Page 30 of The Loves We Lost

Avery cries, and I already know I’ll burn down the world to get to them.

But it’s too late; as I feel the lock click in my hand, Molotov cocktails smash to the ground around Viola’s car. They pour over the first fence and spew fuel and flames that go everywhere. Fuel trickles towards Viola’s car. Fire already surrounds them.

Bikers pour out of the clubhouse, I hear the thud of their boots and raised voices, but all I care about is getting to Vi and our daughter.

“I’m coming, Vi,” I yell in the confusion. Flames cut me off, and I jump back for a second before committing to running straight through it. The sound of gunshots follow, the ping of bullets hitting metal. I don’t even know who is firing, us or them.

The leg of my jeans is on fire. I smack the flames with my hand to put them out, even as I feel my palm blister.

“I’ve got you,” I say as Avery whimpers, and tears make their way down Viola’s cheek. I glance toward the club, where Halo and Clutch have my back, just as Niro jumps through the flames to join me.

“Quick,” I say.

“Our things,” Viola says. “My work.”

Niro wrenches open the car door as I lift Avery into my arms. She curls into me without question, as if she’s always fit there. Thin arms wrap around my neck as she burrows her head into my shoulder. I grip her with one arm and take Viola’s hand in mine.

“On three,” I say.

She nods, and we run through the flames. Clutch and Saint have fire extinguishers, and we’re lucky. The fire is running out of fuel before it engulfs her car, and we escape unscathed. And without turning back, I pull Viola and Avery through the clubhouse to my room.

It’s a mess when I open the door, and I immediately wish I followed Spark’s military level of organization. But at least my bed is made. Quietly, I close the door and try to deposit Avery onto the bed so I can get a better look at her and make sure she’s not injured.

“No,” she cries when I try to put her down.

I rub a hand up and down her back. “It’s okay, sweetheart. You’re safe in here. I promise.”

She lifts her head from the crook of my neck. “You promise?”

“I promise. I just need to check you out, make sure you aren’t hurt.”

Avery releases her death grip on my neck, and I’m able to sit her down on the bed. Viola sits next to her and squeezes her tight. “We shouldn’t have come,” she says to me quietly.

“I’ll talk to you in minute.” Sure, my tone is harsh, but my heart is still racing.

I check Avery’s arms and legs, then do the same to Viola before stepping into my bathroom to get some tissues. Catching sight of myself in the mirror, I see smoke smudges from the fire.

Everything hits me.

That’s my daughter. She must be. TheAis for Avery. Not some guy. And Viola isn’t so stupid that she would bring another man’s child to me.

Fury has me clutching the edge of the sink so hard, I feel the jolt of something breaking free, and now my sink wobbles as a bolt breaks.

Viola has every part of our happy family except me.

And yet . . .

She’s here. For a heartbeat, I was so fucking happy to hear she was. When Niro said her name in the bar, my heart flipped thirteen times in my chest.

As I walk out, Niro kicks the door open and walks in with two large bags that I hope contain clothes, because I’m not letting them go anywhere. Catalina follows behind him with a personal bag and flower-covered backpack and gives them to Viola.

She glances at Avery and does a double take between me and her. Yeah, it’s fucking obvious to everyone.

“Cat, Niro, this is Viola and her daughter, Avery. Vi, this is my best friend, Niro, and Catalina is his old lady.” It hurts not to saymy daughter, but the kid is looking at me with guileless eyes, and whatever this clusterfuck is, she doesn’t need to sit in the middle of it and watch it play out. Once she’s settled, I’m taking Viola to Niro’s room, and she better pray I find an ounce of calm. I could be wrong, but looking at the mirror image of myself, I doubt it.

“Is she the one?” Niro asks.

“She is,” I reply.