Page 26 of Shine: Sins of the Father (Evil Dead MC: Second Generation #8)

Fiona—

“How’s that?” Tori asks from her position on top of a ladder, holding the Happy Birthday banner stretched across the pool table to the wall.

“Perfect,” Harley Jean says, then whirls around. “What am I missing?”

Harley Jean and the girls have worked hard to make the clubhouse ready for Reckless’s surprise birthday party.

“Nothing,” I say, Dylan on my hip, chewing on his fingers. He’s two weeks away from being six months old. “Everything looks great, Harley. The cake is gorgeous, there’s tons of food, and the place looks fantastic. I especially love the streamers.”

“You’re sure?”

“Yes!” we all answer in unison.

The door opens, letting in the setting sun, and my mother walks in, pushing her sunglasses on her head. She spots me and Dylan and walks toward us, her arms stretched out.

“There’s my little man. Come to Grandma.”

His little face lights up when he sees her. He’s starting to recognize faces.

I pass him to her. “His bag is over there. Are you sure you can keep him for the night?”

“Of course. I love having this precious little angel. Besides, you need a night of fun. Between the shop and the baby, you haven’t had a night to yourself. And don’t feel like you have to rush over to get him in the morning. Dad and I love having him.”

“Thanks, Mom.” I lean and kiss my son’s cheek, and they leave.

“How much time do we have to get ready?” Tori asks.

I check my phone. “People should start arriving in about an hour. Let’s go in the back and get ready.”

“When are Billy and TJ bringing Reckless here?” Harley asks Melissa.

“I think Marcus is supposed to call him when we’re set.”

“Where’d they take him?” Tori asks.

“Out to Sonny’s, is what TJ told me. I think they want him to think that’s his birthday celebration,” Gigi replies.

“Are you pissed about that?” I ask Harley Jean.

“Hell, no. I trust him completely. Let him have some fun, I say. He’ll be all wound up for me tonight.”

I chuckle. “Good thinking.”

We use Cole’s room to get ready and change into our party clothes.

I’ve got a black skimpy top with a sheer black tank over it with silver sparkling embellishments.

I pair it with some tight spandex leggings with a sheen to them that goes perfectly with the loose tank. I add a pair of high-heeled sandals.

“Wow, Fiona. You look hot. You sure got your body back fast,” Tori says.

“Well, I worked hard at it. Plus, breastfeeding for the first four months melted the fat away.”

I use a curling iron to make my long hair into pretty waves that fall to my waist and finish up with some smoky makeup and dangling earrings. “God, I can’t remember the last time I dressed up like a girly girl.”

“You sexy thang,” Harley Jean says with a twang.

I finish off with a spritz of perfume from my bag. “Do you think Reckless has any idea about this party?”

“He’s clueless. He was surprised when the guys stopped by to take him out. He thought no one knew it was his birthday.” Harley runs a lipstick over her mouth, then checks her watch. “It’s almost time. I’ve got a special surprise for him. I hope it gets here in time.”

“A surprise? What is it?”

“You’ll see.”

“Look out, girls. She’s being cryptic again.”

Melissa gets a text. “Billy says they’re headed here now. Let’s get out there.”

When we hear the bikes roll up, Skeeter pokes his head in the door and whistles. “They’re here.”

Cole yells for everyone to hide, and he hits the lights, so the place is pitch black.

I giggle behind my hand and squat behind the pool table.

It seems like forever before the door swings open.

“What the fuck?” Billy says. “Did the power go out?”

Once Reckless comes in behind him, Cole hits the lights, and we all jump out and yell.

“Surprise!”

Reckless takes in the banner and streamers and balloons, then grins.

“You do this, prez?”

Cole points across the room, and Reckless’s eyes hit Harley as she walks slowly toward him, grinning.

“C’mere, woman.”

She runs and jumps into his waiting arms, and they kiss.

“Happy birthday, baby,” she says, staring into his eyes.

He smacks her ass. “You plan all this?”

She nods, grinning. “Surprised?”

“Hell, yeah.” Then he glances at Billy. “Now I know why you kept checkin’ your watch.”

