Page 42 of Shine: Sins of the Father (Evil Dead MC: Second Generation #8)

Fiona—

Footsteps sound, and I turn. Shine approaches. He’s alone; there’s no group of laughing brothers behind him.

My heart sinks.

They didn’t give it to him. They voted against him.

No. This can’t be.

My mother squeezes my hand. She feels it too. This isn’t how a yes vote would play out. This seems more like when they turn a man down. I pass Dylan to my mother and meet him halfway.

When Shine reaches me, I slide my hands up his cut and frown. He still has his cut on. What does that mean? Is he going back to Nevada? Did he change his mind about giving up the club for me?

I cup his cheeks. “Oh, baby. I’m so sorry.”

He nods. “I am, too. Because you’ve got some sewing to do.” With that, he pulls a California bottom rocker out of his pocket.

I smack his chest. “Oh, you asshole. I thought they said no. That wasn’t nice to do to me.”

He winks. “But so worth it to see your face light up when I pulled this out of my pocket.” He lays it across my palm. “But seriously… you’ll have to sew it.”

I throw my arms around him, and he spins me in a circle.

The men come around the corner and into the room. They all slap his back, and soon shots are poured and toasts are made.

My father sits at the end of the bar, nursing a drink and not participating. I move to him and wrap my arms around him and kiss his cheek. “Thank you, Daddy.”

“Doesn’t mean I like him. Doesn’t mean I’ve forgiven him.”

“You’re not mad at him. Not really. You’re mad at me.

I’m the one who snuck up to the cabin without permission.

I was somewhere I wasn’t supposed to be.

Not Shine. He had permission to be there.

He’s an Evil Dead brother and was where he was supposed to be.

I’m the one who lied to you about everything.

I’m the one who tried to keep my pregnancy a secret, then kept Dylan’s father’s identity a secret. I did that, not Shine.”

“You’re right, Fiona. I am mad at you. I expected more.”

“I’m not perfect. No one in our family is, including you.

You can’t expect us never to make mistakes.

I’m so sorry I let you down and put you through all this, but I’m a grown woman, and I have to make my own choices…

and sometimes my own mistakes. You and Mom are so important to me.

I’m a success in my business because of you and Mom and everyone else who helped me along the way.

But Shine is important to me, too. I want a life with both you and Shine in it. I need the two of you to get along.”

He doesn’t reply, but I can tell he’s thinking about what I said.

“Please just give him a chance. Shine will prove himself to you, just like he has to me.”

“We’ll see.”

It’s as much as he’s willing to admit, so I take it. I hug his neck, and his arm comes around me. “I love you, Daddy.”

“I love you more, Fiona. More than you’ll ever know. The love a man has for his child—it’s a powerful thing.”

I nod. “I think Shine is discovering exactly what you mean. Maybe you two have more in common than you know.”

He harrumphs. “Maybe.”

“What’s your favorite cupcake?” I ask him.

“You know what it is.”

I do. Orange Dream. “I’m bringing you a half-dozen tomorrow. All for you.”

“Oh believe me, you bring me a box of those, I won’t be sharing them. Not one.”

I grin, knowing he will indeed come around to me and Shine being together. “I’m so very happy right now, Daddy.”

“Glad one of us is,” he grumbles.

“Please be happy for me.”

He nods.

I look over and see Shine watching us. I kiss my father one last time, then move through the crowd to my man, pressing against his chest.

“You good?” he asks.

“Yes. He’ll come around. Don’t worry.”

Shine nods and kisses me. “Your mom said she’s getting a headache. Why don’t you take her home, and I’ll meet you and the baby at home? I think I need to talk to your old man. Give it one more try.”

“All right. You won’t be long?”

“No, ma’am.” He walks all of us out and waves us off.

“He’s going to talk to Daddy again, Mom.”

“I know, honey. I told him he couldn’t give up.”