“I know. I’m sure it all worked out for the best.”
“It did,” I said, needing to reassure him. “We had too much to lose by going after them ourselves. You have to believe that.”
“I do,” he said. “Believe me. I do.”
Chapter 62
Peyton
Just as Dom had promised, we went out the next evening and celebrated at Melano’s. We were even able to take the tour Dom had been raving about in the caves surrounding the restaurant. Ruby had been so intrigued, that she told us on the way home that she was going to be an archeologist.
“You are, huh?” Dom said.
“Yes,” she replied. “And I’m going to explore caves like that all over the world and find all kinds of cool stuff.”
Dom and I looked at each other and smiled. There was no doubt in our minds that Ruby was going to do something great when she grew up.
“Right now, you just have to worry about starting second grade,” said Dom.
Ruby’s smile fell. She was starting a new school the following month, and was very nervous.
“You’ll do great. And Kara might be in your class,” I reminded to her.
Kara was the neighbor girl and they were inseparable.
Ruby’s smile returned. “She will be.”
And I believed her. Ruby definitely had Dom’s intuition. It was a little unsettling at first, but I was starting to get used to it.
***
When we got home, I tucked Ruby into bed and Dom told her a story. Afterward, he surprised me with a bottle of champagne.
“We have more to celebrate than you think,” he explained, pouring us each a glass.
“What do you mean?”
He told me about Jet and Cane.
My jaw dropped. “So, they were killed by the Devil’s Rangers?”
“That’s what the police believe.”
I could tell by the look in his eyes that he was holding something back.
“It wasn’t them, was it?” I replied.
“I don’t know who it was, to be honest. I’m just glad things turned out the way they did and nobody went to jail.”
“You and me both.”
We made a toast to all of the great things happening in our lives and afterward, I thought of something Ruby had said to me. I told Dom.
“She said she’s going to have a little brother?” he repeated, staring at me in surprise. “You’re not pregnant, are you?”
“I’m not. I just got over my period,” I reminded him.
He grinned. “I guess we should work on that, then.”
“Hold up. I don’t think I’m ready for another child in our lives right now,” I told him. “I already have two. You and Ruby.”
“And don’t forget Chilly,” he reminded me.
“And Lucifurr,” I added.
“How’s Lucifurr doing, by the way?” Dom asked.
“He’s adjusting,” I replied. “But, only because he gets to sleep with Ruby now.”
Chilly slept with us, which was both cute but also sometimes a pain in the butt. She was getting bigger and took up a lot of room on the mattress when she stretched out.
“Going back to making babies,” Dom said, pulling me to him. “We can at least practice.”
“I’m all for that,” I said.
“I love you,” Dom whispered.
“I love you, too,” I replied, staring up into his dark-brown eyes.
He picked me up and carried me to the bed, where we spent the rest of the night making love and talking about our future.
“I’m so glad the business with the Blood Angels is over and we’ve got nothing to worry about now,” I whispered, closing my eyes. I didn’t care who’d killed the two men. I just knew that they were no longer a threat to Dom.
He didn’t say anything.
“It is over, right?” I asked, looking at him again.
“For now,” he said quietly.
I frowned. “What does that mean?”
“It means that once you have enemies like them, you can’t ever let your guard down. The rest of their club is going to be looking for answers on who exactly killed Cane and Jet. Let’s just hope the Devil’s Rangers won’t set them straight.”
“Does that mean we have to worry about this new club now, too?” I asked, not liking that answer. “The Devil’s Rangers?”
He kissed the top of my head. “Don’t worry your pretty little head. I won’t let anything happen to you or Ruby.”
I’d heard those words before. They were from the heart. I also knew he couldn’t always foresee the future, even with his gifts. Still, I knew what I’d signed up for, by agreeing to marry him. I also knew he’d never walk away from the club. And… I’d never ask him to.
“Or yourself,” I whispered. “Don’t let anything happen to yourself, either.”
Smiling, he pulled me closer. “I’m not planning on it.”
It took me awhile to fall asleep, but when I did, I dreamt of Blade chasing me from his grave. It was so disturbing, I woke up gasping.
“What’s wrong?” Dom asked, touching my arm.
“Just a bad dream,” I replied, my heart still pounding in my chest.
“Did you want to talk about it?” he asked, staring at me with concern.
I adjusted my pillow. “No. Don’t worry about me. Go back to sleep,” I said, closing my eyes.
“You sure?”
I nodded. “Yes. I’m sure.”
After all, it was just a dream…
Chapter 63
Devon
Devon was just finishing up a tattoo when the front door opened and Phoenix’s old man stepped inside. The one who’d raised him from an infant, but wasn’t his biological father.
“Hey, Gary,” she called out. “You here for another tattoo?”
She’d inked him a few times over the last couple of years. A skull. A snake. A two-headed dragon.
