How was he making this sound so simple? This was anything but simple.
“Look, Slayer. This isn’t a problem I can solve. Hell, I don’t even think it’s a problem.” He leaned forward and rested his hands on the table. “You aren’t the first guy to find out he’s got a kid out in the world he didn’t know about, and you ain’t gonna be the last.”
“What the hell am I going to do if it ends up that she isn't mine?” I insisted.
Did no one think that maybe this chick was lying and I wasn’t her baby daddy? I was careful. Every fucking time I had sex, I wrapped it up.
“If it turns out she isn’t yours, then I’ll help you figure that out because that does sound like a problem.” Wrecker stood up straight. “If you’re worried about the whole dad thing, talk to Nickel. He’s been doing it for a few months.”
I glanced at Nickel.
He shrugged. “It just comes natural, brother. You’re kind of behind the ball seeing as you missed the first twelve years of her life, but you’ll get it figured out.”
Maniac clapped me on the back. “Look at it this way, you can learn how to do the dad thing with Wrecker and me. In three months, there will be two more kids added to the club.”
Everyone gradually got up, talking and joking with each other. All I could do was sit there.
How could my life be going one way and, in an instant, everything changed?
“You’ll be fine, Slayer.”
I snapped out of my pity party and noticed Boink was the only one left in the room with me.
“You got no way of knowing that,” I muttered.
It was easy for Wrecker to tell me to just be a dad and these guys to tell me I was going to be fine. They weren’t the ones who were having to deal with this. They hadn’t had a twelve-year-old dropped on their doorstep and been told to take care of her.
All I had to worry about for the past thirty-five years was myself, and sometimes, I didn’t do that very well.
“How the hell am I going to be fine living in the clubhouse with a twelve-year-old, Boink? You really think this is the best place to raise a kid.”
He shrugged. “I mean, there could be worse places, but if you’re really against her living here, then find a place in town to live.”
“Because I can have a house to live in tomorrow. So easy,” I grumbled.
None of this was fucking easy.
Boink shook his head. “You got your head so far up your ass worrying about this that you aren’t thinking straight.” He sat back in his chair and sighed. “Oakley has houses all over the town, and I’m pretty damn sure not all of them are occupied.”
“You want me to move my daughter into a house owned by a drug lord?” Jesus Christ. Was Boink dipping into Oakley’s stash? “And what the hell am I supposed to do with her when I got shit I need to do for the club?” I demanded. “Plop her on the back of my bike like it’s a ten speed and take off with her?”
Boink rolled his eyes. “I’ve been to some of his houses, Slayer, and there ain’t no way in hell you can tell he owns them. Clean, updated, and big. Not like you’re going to have drug deals going down in the living room every night or something.” He leaned forward and rested his hands on the table. “If you’re not wanting to raise your daughter here, then I think one of his houses is the next best thing. And you know any of the girls will be more than willing to help out when you need them. You’re forgetting the club is a family, and we don’t leave our brothers out to dry when they need us.” He pushed his chair back and strolled out of the room.
I buried my head in hands and fought back the urge to scream.
Half an hour ago, I found out I have a daughter, and now, I was contemplating moving into a house owned by a known drug dealer.
I was going to be a great dad. Not.
*
Chapter Four
Wendy
Carnie rolled over onto her stomach and buried her face in the blanket. “Do you think we should check on her?” she mumbled. At least, I think that was what she said.
I dropped my pair of flip flops on the top of my suitcase and zipped it shut. “She’s pregnant. God knows how long it takes her to go to the bathroom,” I mumbled. I couldn’t even imagine what it was like to have a baby growing inside you.
Adley was lying on the floor in front of the TV with a pillow shoved under her head and her eyes glued on some movie about the kids of evil villains. I had gotten sucked into it a few times when they would break out into song, and I couldn’t help but think the songs were pretty catchy. I was completely out of touch with what was cool for kids even though I was only twenty-two.