“Had to get the birthday boy here on time, brother.” They clasp hands, and Billy pulls Reckless in for a backslap.

The music cranks up, and Reckless is led by his brothers to the bar, where shots are lined up waiting. The party has officially started.

Now that I’m no longer breastfeeding, I partake in my first drink in over a year. Skeeter makes me a lemon drop martini in honor of the occasion, and I thoroughly enjoy it.

I’m on my third, standing at the old jukebox with Harley, when there’s a loud roar outside, and the clubhouse door swings open.

A dozen men troop in, and I see Cole embrace the first man through the door. When they step aside, my mouth drops open.

Shine.

It’s the Nevada chapter.

I’m stunned speechless, frozen in place.

Harley reaches up and closes my mouth.

Panic floods over me, and I spin to leave, but Harley’s hand clamps on my arm and holds me in place, her feet rooted to the floor. “Where are you going?”

“I don’t know. Anywhere. Away, that’s all.”

“No, you don’t, missy. He has no idea about the baby. Just play it cool, okay?”

I’m having trouble breathing, but I manage one word. “Okay. You’re right. He doesn’t know. Right?”

“Right.”

Reckless jumps off his barstool and goes to embrace his brother.

Harley leans to my ear. “Aww, that made it all worth it.”

I shift my gaze to Harley, gaped mouth. “Did you arrange this? Did you make this happen?”

“Reckless misses Shine. Yes, I made this happen. I talked to Cole, who called in a favor with Daytona, their president.”

“You should have told me. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Would you have run?”

“I hate you.”

“Would you have run? The truth.”

“Probably.” I give her the side-eye, then fling my hand toward Reckless and Shine. “Is that the only reason you had for wanting the Nevada chapter to come to town?”

Harley bumps my shoulder. “I may have had another reason. Is that so terrible? And before you start your excuses, if my father can be okay with me ending up with a brother from Nevada, I think Wolf will be okay with it, too.”

“Wolf and Crash are two entirely different people, Harley. My father is nothing like your father.”

“How?”

“Well, for one, he’s super protective.”

Harley cocks a brow. “Are you saying my father isn’t protective? Don’t you know the story of Crash and my mother?”

“Okay, fine. It’s just… different.”

“It’s different because it’s you.”

“I’m scared.”

Harley tilts her head. “Why?”

“I lied to him. About so many things. I pretended to be someone else. How could a guy like him ever get past that?”

“Forget about all that. Your mother has Dylan for the night. Fiona, now’s your chance to talk to him—to explain. Don’t fuck it up.”

Shine’s gaze scans the clubhouse, almost like he’s looking for me. When he finally finds me, we lock eyes, and my stomach drops. God, I’ve missed him. It hits me in that moment just how much I’ve missed him. It’s like the sun has finally come out after a long dreary winter.

“Go to him,” Harley whispers, but I can’t. I’m too chicken.

I shake my head. “I don’t even know if he still wants me.”

“Are you blind? I see the way he’s looking at you. I’m going to bring him over here, and you’re going to take him out in the warehouse and… I don’t know, show him the cage.”

“Show him the cage?” I hiss.

“Yes, give him a tour. And here, take this.” She grabs my hand and presses a key into the center of my palm. “It’s the key to Reckless’s room. We’re not using it tonight, so feel free.”

“You’ve lost your mind. I’m not taking him to a bedroom.”

“You two are standing across a crowded room, and the sparks flying between you are clear as day. At least talk to him.”

“I don’t know.” Inside my brain is spinning a mile a minute. Yes, that attraction is still there as hot as ever, but what must he think of me after finding out everything I told him was a lie?

“You look like a knockout. Head to toe gorgeous. Remind him of what he walked away from. Now’s the time, Fiona. I’ll be back in a second, so get ready.”

I try to make a grab for her arm, but she slips away too fast.

I watch her approach the two men, and then all three of them are headed this way. Oh God. I shove the key down my bra and lift my chin. So, I fucked up. I’ll explain and apologize, and if he can’t get beyond it, fine. His loss.

Despite my brave words, I’m the one who has something to lose. If he finds out about Dylan, he may want to be involved in his life. He may want split custody. What if he wants to take him from me? I couldn’t bear it.