Page 42 of Sinful Skulls (Rebel Skull MC #9)

Chapter Forty

Daisy

M y mom and Elizabeth are chatting away as everyone works together to prepare for the party after our wedding tonight.

It makes me smile. My dad nudges me, bumping his shoulder against mine. “I’m sorry you felt you couldn’t come to us, but please know you can tell me anything, Daisy. Anything. I’ll never stop loving you.”

I lay my head on his shoulder. “Thank you for being cool with this.” I wave my hand around, indicating all of the bikers.

He chuckles quietly. “They are a cast of characters, but it’s clear they love each other. I’m glad your birth mother found them … and you.”

“You are?” I lift my head and stare at the side of his face.

He has tears in his eyes as he watches Elizabeth.

“Your mother doesn’t know this, but I pulled Elizabeth aside one day and asked her if she was safe.

She assured me she was, but I had this gut feeling she was lying to me.

I should have pushed her harder. Maybe I could have prevented the hell she went through, and you … ”

I laugh. “She never would have told you. I have a feeling she would have let someone rip her fingernails off before she would’ve risked him finding out about me.”

His head drops. “I spoke with Anthony.”

I rub my hands together nervously.

“Please don’t be angry with him, but I begged him, father to father, to tell me what had happened to you.”

My head turns away from him, but he grabs my chin to stop me. “Listen to me, Daisy Lynn. I want you to start being yourself. You paint whatever comes to you. I will be proud of anything you do. Do you understand me?”

I nod, tears spilling down my cheeks. He wipes them away with both of his hands.

“Now. Are you sure you want to marry this boy?”

A laugh bursts from my chest because Brody is not a boy. He’s all man.

“I do. He reminds me a lot of my dad,” I say.

His brows pull together, and he glances around the room.

It’s true they are completely different men, except for in the ways that matter most. “He’s funny, kind, steady, and he loves me more than anything in the world.”

He runs a hand down his face. “I could tell you were in love when you said his name.”

I smile. “It’s that obvious, huh?”

He nods. “But that’s okay. You remind me of your mom in that way.”

We both turn to look at her.

“She’s gracious with her love, isn’t she?” I ask, admiring her from afar.

“It’s why I fell in love with her.”

I give his arm a hug. “I’m so happy you’re both here with me.”

“Me too, honey. Me too.”

Jesse walks by, curling a finger for me to follow her. When we get around the corner, she puts her hands on her hips. “Jackson lost him.”

My eyes widen. Oh no. He’s going to ruin our surprise.

She tips her head back and laughs. “Scared ya, didn’t I?”

“Jesse! Don’t do that.”

Her laugh trails off, and she looks at her watch. “Don’t worry. He’s with Dan.”

“Okay. So, we’re still on plan.”

“Yes, ma’am. The dress is dry, so I had Rachel take it upstairs. It turned out perfectly. Maybe we should go into business together.”

We both laugh, because while painting my dress was fun, it’s not something we’d want to do full time.

“This is the most energetic I’ve seen her in months,” she says softly.

“Yeah.”

“Go on up. I’ll send everyone else that way in a few minutes.”

I pull her to me, hugging her tight. “Thank you for everything. Really, you’ve made me feel at home here.”

“You’re just buttering me up so I’ll pose for you.”

“Maybe.” I give her another squeeze before letting go. “Pleeeease.”

She laughs. “Okay, fine.”

“Dirk too?”

“I suppose.” She rolls her eyes, but I can tell she’s as excited as I am.

“It will keep his mind off …”

Jesse nods, blinking back her own tears. “You’re right. It might be exactly what he needs right now." She pushes me toward the stairs. “Only happy tears today. Go.”

I rush up the stairs to find Rachel staring at my dress.

“You think I’m crazy, don’t you?”

She looks over her shoulder, smiling at me with tears streaming down her cheeks. “It’s beautiful, Daisy. Truly. He’s going to love it.”

When she turns back to the dress, I take the necklace from my neck and then gently place it around hers. “I think the mother of the groom should wear the dragonfly today.”

Her hand instantly covers it, holding it close. “I’ve never worn it before.”

“I’m pretty sure if this Jenny lady trusted you with her son, she wouldn’t mind you wearing it to his best friend’s wedding.”

She laughs, wiping her eyes. “I feel like I’m rushing you into all of this.”

“Rachel, this is going to be the perfect wedding. I’m so incredibly happy.”

Her eyes land on the dress. “Put it on. I’m dying to see it on you.”

As I’m dressing in the bathroom, my mother knocks on the door. “Can I come in?”

“Of course!” I yell, shimmying into it.

Her hand covers her chest at the sight of me, tears instantly springing to her eyes. “Just a minute.”

My mother’s beautiful soul leans out the door and calls Elizabeth to join us. I have the most amazing parents in the world. I’m so lucky.

“Oh, oh my gosh.” Elizabeth begins to sob as she watches my mom zip up the back of the dress.

My mom and I hug her as she cries. “I never thought I’d get to see this day. I’m sorry. I don’t want to ruin your moment or your dress.” She chuckles sadly and pushes away from us.

“You aren’t ruining either,” my mom tells her kindly. “Your love for her is just spilling over.”

Elizabeth fans her face. “Okay, okay,” she says determined to pull herself together.

“Let’s go show the others,” my mother suggests.

Everyone in the room gasps when I step out.

Katie laughs. “Brody is going to shit himself.”

“Yeah, he is,” Jesse agrees.

“Let’s not speak that into existence.” I spin in a circle for them. “I feel …” I pause at a loss for words.

“Like a princess,” Billie Rose finishes for me.

“Exactly.”

A princess who is about to marry her dark angel.