Page 28

Rebel

I was like a fucking caged animal, pacing in front of the clubhouse while I waited—and hoped—that Nikki would return home safe and sound. When I got back to the clubhouse the women looked like someone had died when they told me she had left alone to ‘clear her head’, whatever the fuck that meant. Livvy was here with the other kids, enjoying burgers and dogs, her smile smeared with a mixture of ketchup and barbecue sauce.

Livvy was happy and safe, but who the fuck knew where Nikki was?

She hadn’t answered one text or picked up any of my two dozen goddamn calls in four hours. Either she was hurt or ignoring me.

If something had happened, I needed to know. “Shit!” I rushed inside and found Slate eating his weight in barbecue ribs and chicken. “Slate, can you find Nikki’s phone?”

His brows dipped into a frown. “Something wrong?”

“She hasn’t picked up my calls for hours.” I raked a hand through my hair and blew out a long breath. “I’m worried.”

“Are you, or are you just pissed that she’s ignoring you?”

“Both,” I growled. “But what if she’s not just ignoring me?”

Understanding flashed and he nodded. “Yeah okay.” He licked each of his fingers, wiped them with a napkin and hit a bunch of keys until a smile appeared on his face. “Good news is she’s alive. Better news? She’s close.”

“Thanks,” I tossed over my shoulder as I rushed out of his office and the clubhouse to resume pacing the parking lot. Stubborn fucking woman was determined to get herself killed, and for what? Because I was pissed off at her?

Her car turned into our compound and I stopped, watching as she maneuvered around me without sparing me a glance and shifted the car into park. Nikki’s chest rose and fell before she licked her lips and stepped from the car. She leaned into the backseat and came out with a box of something. She saw me, I knew she did, but she didn’t look my way, she just headed for the door like I was fucking invisible.

“Nikki!”

She turned at the sound of my voice and arched one brow. “What?”

“Are you serious? Where the hell have you been?”

She sighed and rolled her eyes. “I’ve been out, not that it’s any of your concern.”

“It is my concern actually. It’s my job to keep you safe, and I can’t fucking do that if you don’t tell me where you’re going!”

“You’re not my keeper, Logan. Livvy is here, safe with your family so what’s the big damn deal?” She hitched the box up against her hip and narrowed her gaze at me. “I’m here. I’m fine.”

“Yeah, well how the fuck was I supposed to know?” Was this woman really so fucking oblivious?

“You weren’t. If I wanted to tell you, I would have.”

“Just because we’re not talking doesn’t mean I want something to happen to you. And if it had, I would’ve been in the dark about it.”

She rolled her eyes, making it clear she didn’t believe me. “You don’t have to pretend with me Logan. I can take care of myself. You just worry about Livvy.”

“Goddammit, Nikki!” I grabbed her arm, and she yanked free, almost dropping the box.

“Get your hands off me!” She shook her head. “Don’t yell at me, I am not your fucking child!”

I laughed bitterly. “Maybe I’ll just wait five fucking years and find out what you are!” It was a low blow, I knew it as the words flew from my mouth—but I couldn’t stop them any more than I could’ve stopped my next breath.

Her nostrils flared but her expression remained otherwise blank. “Right.” Without another word, she turned and went inside the clubhouse. The bar was full but oddly quiet, which meant they’d all been listening to us argue. “I brought dessert,” she called out and set the box on the bar before she glared at me and hauled ass to her room.

My feet moved on their own, following her but she slammed the door—and locked it—before I made it to her. “Nikki!” I pounded on the door so hard it shook and if I let myself, I’d knock it down.

“Go away,” she called through the door. Her words were muffled but I heard the sentiment loud and clear.

“Open the goddamn door or I’ll break it down!”

Laughter sounded on the other side of the door. “It’s your door, not mine.”

Fuck .

“Nikki, we need to talk.”

She yanked the door open and I stepped forward, but her palm slammed against my chest. “You haven’t had one fucking word to say to me in more than a week and now that you want to talk, it’s suddenly an emergency? Guess what Logan? I don’t give a shit, go away.”

“I can’t do that.”

“Sure you can, you’ve done it perfectly for days now. I don’t want to talk to you.” She stepped back and slammed the door in my face. Again.

My hand balled into a fist, and I beat the holy fuck out of the door until it shook so hard I knew it was about to give.

“Rebel man, what the fuck?” Gio’s voice was the first I heard but it didn’t stop me.

“Step the fuck back.” Maverick’s hands curled around my shoulders and yanked me away. “Seriously, Rebel, stop this shit. Livvy can hear you.”

Nothing else could have stopped me but those words. My shoulders fell forward, and my fist loosened until my palm rested on the door. “Nikki,” I whispered.

“Just let her cool off,” Gio suggested. “She’s having a rough time.”

I laughed, the sound brittle and bitter to my own ears. “Yeah? In case you haven’t noticed I’m not having the easiest fucking time either.”

Maverick nodded as if he understood, but he couldn’t possibly. “Yeah, well she’s got people threatening to kill her and her kid, and the man who said he’d protect her is acting like he doesn’t give a shit if she lives or dies.”

“I’m not,” I insisted but hearing it put that way made it clear that was exactly what I was doing. “Fuck!” I turned towards the back exit in need of space. And breathing room.

“Everything okay, Daddy?”

I froze. The sound of Livvy calling me daddy would never get old. I’m an asshole. Even though I iced her out, ignored her and made her feel unsafe, Nikki had still broken the news to Livvy that I was her father. She hadn’t made a big deal about it, hadn’t even clued me in, but a few days ago Livvy started calling me ‘Daddy’ and it was music to my ears. I forced all the anger out of my body before I turned to face her. “Yeah Liv, everything is great.”

“Mommy sounds mad.”

“She’s mad because I yelled at her and I shouldn’t have.”

Livvy nodded. “You should say you’re sorry. Mommy likes that.”

Gio and Maverick tried to hide their laughter but not very hard. “Smart girl,” Maverick said. “You should listen to her.”

They were right. Nothing good would come out of talking right now. I went to Livvy and picked her up. “How about you have some dessert outside with me?”

“Okay!” Kids were simple. They accepted life at face value—no ulterior motives, or hidden agendas.

We grabbed a big slice of cake and a few cookies and headed outside. Livvy stayed on my lap while we ate, mostly in silence. She was such a good kid, surprisingly smart about reading people, which was unsettling sometimes. “Everything good?”

She nodded. “The cookies are so soft,” she added with a smile. “Daddy?”

“Yeah?”

“Are you happy to be my daddy?”

Damn, my girl knew how to drop the hammer. Luckily for me the answer was easy. “Hell yeah, I’m happy to be your daddy! Before I knew, I was jealous of the man who got to be your father, watch you grow up and learn new things.”

“Yeah?” The hope in her eyes just about undid me.

“Oh yeah. You’re smart and funny and so damn sweet, I’m lucky that I get to be your daddy.”

“Mommy said you didn’t know about me when I was in her tummy. She couldn’t find you, until I did.” She smiled at me, wide and bright. “She said it was my magic that found you.”

Yep, I was an asshole. She’d done me a huge favor, and all I’d done was ignore her and yell at her. “I’m glad it was you who found me.”

“Me too. I love you, Daddy.” She turned and wrapped her arms around me in a tight hug.

“Love you too, baby girl.” I hugged her back as tight as she could handle it, inhaling her little girl scent mixed with the scent of barbecue and chocolate.

I owed Nikki the biggest fucking apology.