Page 36 of Shine: Sins of the Father (Evil Dead MC: Second Generation #8)

Shine—

We finally get word from the doctor that they found no damage to Dylan internally, and both he and Fiona are released.

Crystal agrees to drive them to Fiona’s apartment after trying—without luck—to get her daughter to come home to stay with them.

I help load them into her vehicle and kiss my son’s head.

Before they pull out, I cup Fiona’s cheek through the passenger window. “I’ll be over after I talk to your father.”

She clasps my hand. “Please don’t get into a fight.”

“All I can promise is it won’t be me who starts one.” I stroke my thumb over her lips. “Don’t worry. He and I will work this out one way or another.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of.”

I smile. “Everything will be okay. We’ll get past this, and then we have a future to plan.”

I want to tell her I love her, but this isn’t the time or place for those words to be spoken between us for the first time. With a kiss on her lips, I step back.

Her mother drives off in an SUV, Dylan in a car seat.

My heart tugs as my son rides away from me. “Soon, son. Soon we’ll never be parted again.”

I climb onto my bike and go to meet Wolf.

The moment I’m through the clubhouse doors, he’s off his barstool and across the room. His closed fist swings and connects with my cheek before I see it coming. The power of the hit drives me back, and I stagger into the wall.

Regaining my feet, I straighten to my full height. “One time, Wolf. Once. That’s the only shot you get before I come at you in return.”

He puts two fists into my chest and slams me back. “That so, motherfucker?”

With that I charge him, but Cole lifts his chin and Red Dog, Crash, and TJ step in and break us apart. It’s not easy to contain Wolf. He’s red with fury, and Red Dog and Crash struggle to hold him back while TJ stands before me to make sure I don’t lunge across the space.

“Enough, Wolf,” Cole snaps.

“You son-of-a-bitch. Why the fuck weren’t you man enough to tell me? To step up?” Wolf snarls in my face from six feet away, living up to his name.

TJ puts a hand on my chest, but I have no intention of going after Fiona’s father. “Because she didn’t tell me. When I found out, it wasn’t from her. I wanted her to tell me, to trust me. You weren’t my priority.”

That pisses him off, and he tries to charge me again.

“Kid, you said what you had to say. Take off and come back tomorrow at 4pm. I want to see you in my office then. Understand?”

“Yes, sir.” I do as Cole asks and head out to my bike.

Restless stands outside, smoking a cigarette. “How’d it go?”

“As well as I could expect, I guess. Cole wants me back tomorrow.”

Restless nods. “Heard he made a call to Daytona. Sounds like he’s coming back for that meet.”

“Shit.”

Restless shrugs. “Could be good news. I think he’ll take your side of things. Can’t hurt, right?”

“As far as this patch goes, Daytona and Cole hold my future in their hands.”

“What are you gonna do if they tell you you’re going back to Nevada?”

“You really think Daytona would be good with that? I’ve got a damn son. There’s no way he’d keep me from him. Not after the way he lost his own child.”

“Guess so. Still, it might not go the way you want it to.”

“One thing I know is no one is keeping me from Fiona and Dylan.”

“And if it means your patch?”

“Then I’ll cut it off my back myself.”

“Shine…”

“You think I’m fucking kidding?”

“Back the tragedy train up. How about you start by asking for something small?”

“What the hell are you talking about? None of this is small.”

“How about you ask for permission to bring Dylan to meet his grandmother?”

I still. Ma. Goddamn, she’d love to know I have a son. “Shit. You’re right. She deserves to meet him.”

Reckless shrugs. “Baby steps. You get them to allow that, then they start to come around to the two of you being a couple.”

“And to the three of us being a family.”

“Yeah. Ease into it. No need to draw a big line in the sand.” He points the hand holding the cigarette at me. “And not a word about giving up your patch, brother. Understand?”

I grin. “You’re right. I gotta go. Fiona and I have a lot to talk about.”

Mounting my bike, I roar out of the lot and head across town to my future, my love, my goddamn everything.

Pulling to the curb, I take the outside stairs two at a time and knock on her door quietly, afraid to wake Dylan.

Footsteps approach. There’s a pause, and then the door is swung open.

I step inside, and her fingertips go to my cheek. “Oh, Shine. Your face.”

Rubbing my jaw, I give her a grin. “Your father has a powerful right hook.”

“You fought.”

“He got one swing in, that’s all.”

