Page 31 of Sinful Skulls (Rebel Skull MC #9)

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Brody

“ S o, you had a good day?”

“I did.” She watches out the window as I drive us over to JD’s.

“Did you catch a nap today?” I ask her.

She finally turns to me. “No, did you?”

“Fuck yeah. I told Jackson I had to drain the snake, and then I found myself a shady spot under a tree. Best nap ever.”

“Drain the snake?”

“Take a piss.”

“Oh.” She laughs, and it instantly relaxes me.

“You were working at Jackson’s today?”

“Yeah, he’s fucking insistent we have a tree house built before his daughter comes into this world. The little shit is the size of a grapefruit, and she already has a mansion in the trees.”

“That’s sweet. How do you know she’s the size of a grapefruit though?”

“Willow has a book.”

Daisy giggles.

“She actually has several books.” I shake my head. “She showed me more than I wanted or needed to know.”

“You don’t want kids?” She doesn’t hide her disappointment.

“I do. I just wasn’t ready to see what they look like before they come out of the oven.”

Her giggle returns. “Oh, it can’t be that bad.”

“It started out looking like a tadpole, but the picture she showed me today looked straight up like an alien.”

“Stop.” She holds her stomach, laughing at the look on my face.

I reach over and grab her hand. “I love this part.”

Daisy turns to me, her hair whipping in the wind. I want to remember this moment forever. She’s gorgeous when she’s happy.

“Me too.” She unbuckles her seatbelt and slides across the seat.

When she’s buckled safely in the middle, with her body pressed against mine, I feel like the luckiest man in the world.

The scent of her shampoo tickles my senses when her head falls against my shoulder. I decide to take the long way to JD’s just to make the moment last longer.

“It’s so pretty here,” she says, squeezing my arm.

“You don’t miss the beach?”

She wrinkles her nose as she thinks about it. “Not really.” She sits up straight, slapping my leg excitedly. “Are those fireflies?”

I slow down so she can watch them in the field. When I come to the entrance, I turn in and park.

Her eyes scan the scenery in front of us. Just a shadow of the hills remains as thousands of fireflies twinkle in their wake. I continue to stare at her face, falling for her all over again.

Eventually, she turns to look at me. “I never want to leave this place,” she jokes.

This woman makes me laugh. “The bugs tipped the scale?”

“I knew the two of us meeting was like a fairytale, but come on ...” Her attention goes back to the window. “You have to admit this is magical.”

I brush her hair behind her ear. “I’m definitely enchanted.”

Her cheeks turn pink. “Maybe that’s why I feel like I’ve just woken up from a deep sleep.”

“From just one kiss?”

“Well, I think we’ve had a few more than one, but maybe with another I’ll be pulled into your world completely.”

I lean close, my eyes bouncing over her face. “Are you ready?”

As soon as she nods, I press my mouth against hers.

Just like two kids, we make out on the backroads after dusk. The thought makes me smile against her lips. She smiles too.

When I back away, she sways with me. “I’m not awake yet,” she pouts.

I laugh. “We’ve got to get going. JD will have the club out looking for us if we don’t get over there soon.”

She rests her head back against the seat and smiles. “Maybe we can try again tonight.”

“I’ll be trying to put you to sleep, not keep you up.”

As I start the truck, I kick myself for my own stupidity. The mood instantly shifted the moment I reminded her of her difficulty sleeping.

When I was out at the farm today, I talked to Jackson about what she said last night.

I didn’t push too hard, because I know he has a lot on his mind with his mom and all.

He agreed we need to look into this “uncle.” Who knows if he’s even telling the truth about who he is?

I’m also going to talk to JD about it tonight.

He has a friend who has a security business. Maybe he can do some digging for me.

Lexie bounds toward me as I round the truck to open the door for Daisy. “I’m so excited she’s here!”

I stop dead in my tracks. “Just her?” I toss my thumb toward Daisy.

“You too, I guess.” She shoves past me and opens the door herself. “Yay, you’re here!”

I leave the two hugging women to it and head up to the house.

Ash waves his spatula in their direction. “Thank fuck you made it. Lexie’s been asking me every five seconds when you were going to get here.”

“The burgers smell good.” I pat him on the back as I pass him. “I’ve got to talk to JD a minute. Keep ‘em busy, will ya?”

Ash salutes me.

When I step inside, JD is rubbing Elizabeth’s shoulders at the counter. I clear my throat, and they both turn toward me at the same time.