“No,” he said, looking uncomfortable. He held out an envelope. “I just came in to deliver this to you.”
Devon gave him a curious look. She stood up and walked over to Gary. “What’s this for?”
“Just read it,” he answered, his forehead glistening with sweat.
“Uh, okay,” she said, wondering what it was all about.
“I’ve gotta go,” he replied, backing away toward the doorway.
“Okay.”
He turned around and left quickly.
Devon could see through the envelope that it was some kind of a handwritten letter. She decided not to read it right away, thinking that the man might be professing his love for her. She’d seen the way Gary had looked at her in the past. With affection and warmth. It could only mean one thing.
Sighing, she set the envelope down and went back to her customer.
***
An hour later, while Devon was cleaning up her area, and preparing to leave for the night, she remembered the envelope from Gary. She opened it up and took out the letter. As she read the contents, she began to cry.
***
Thirty minutes later, Devon walked into the Sunrise Diner. She found Gary sitting in the back, drinking coffee. Taking a deep breath, she walked over to the booth and sat down across from him.
“I didn’t think you’d show up,” he said, his hand shaking as he set the cup down.
She didn’t waste any time. “So, you’re really my father?”
He nodded. “I’m… sorry,” he said, looking ashamed. “I… I know there’s no excuse for not coming to you earlier. For… what happened. And, I’m not looking for sympathy, either.”
Besides finding out that he was her father, Devon had also learned that he was dying of lung cancer.
“I’m not here to sympathize,” she said softly. “I just wanted to know how you could have known this, all of these years. That I was your daughter, and not… say anything?”
“It’s complicated,” he replied.
She frowned. “That’s a bullshit answer.”
“Your mother didn’t want anyone to know it was me. Especially Tom. She figured he’d murder me.”
“Even though my Uncle Tom was screwing your wife?” Devon said dryly.
Gary nodded. “I didn’t know he’d had sex with Liz or knocked her up. I didn’t even know that Vaughn wasn’t my son until just recently. Liz just told me a few weeks ago.”
Devon stared at him. She could see it in his eyes that he was telling the truth.
“So, why now?” Devon said. “Is it because you’re sick?”
“I’ve always wanted to tell you, Devon. I was just a coward. I was afraid of Tom. Liz. Even Vaughn. But,” he let out a long sigh. “Not anymore. I’m not afraid of anything anymore. Not even death.”
They sat there in awkward silence. For the first time in her life, Devon was at a loss for words.
“So, what do you want from me?” she asked finally, her eyes filling with tears.
He reached his hand over and touched hers. “Nothing. I don’t want anything from you. I just wanted to tell you the truth and ask for your forgiveness.”
She smiled bitterly. “So, you do want something from me.”
“You don’t have to forgive me,” he replied. “In fact, I won’t blame you if you didn’t.”
Devon let out a ragged sigh. “I’ve been through a lot, you know? Especially, growing up. I could have used a father.”
He nodded.
“But, life isn’t always filled with rainbows and unicorns,” she said, sliding out of the booth.
“Nope,” he said.
She stood up and looked down at him. “I don’t want anything from you.”
“I understand,” he said, looking sad.
“But my child is going to need a grandfather. And Brass’s parents are both gone. So, if you want to come over for dinner, next Sunday, I’d like to have you.”
Gary looked at her in surprise. “You’re pregnant?”
She nodded. “About three months.”
“Congratulations.”
“Thanks.”
“To tell you the truth, I don’t know how long I’ve got,” Gary said softly. “The doctors say it could be two months, it could be a year.”
“I’ll take what you can give me,” Devon said, trying not to feel sorry for Gary. But, she still did.
He smiled. “Thank you.”
Devon nodded. “Just, do me one favor? Brass is the one cooking this weekend. He’s not very good at it, but I think it’s sweet that he tries. Anyway, tell him the chili is great.”
Gary chuckled. “Will do. Can I bring anything?”
“Just yourself,” she replied, thinking that it was all she’d ever wanted. A real father. Sitting down at the table, sharing a meal and everything in between.
He looked pleased.
“Also, Brass doesn’t know I’m pregnant. So, don’t say anything. I’m going to surprise him.”
Gary’s eyes widened and he smiled. “Okay.”
“Do you have my address?” she asked.
“Yes,” said Gary, looking embarrassed. “I’ve always had it. You don’t know how many times I drove by, trying to get the courage up to talk to you.”
“Oh,” she said, blinking back tears again. What else could she say? “I guess we’ll see you on Sunday?”
“I’ll be there. I promise.”
Devon turned around and hurried out of the diner, the song I’ll Be There For You by Bon Jovi echoing through her head. Gary was twenty-three years late, but… it was better late than never, she decided.
The End
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Luring the Biker (The Biker) Book 7 Page 20