“I hate this.”

“Well, we got past it. C’mere.” I take her in my arms, careful not to touch her sore area. “How are you feeling?”

“I took another pain pill.”

“Dylan asleep?”

“Yes.”

“Can I see him?” I take in her small apartment.

She leads me to her bedroom and the crib against the wall.

I pat my son’s back, his little bottom stuck up in the air and his hands tucked under him, one at his mouth where he sucks on his thumb.

Fiona pulls my hand and nods to the door.

We exit quietly and move to the couch. I sit in the corner, and Fiona gently rests against me on her good side.

“You okay?” I kiss the top of her head. “You comfortable?”

“Yes.”

“Fiona, I want us to be together like a real family. I’ve fallen in love with you. I want you to know I’ll do everything in my power to give you and Dylan the best life possible. What I need to know is whether you want the same thing?”

“I love you, Shine. I do want that. I want us to have a chance to make a real family. Dylan needs both of his parents. I want him to grow up with a father in his life.”

“I want you to know this isn’t just about Dylan. I’d want you even if we hadn’t had a child. You’re like my missing piece, sweetness. The part I’ve been searching for a long time. When we’re together, everything about us feels right.”

“I have only one question.”

I grin. “Only one? Not possible.”

“Okay, maybe two.”

“Shoot.”

“Can you get past all the lies I told you? Can you trust me never to lie to you again, because I swear to you, Shine, I’ll never speak another lie to you as long as I live.”

“That’s a big promise, sweetness. I think even if you fail, I’ll still be here. I don’t plan to bail on you. What was your second question?”

“Where will we live? You’re part of the Nevada chapter.”

“I am.” I kiss her head and stroke her hair. “Cole wants me in his office at 4pm tomorrow. Reckless told me Daytona’s coming in for that meeting. I guess we’ll work it out then.”

She lifts her head and meets my eyes. “And if Cole doesn’t want to offer you a spot at his table?”

“Fiona, I know how hard you’ve worked to build your business. There’s no way in hell I’m asking you to walk away from all that, or to leave your family behind.”

“But you have family in Nevada. Your mother. Your sister.”

“That’s true. That’s something I’m planning on talking to Cole about tomorrow. And I’ll ask you right now before I bring it up, because I believe you and I need to decide our future, not the club.”

“What is it?”

“I want to take Dylan to Las Vegas so my mother can meet her only grandchild. You think you’re up for the trip?”

“Las Vegas?” She looks panicked. “But what about Donnie Ray? Isn’t he still a threat?”

“Fiona, I will never let him hurt a hair on that boy’s head. I swear to you. I’d die before I let that happen.”

“I don’t want it to come to that.”

“I know. After we make this trip, I think the club’s going to try again to find him and end him.” I stroke her hair. “So, what do you think about making that trip?”

“I understand why you want to go. I suppose I’ll have to close the shop.”

“Maybe Ella and Janey could run it for a few days. Hell, I’m sure there are enough ol’ ladies that someone can chip in and make this happen.”

“I’m sure there are. Okay, when do we leave?”

“I’ve got to work things out with Cole and Daytona first, and I’m sure your father’s gonna have something to say about it.”

“He doesn’t run our lives, Shine. I love my father to pieces, and I know he’s only trying to look out for his daughter, but he’s going to have to learn to back off.”

I nod. “He’s going to have to learn there’s a new man in your life who’s more than willing and able to take over that job.”

“Shine?” She hugs me tighter.

“Yeah, babe?”

“We’re going to be a family.”

I grin and kiss the top of her head. “We are.”

Fiona yawns.

“You ready for bed? I ask.

She nods, and I help her to her feet. We move quietly into the bedroom, and I help her get her shirt and bra off. She winces a couple of times, but I manage. Once we’re naked, we slip under the covers, and I gently gather her to me.

I dip my head and kiss her forehead. “Guess no more fooling around for you for a week, huh?” I tease

“Probably not. Sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry. I’m here to support you. Maybe you shouldn’t lift the baby for a few days.”

We’re quiet for a minute, then she sleepily replies.

“Maybe I’ll feel better tomorrow.”

“I hope so. I love you, Fiona.” Before I get the words out, she’s snoring.

I lay in bed with the woman I love in my arms and my son sleeping mere feet away. Life doesn’t get any better than this.

I think about how close I came to losing it all today, and I swear I’ll never let anything hurt them again.