“Sorry to intrude. I was just wondering if I could have a minute with JD.”

Elizabeth wipes her hands on a towel. “Yeah, of course. I’ll go see how Ash is doing on the grill.”

She gives me a quick hug on her way out.

I hand JD the wine I brought. He puts it in the refrigerator and then comes back with two beers. He hands me one. “What’s up?”

“I was wondering if I could get Anthony’s number.”

His brows jump in surprise. “Anthony? What do you need to talk to him about?”

“It’s Daisy. She’s been having a hard time sleeping, and she told me some things last night. I just want to check it out, you know?”

JD leans back in his chair, looking toward the door. “What did she tell you?”

“She just found out she was adopted. It kind of threw her off. But it’s how she found out that has me concerned.

Right after I met her, she left for this fancy art school in Paris.

When she got there, the dean of the school told her he was her biological father’s brother.

I guess her fucking dad paid for her schooling and everything, and she didn’t even know it.

She thought she had a scholarship. I don’t know, man. It feels like they set her up.”

JD sits up slowly as concern creases his brow. “Her biological father contacted her?”

“Not him. I guess he died in some accident, but this uncle … “ I look over his shoulder to make sure no one is coming. “This uncle did something to her. I can feel it.”

“I’ll take care of it. Write down the name of the school.” He stands and tosses a pen and paper on the table. “What has she told you about him?”

“Nothing other than she thinks her dad and his family are evil, and she doesn’t want to be like them.” I run my fingers through my hair, resting my elbows on the table. Saying it out loud turns my gut. “I haven’t wanted to push her on it. She talks when she talks. I’m trying to be patient.”

JD pushes me back and shoves his hand in the center of my chest. “Listen to me. You keep an eye on her until we figure this out.”

I rub my temples. “Fuck, I’ll kill him, JD. I’ll fucking take him out if he’s hurt her.”

“I understand. I’ve got your back.”

He means it too.

I write the name of the school down for him. “You’ll let me know what you find out?”

“Yeah, let’s meet up tomorrow over at the warehouse. Elizabeth is going over to help Lily in town around nine. Does that work for you?”

I sigh in relief. “Fuck yeah, I appreciate it, man. I really do. Daisy is heading over there in the morning too.”

He slaps me on the back. “Good, yeah, that will be good.” JD walks away from me, pulling his phone to his ear. “Get back out there and give me a minute.” He shakes his phone, letting me know he wants to keep his call on the down low. “And make sure Ash doesn’t burn my fucking steak.”

I do as he asks, knowing he’s a man of his word. He’s already on it. JD is one of the best fucking dudes I know. Fuck, I sure hope his friend Anthony is as good as they say, and he can get me some answers.

Elizabeth stands when I walk out. She tries to slip past me into the house, but I wrap my arm around her shoulders, guiding her over to her greenhouse. Lexie and Daisy follow just like I thought they would.

“Whatcha got growing in this thing?”

She looks back at the house. “You know, the usual. Flowers and plants.”

Daisy bounces in front of us. “Oh my gosh. How beautiful!” She stops with her hands on her hips under the glass arch above the door. “That’s incredible.”

Elizabeth smiles wide. “Petey made it for me.”

Daisy stares up at it, studying every line and curve.

“I’ve never seen it at night. It’s cool with all the lights on inside,” I tell Elizabeth, keeping her firmly by my side.

She finally relaxes and opens the door, ushering us in. Daisy rushes to the record player to see what album is on the turntable.

“Oh, this is one of my favorites.”

“Really?” Elizabeth steps beside her and turns it on.

Lexie stands by me, staring at the two of them with her hands over her chest.

“You okay?” I ask, noticing the tears in her eyes.

“Yeah, I’m just so happy they’re getting along so well.”

Weird , but then again, it’s Lexie we’re talking about.

They listen to a couple of songs as Elizabeth walks them around the greenhouse naming all of her different plants.

JD steps in after several minutes. He gives me a slight nod, letting me know things are in motion. “Ash says the food is done. Come and get it while it’s hot.”

The rest of the night is relaxed and comfortable. The girls are inseparable. Lexie and Daisy have their heads bowed together on the front porch, both trying to recreate the stitch Elizabeth just taught them.

Ash looks at the two of us. “Something feels off,” he says quietly as we watch them from the fire pit.

I sigh. “I’m just worried about Daisy. I’ll let you know more if it turns out to be anything.”

His gaze bounces between me and JD. “If I can help, you let me know.”

“I will, brother. I will.”