Page 23

Nikki

“H ow are you?” Mia met me at the elevator and pulled me into a hug as soon as I stepped off. She squeezed me so tight I felt tears prick the back of my eyes. “You should’ve told me.”

I nodded against her shoulder. “I told you as soon as I got my emotions under control. We’re fine. The house? Not so much.” I tried to shrug it off like it didn’t matter but I couldn’t stop hearing the sound of bullets and shattering glass—even three days later it was fresh in my mind. “Me and Livvy are alive, that’s what matters.”

She looked around with a frown. “Where is Livvy?”

That was something else I didn’t want to talk about. “She’s at the Steel Demons clubhouse. With Logan and everyone.” I rolled my eyes, but I managed to stifle the groan that threatened to break free.

Mia’s brows shot up. “How is that?”

“She loves it and I’m in hell, but we’re safe there.” At least safe from the Blood Fangs if not from the fury of Logan. “Some of the wives and girlfriends are there looking after her and there are kids her age so, that.”

Mia nodded and we walked together to my office, where she closed the door and pushed me into the closest chair. “What aren’t you telling me?”

“Right before the gunshots started, I told Logan that Livvy was his daughter. He was furious.”

“What? That he has the world’s greatest kid?”

That was just one of the many reasons I loved my best friend. “No, that I kept it from him.”

Mia’s eyes bugged out of her head. “You mean for the five fucking minutes that he’s been back in your life?” She shook her head. “Unbelievable. If he can’t understand why you’d take your time, fuck him.”

“You told me to tell him.”

“And you did. But I’d say finding out he’s a biker and having people threaten your life took a little priority.” She rolled her eyes. “Men.”

She wasn’t wrong but I had bigger things to worry about, things other than Logan’s hurt feelings. “He’ll get over it. In the meantime I need to find a place to stay until the house is livable again.” I appreciated the hospitality extended by the Steel Demons, but it wasn’t a long-term solution.

“You’re welcome to stay with me,” Mia offered.

“Thanks. I might take you up on that offer.” It had only been a few days, but already being at the clubhouse was stifling. Logan had outright ignored me, basically iced me out of his life. Gio took me to work in the afternoon, and Maverick picked me up when the show was over. In fact, I hadn’t seen Logan since he took Livvy to meet the MC dog. At first, I was hurt, but then I reminded myself that none of this was normal, that it didn’t matter.

As soon as the Blood Fangs issue was dealt with, we didn’t need to talk, other than to talk about Livvy.

“Have you told Livvy yet?”

“No, but I plan to. Soon.” There was no point waiting any longer. “I doubt Logan will be happy if I wait much longer.”

“Fuck his happiness.” Mia smiled and I did the same. “Seriously, he should be thanking you for everything you’ve done to make her such a wonderful little creature.”

“Thanks. Now can we please talk about the show?”

“Gladly. I just needed to make sure my bestie was okay.”

“She is.” Despite everything, I was grateful that Logan and Livvy were spending time together. He loved her, that much was clear, and he seemed to relish showing her off to his friends, at least according to Livvy. It was sweet and everything I wanted for her.

That thought kept me focused on the show. Knowing Livvy was safe and happy let me worry about my career and what the hell I was going to do about this Blood Fangs mess.

“Thanks for riding the tunes and sharing your stories with me tonight. I’m Nikki and this has been Highway Pulse . See you on the other side.” My shoulders relaxed as soon as the ‘On Air’ sign flipped off. I made it through a show without one threatening call from the Blood Fangs.

Small victories.

Mia walked with me downstairs and waited until Maverick entered the lobby. When she spotted him, she hugged me and walked out with us. Maverick watched the car until Mia safely merged into traffic before we were on the move.

“Thanks for picking me up.”

He nodded once and smiled. “You don’t have to thank me every single time, Nikki.”

“Sure I do. You have better things to do than play chauffeur.”

