooms are. I tried the knob on the door of the room I’d deposited Nikki and Livvy in earlier, but it was locked, forcing me to knock.

And risk Nikki telling me to get lost.

More than a minute passed before Nikki opened the door. She was still in the clothes she wore earlier, red-rimmed eyes stared back at me, tear-streaked face in a pinched expression.

“I need to see Livvy.” I brushed past her, knocking her shoulder as I did.

She grunted and took a step back. Her eyes were wide and full of fear.

“Shit Nikki, I’m—”

She bit her lip and shook her head before she took off into the bathroom, locking the door behind her.

“Livvy, hey how you doin’?” I sat on the bed where she was curled up under a knit blanket.

She looked up, still sniffling, eyes red and lips turned into a frown. “Mr. Rebel, I’m scared.” She threw her little body against mine and I held on tight as she cried. Her cries turned to sobs and the sound tore my heart to ribbons.

“I know. What happened was very scary but you’re safe, kiddo. I promise.” She hugged me tight, her hot tears dampened my t-shirt. “Me and my buddies are gonna keep you safe.”

“Mommy too?” She pulled back and hit me with eyes so similar to mine that my breath caught in my chest. How had I not seen this?

“Of course, both of you.” I tried for a smile I didn’t quite feel even though I meant the words. I might be pissed off at Nikki right now, but I wouldn’t let anything happen to her. “Don’t worry. There are kids here you can play with, and we even have a dog, his name is Chopper.”

“A doggy?” Her fear was erased instantly, and excitement took over. “Can I meet him?” She turned just as the bathroom door opened. “Mommy can I go meet Chopper?”

“You can. Just be careful.” She wrapped her arms around her waist and stayed where she was.

“I will Mommy, I promise.” She flashed that irresistible smile at Nikki, whose body relaxed slightly.

“You can come if you want.”

“No thanks.” She gave Livvy all of her attention. “Listen to Logan, okay?”

Logan, not dad. Not yet.

“I will. See you later!” She jumped off the bed and headed for the door. “Come on!” Livvy waited by the door and then she took my hand, eyes full of trust as I took her to meet the club dog.

We approached the chubby bulldog who laid sleeping on the floor. “Hold your hand like this so he can sniff you.”

With a giggle, she leaned towards Chopper and pushed the back of her hand against his nose. “Nice doggy.”

Chopper licked her hand and barked a hello.

“He says hi.”

She flung her arms around the bulldog, who was thankfully used to being around exuberant little kids these days. He lapped up the love and attention, licking her face and making her laugh.

I sat close by and watched my little girl fall in love with Chopper, who loved her right back. This was what I missed, watching her be a child and learning new things.

Dammit and my anger returned.