Carnie slid off the bed and stood close next to me. “So, what are you thinking?”
I reared back a bit and looked her in the eye. “About what?”
She casually nodded toward Adley and lowered her voice. “About the twelve-year-old who is lying on the floor and her dad you can’t stand.”
“Should I be thinking about it?” I had been thinking about it, but it wasn’t just one thought.
How did he not know he had a kid?
Why did she suddenly appear now?
Was he actually going to take care of her?
Could he take care of her?
“Don’t you think it’s all just a bit crazy?” Carnie whispered.
It was extremely crazy, but I had learned from staying at the clubhouse for a bit that crazy things seemed to happen around here. More often than not. “I mean, I bet these guys lived rather, uh…”
How was I supposed to say the guys were manwhores without offending Carnie? She was with one of the manwhores now. Granted, they all seemed to be reformed, but still.
“They were generous with their love meat.”
Carnie and I spun around, surprised to see Alice standing in the doorway of the bathroom with her hands resting on her baby bump.
“Shh,” Carnie hissed and nodded toward Adley.
Her eyes were still glued to the TV, and I didn’t think she had heard a word we said, let alone Alice talking about love meat.
I pointed at Alice. “Bingo. They liked to share their love sticks.”
Alice winked. “I like that better than love meat.” She pulled the bathroom door shut behind her and sighed. “The human body does some weird things when pregnant. I wouldn’t go in there for a little bit.”
I wrinkled my nose, and Carnie let out a bark of laughter.
“My God, girl,” Carnie howled. “The things that come out of your mouth.”
“Once Freaky Deaky gets you pregnant, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about.” Alice flopped down on the bed and raised her arms over her head. “I think I got some major heartburn from that pizza, though I’m really craving some ice cream right now.”
“Hold up, hold it right up.” Carnie pointed to her stomach. “There is no way in hell I am going to be pregnant anytime soon. This belly is not ready for no baby.”
“Amen to that,” I mumbled. “Same over here.”
“Pretty sure you would need to have a man or a miracle for that to happen for you, Wendy,” Carnie snickered.
I rolled my eyes and dragged my suitcase over to the door. “I’m just fine with the way things are right now. No man means no headache.”
The door pushed open and banged into my butt.
“Ope, sorry.” The door shut and then reopened when my butt wasn’t in front of it.
“Try knocking,” I growled when I saw it was Slayer.
“How was I supposed to know your butt was in front of it, Wanda?” Slayer growled back.
My blood boiled at the fact he refused to say my name. Though, I refused to use his either. At least, to his face. “Knock, Sludge. That’s how you would have known.”
He pushed into the room and left the door hanging open behind him. “Yeah, yeah,” he muttered.
“How was church?” Alice asked.
Slayer glared at her. “Why don’t you ask your old man that question?”
&nb
sp; Alice laughed and rubbed her stomach. “Because you know he’ll growl, tell me it’s club business, and then I’ll have to work it out of him, and I’m not really up to working it out of him right now.”
Slayer scowled, and his eyes darted to Adley. “Really, Alice?”
Alice shrugged and tossed her hands up in the air. “Sorry, dude. I thought I had a couple of months left to be unfiltered.”
“You couldn’t let her sit on the bed?” Slayer asked. He motioned to Adley who was now looking up at us all.
“I offered. She didn’t want to.” I shrugged and crossed my arms over my chest.
Slayer could fight me if he didn’t believe me.
“Well, thanks for keeping an eye on her for me.”
“It was a group effort.” In all honesty, watching a twelve-year-old wasn’t really that hard. Put on some teeny show, give her some pizza and soda, and she was good to go. “She’s pretty cool.”
“Yeah, she’ll make a perfect addition to the second generation of the Girl Gang.” Alice smiled wide.
Slayer paled at the thought, and I hoped this girl was going to keep him on his toes with any and all teenage angst and troubles. If only I could be there to watch him struggle through it.