“It’s what we do, whatever it takes.” His eyes were glued to the road, glancing into the mirrors every few seconds just to make sure we weren’t being followed. “How are you doing?”

His question surprised me. “I’m fine, thanks.” It was the polite answer. The expected answer. “I’m working and safe. Resting easier knowing that Livvy is safe.”

“Yeah, I get all that, but I’m asking how you’re doing.”

“Fine,” I answered with a heavy sigh. How else should I be? My life has been turned upside down my circumstances beyond my control.

“Rebel needs time to adjust to the news. He’s not mad at you, he’s just been blindsided.”

I didn’t bother with a response to that. My feelings about everything were constantly flip-flopping. Like earlier I was pissed at him—and Mia’s words seemed to validate this. But then I tried to look at it from his point of view and I was overwhelmed with guilt. I turned to the window and watched the city fly by, my thoughts heavy. Sure there was a point in time I thought maybe Logan and I might become something more, but that felt like a lifetime ago. Now I just hoped we’d get to the point where we could successfully co-parent.

But first, I had to let Livvy know there was now a man she could call daddy.

***

The clubhouse buzzed with activity, full of laughter and music the moment I opened the door. I scanned the room in search of Livvy, but the sound of her giggles gave her up immediately. She sat on Logan’s lap with her head tossed back, laughing at something. It was another beautiful snapshot that only hurt a little.

Knowing she was safe and happy, I went to what was now our temporary shared bedroom to change clothes and wash my face. I was hungry though. There was food at the clubhouse, but only sometimes, so I grabbed a beer while I weighed my options. I leaned against the bar, watching Livvy and Logan together with my heart in my throat. It was everything I ever wanted for her, to have a father who was completely enamored with her.

“They’re so cute together,” Laura, Hawk’s old lady, said as she leaned against the bar beside me, watching me as I watched my daughter with her father.

“Yep.” All around here, Livvy was surrounded by family. Logan’s family. They laughed and drank together, played games, and gave each other a hard time. I couldn’t help but feel I didn’t belong—I was an outsider. But Livvy did. This was the other side of her family. These people loved her and would protect her. They would keep her safe. “Very cute.” The love between them was palpable and the minute I told Livvy the truth, it would probably grow into something uncontainable.

Livvy spotted me, stopped what she was doing, and took off at a full run in my direction. “Mommy!”

I put my beer on the bar and squatted down to receive my little girl. “Hey sweet girl. How was your day?” I hugged her tight and let my eyes slide closed. These moments wouldn’t last forever, and I was determined to hang onto each and every one of them.

“It was so much fun Mommy! We ate hot dogs and French fries, and even ice cream but I’m not supposed to tell you that. Oops!” She covered her mouth with both hands. “And we saw horsies in the park and they were so big Mommy!”

I kept a smile fixed on my face as she told me all about their day. “Sounds like you had a good day.”

“I did. We did, right Mr. Rebel?”

His jaw clenched and he looked away before he regained his composure and faced Livvy. “Hell yeah, we did.”

“That’s a bad word,” she said to Logan in a sing-song voice.

My stomach chose that moment to remind me that I hadn’t eaten anything since the half salad I had for lunch. “Want some dinner?”

“Yeah!” Livvy jumped up and down.

Perfect. That gave me something to do. I turned to Laura. “Do you think Hawk could give us a ride? Or you know what, we can order a rideshare.” I couldn’t start to rely on these people, couldn’t count on them to be there for me. “I’ll call the rideshare.”

Laura looked at me with a confused look, no doubt wondering why I wasn’t asking Logan. “Hawk will take you, maybe I’ll join you if that’s okay?”

“That’s fine by me,” I assured her.

“I’ll take them,” Logan said, his tone unfriendly as hell and brooking no arguments.

Great, that was just what I needed. A tense dinner after a tense as hell day at the office.

A tense few weeks, actually.

“Whatever.” I walked away to grab coats for me and Livvy, and to give myself a few moments to put on a blank face for dinner.