Page 37 of Sinful Skulls (Rebel Skull MC #9)

Chapter Thirty-Five

Brody

I wash our hands in the sink and then dump the last of the blood down the drain. Fuck, this was a bad idea. I just wanted to show her that she wasn’t like her father or her uncle while at the same time erasing that fucking painting from her mind.

She’s not talking, but at least her sobs have subsided.

I’d take her home, but Anthony is on his way, and I really need to talk to him. He should be here soon. We called him in because Henry is the dean of a college, and someone will miss him. Anthony has international connections that will hopefully be able to help us with that problem.

When Jesse walks in to tell me he’s almost here, her brows pull together.

“Yeah, this didn’t go as planned,” I tell her, hanging my head.

She walks over to the chair Daisy is sitting in and cups her face in her hands. “Baby, let’s go upstairs.”

“He killed her,” Daisy whispers, pointing to the canvas that was hidden under hers. “She was infatuated with him. She would have done anything he asked. That’s how he found me. She gave him my address.”

Jesse looks at it before returning her attention to my girl. “Take them both out to the fire pit.” She bends down and wraps Daisy’s arm over her shoulders, lifting her to her feet.

Dirk jogs downstairs a few minutes later to help me. “Looks like my lady is gearing up for a fire.”

“Yeah,” I say, running my hands through my hair. “I fucked up, dude.”

He shakes his head. “We’re all just trying our best. Some days you get it right, others you don’t. Rest easy knowing you filleted that fucker, and he won’t be taking out any more innocent girls.”

When we get outside, Jesse already has a fire going. Daisy is curled up in a lawn chair, watching the flames. Dirk walks right up to it and tosses the gold-framed painting in the pit.

I kneel in front of Daisy, and her eyes slowly leave the fire to focus on me. “You don’t need this one either. Your mother is here with you now, okay?”

She nods, and I breathe a sigh of relief.

I toss the painting of Elizabeth, and the flames instantly claim it.

Dirk walks into the kitchen, coming back out with four glasses and a bottle of whiskey.

He pours one for Daisy and then his wife before moving on to me.

The four of us sit quietly, drinking and watching the fire lick at what remains of the frame.

Daisy leans forward and holds her glass out to Dirk for a refill.

She settles back in her seat and takes a long drink. Then she begins to tell her story. All of it.

“My whole life I’ve felt like something was off.

When Henry told me I was adopted, everything started to make sense until it didn’t.

I was so confused and hurt.” She wraps her fingers around the dragonfly necklace.

“I can’t imagine how I would have reacted if I hadn’t just spent the previous week with Brody.

I might have believed Henry when he told me he was the only one who understood me. ”

My heartbeat slows as I listen to her. As she talks, I realize how calm she is. I’m seeing someone who was taught healthy ways of dealing with life. Her parents taught her how to regulate her emotions.

“I mean, think about it. My mom was there for me at exactly the right moment. The dragonfly led her to me, and she delivered an angel.” She stares at me through the flames.

Dirk sits up straight in his chair. “Wait a minute here. Are you saying Brody is an angel?”

A slow smile pulls at her cheeks. “There are all kind of angels.”

Is she flirting with me?

The tip of her tongue slips between her lips. I shake my head and let out a chuckle. This is the Daisy I fell in love with. She’s soft and vulnerable, but she’s also confident and strong. She didn’t let the darkness tip the scale.

“Man, your uncle really fucked you up if you think this man is an angel,” Dirk tells her.

I cringe, but Daisy laughs at him. “He’s my dark sinful angel.”

Dirk holds up his hands in surrender. “Stop. You win. I don’t want to hear anymore.”

Jesse kicks his leg. “You stop.” Dirk’s hand snags her ankle, and she laughs trying to pull away.

Daisy’s laughter trails off as she watches the two of them playfully shove each other. Her head tips to the side, and she bites the inside of her cheek. It’s one of my favorite looks. They stop when they notice she’s staring at them.

“What’s wrong?” Jesse asks.

Daisy dips her head shyly. “Nothing. I was just … I don’t know, I was just thinking about how great it would be to paint the two of you.”

Their eyebrows rise in interest. “Of us?” Jesse asks.