“Where is she sleeping tonight?” Alice asked. “We have a spare bedroom at our house she can sleep in.”
“You sure you don’t want to run that by Wrecker first?” Carnie questioned.
Alice waved her hand and scoffed. “Oh, please. Why wouldn’t he be okay with it?”
Carnie and I exchanged glances. There were a number of reasons of why Wrecker wouldn’t like it, but the first one that came to mind was the fact Adley wasn’t Wrecker’s problem to deal with.
“I don’t want to leave,” Adley piped up.
We all turned to look at her. We were talking about her like she wasn’t in the room. She was twelve, not an infant who couldn’t talk.
“Why can’t I just sleep here?” Adley suggested.
“Because this isn’t your room,” Slayer explained.
Adley sat up. “But why can’t I sleep on the floor. I wouldn’t take Wendy’s bed.”
Slayer shook his head. “There are plenty of better places for you to sleep.”
“I want to stay with Wendy,” Adley insisted.
My head tipped to the side, and I was shocked as hell that Adley wanted to stay with me. “I…uh…” What the hell was I supposed to say?
“Aww, how sweet,” Carnie cooed. “You guys could have a slumber party.”
Alice clapped her hands together. “That sounds awesome!”
Wait? What? What was going on?
Slayer shook his head and crossed his arms over his chest. “Wendy is leaving tomorrow, Adley.”
“And?” Alice drawled. “That isn’t a reason why they can’t have a slumber party. I would want in on that action but my butt can’t handle anything but sleeping in my own bed anymore.” She reached around and rubbed her back. “Swear to God, this kid is killing me from the inside out.”
“She can sleep in my room for the night, and tomorrow, I’m going to find a better place for her to stay.” Slayer took a step toward Adley, and she scooted back on her butt.
She was scared of him.
Slayer drove me crazy, but I knew he wouldn’t hurt Adley. She didn’t know that, though. I gathered that she hadn’t really been around men so Slayer stalking toward her while he told her she couldn’t have what she wanted wasn’t good for her.
“Or she can stay in here.” Carnie’s eyes darted to me. I shrugged and looked away from her. “What would one night hurt, right?”
“I know there is a spare mattress down the hall. We could haul it in here so she doesn’t have to sleep on the floor,” Alice volunteered.
“Alice,” Slayer growled.
Alice clapped her hands together. “Perfect, it’s decided. Adley and Wendy are having a slumber party!”
“Wait? What?” Slayer sputtered. “I did not agree to this. There is no reason for Adley to sleep here. She can sleep in my room, and I’ll bunk on the couch in there.”
Alice waved her hand at Slayer. “Nonsense. My idea is much better than yours.”
Only Alice could say that to Slayer and not get snapped at.
Though it looked like Slayer was struggling to not bite her head off.
“I’ll wrangle up some of the guys and get the mattress brought in.” Alice waddled out the door without a backward glance, hollering for Pipe and Boink.
Carnie nervously shuffled her feet and stared at the floor.
Slayer was glaring at me with a scowl on his face. “This isn’t what I want.”
“Guess this is a good lesson for you, then.” I smiled wide and propped my hands on my hips. “You don’t always get what you want, Slushie.”
*
Slayer
This day was not what I had expected, and the night was not ending how it should, either.
I stared up into the darkness of my room and sighed.
Being a dad wasn’t exactly what I wanted, but it sort of stung when your new daughter wanted to stay with someone else instead of you.
It stung even more because the person she wanted to stay with was Wendy.
The chick hated me, and God forbid she ever called me the right name.
Slushie.
Slinger.
Smoke.
Slinky.
The list of names she used was long and annoying as hell. Thankfully, I was able to repay the favor and call her every name that started with a W and wasn’t Wendy.
Now, she was stealing my kid.
But she would be gone in the morning, and then, I could figure out where Adley and I were going to live. And I would get the ball rolling on this DNA test.