“I mean, god, this is probably the wrong time to talk about this, but you guys are insanely beautiful. You two are masterpiece material.”

They both laugh, but I can tell they’re digging the idea.

“You aren’t going to use our blood are you?” Dirk asks, earning him another kick from his wife.

“Of course not. I’ll use mine,” Daisy deadpans, but I know she’s being a brat.

“Daisy,” I warn.

A laugh bursts from her chest. “I’m just kidding. Geez.”

Dirk shakes his head. “Well, if her morbid humor doesn’t convince you she’s not right where she’s supposed to be, I don’t know what would.”

“You brought it up.” She shrugs.

I stand and stretch. “Okay, you two. You both need to learn the term too soon .”

Dirk and I both get a text at the same time. “We’ve got church. I’ll be right back.”

She tips her head in confusion.

I keep forgetting she’s not used to club life yet. “Jackson called a meeting. I can run you home, if you’d rather wait for me there.”

“No. I’ll wait here.”

Jesse nods at me, letting me know she’ll stay with her.

JD looks like shit as his friend Anthony explains how Henry’s townhouse will burn. He holds up a baggie filled with the teeth I extracted from Henry’s skull.

“The authorities will be able to confirm he perished in the fire when they find these.” He shakes the bag, and everyone in the room nods.

“You’ve got some crazy big balls if you’re willing to smuggle that shit to France,” Petey says, leaning back in his chair.

I think we’ve all gained an appreciation for just how ballsy this Anthony fucker is when he took out the asshole that hurt Lexie.

“I’d like to talk to Daisy before I leave, if you don’t mind?” His gaze rests on me.

Jackson waves his hand. “It’s your call, brother.”

“Yeah, okay. Just don’t upset her.” My eyes narrow on him.

JD follows along as I lead Anthony out back to Daisy. She sits up when she spots us.

Anthony doesn’t wait for introductions. He waltzes up to her and takes her hand in his. “Stunning, just like your mother,” he says before kissing her knuckles.

“Daisy, this is Anthony.”

Her eyes follow him as he pulls a chair to her side. “Anthony?”

He smiles at her. “Danielle is going to be so pleased I got to meet you. Selfie?”

Her brows pull together, but she leans in when he does. They both smile at the camera.

“You know my mother. She was classmates with your wife, Danielle,” Daisy reasons out loud.

“Yes, your mother is a colossal pain in the ass. Don’t let anyone tell you different.”

Daisy smiles, because she sees life without filters. She realizes he must care for Elizabeth if he’s here.

He sends their picture to his wife. “She’s going to love this.” When his attention returns to Daisy, he smiles. “Elizabeth is the closest thing my wife has to a sister, so she considers you to be her niece.”

“That’s why you were willing to help me. You knew Elizabeth was my mother.”

“I didn’t know when you first called, but Danielle and I put two and two together. I just wish I would have told you over the phone, then maybe we could have avoided all of this.”

Daisy shakes her head. “No. This was exactly how it was supposed to happen. The universe self-corrected and brought me back to the timeline I was supposed to be on.” She looks up at me and smiles.

Anthony stands. “I need to get going, but my wife and I will definitely be back in a few weeks. She’s excited to meet you.”

“I’m excited to meet her too. Her art is beautiful.”

“Oh, she’s already working you into the schedule at the gallery, so you better get working on your showcase. She’s obsessed with the works she’s already seen.”

Daisy jumps from her chair. “Oh my gosh. Really? Wait. What did she see?”

I interject, ticking them off on my hand one by one. “The painting of Ash and Lex, the one of Willow, the one of Elizabeth, and the one downstairs.”

Her cheeks turn crimson. “You sent her pictures?”

“I sent them a few hours ago,” I admit honestly.

“Danielle is obsessed with them,” Anthony adds, hoping to help me out. “She’s excited to see what you can do now that you’re ready to show the world.”

Daisy laughs at that. “You’re a little pushy, aren’t you?”

“I like to rush right into things. You should never think about anything too long.” He gives her a quick kiss on the cheek and then turns to shake my hand. “I’ll be in touch.”

“I’ll walk you out.”

I leave JD and Daisy to talk. Jesse is there if she needs her, but I have a feeling I’m about to see just how special my girl is.