I know I was shocked as hell when Adley was on the other side of the door, but as crazy as it sounded, I felt like I was the girl’s only hope.
I closed my eyes and pulled the covers up over my arms.
Tomorrow would be a new day, and I would figure out everything then. At least, Wendy wouldn’t be here to get in my way and think she knew what was best for Adley.
Tomorrow would be better.
*
Chapter Five
Wendy
“Why do you have to leave?”
I whirled around, my heart beating out of my chest, and a startled yelp escaped my lips. “You’re woke.” I shook my head and tried to calm the beating of my heart. “I mean, you’re awake.”
Adley raised up on her elbows and yawned. “Yeah, I’m awake. Why do you have to leave?”
Damn, Adley was not easily distracted, and she asked the hard questions first thing in the morning. “Uh, well, I don’t have to leave, but I think I’m just kind of in the way here. Plus, this isn’t really my home.”
“Then why are you here?”
Uh, did I tell her the truth that Carnie had dated a psycho who then tried to kill her and I got swept up in everything?
“I’m just here visiting Carnie. She hooked up with Freak, and I thought I would just come visit her for a bit.” Probably better not to tell her about psychos when she just got here. She seemed pretty scared the way it was without adding that in. “Now, it’s time to go home.”
“Do you know what my dad meant when he said he was going to find someplace else for us to live?”
I shrugged and grimaced. “No clue, doll. I’m sure whatever he had in mind would be good.” I honestly didn’t believe that but again, I didn’t need to scare or worry her anymore. Slayer maybe one good-looking man, but he hadn’t really instilled much trust in me. We just seemed to rub each other the wrong way since we first met.
“Will you come visit me when you visit your sister?”
I turned away from Adley and opened the empty drawers of my dresser. “Uh, sure.” I had no idea when I would be back to visit Carnie, let alone visit Adley. I had only met her yesterday, but it seemed like she had taken a liking to me. I wasn’t sure why, though. Alice an
d Carnie had talked to her just as much, if not more, as I had.
A knock sounded at the door, and I was thankful we weren’t going to have to continue this conversation. Partly because I had no idea how to answer anything she had to ask.
“Morning,” Slayer called as he slowly opened the door.
I rolled my eyes and plopped down on the bed. “Good morning, Slugger.”
Slayer glared at me. “Hello, Winifred.”
Adley giggled and covered her mouth with her hand.
Slayer smiled at Adley. “Did you sleep well?” he asked her.
She nodded. “Yup. I liked sleeping in Wendy’s room.”
“Well, that was good enough for last night, but I promise tonight you’ll have your own room and bed that isn’t on the floor.” He crouched down in front of the mattress and rested his elbows on his knees. “I’m looking at getting a place that will be just ours.”
She nodded. “How many bedrooms does it have?”
Slayer tilted his head to the side. “Uh, I think three.”
Adley smiled brightly. “That’s perfect. If we have three bedrooms, then I can have my own room, you can have one, and then Wendy can have one.”
Slayer’s face dropped, and even I was shocked. “I, ah, well…” Slayer looked over his shoulder at me for help.
“I told you I need to go home, Adley. I was just here visiting Carnie for a bit.”
Please just let her let it drop. Dear God, just drop it.
“Noooo,” Adley drawled. “You said you didn’t need to go home but you felt like you were in the way.” She stood up, moved past Slayer, and stood in front of me with her arms folded over her chest. “If you come live with me in our new house, then you won’t be in the way, and you’ll be able to see Carnie all of the time.”
“It’s not that easy, Adley,” Slayer and I said at the same time.
“Why isn’t it?” she insisted. “You adults make everything so complicated when most things are easy to figure out.”
“Because I have a life back in Pines Peak, and I can’t just expect Sloth to let me live with you guys.”
Even during a serious conversation, I refused to say Slayer’s name in front of him.
Fallen Lords MC: Books 7-9 Page 17
