“Really, really, really.”
She threw her arms around my waist and hugged me tightly, her head falling just between my breasts. It shocked me, the contact. She hadn’t so much as touched me for more than a high-five since she’d been here. Of her own volition, that is. I softly wrapped my arms around her, cradling the back of her head in the palm of my hand. I closed my eyes. I reveled in the moment.
Did this mean she was starting to trust me?
I mean if that was what this meant, then I might be able to get her to talk about her parents a little more. Figure out who they are. What their names are. You know, other than Uncle Lyle. If I could figure out who her parents were—or who her father was—I might be able to get her back to them without my brother knowing.
It was a super-risky plan. Especially since I wasn’t quite sure whether or not we were being followed.
But, for Ariel’s sake, I had to take the shot.
“Ready for that ice cream?” I asked.
I ran my fingers through her beautiful hair as she nodded.
“Ready.”
We climbed into my car and I watched her gaze out the window in the backseat. She kicked her legs around as a massive smile crawled across her face. I drove to the nearest ice cream place I could think of that might be open at ten in the morning. And still, it took me going to two separate places before I found a place that opened around eleven. That meant sitting in the car for a little while to wait. But Ariel didn’t seem to mind.
“Wanna listen to some music while we wait?” I asked.
“Okay.”
“Do you have a favorite kind of music?”
“Um… the one with the instruments?”
“I think all music uses instruments.”
“No, no. The stuff with real instruments. Like ‘jellos,’ and ‘bases,’ and ‘flouts.’”
I paused. “You mean ‘classical?’”
“Yeah! That’s it. Can we listen to that?”
“You like classical music?”
She nodded. “Mhm. Daddy and I listen to it all the time. He loves it.”
Huh.
“Well, you’re in luck. Because I love things like opera and symphonies,” I said.
Then, I turned on my favorite classical music radio station.
I watched her in the rearview mirror as she swayed and bobbed with the beat. Her little hands started flailing around softly. Almost as if she were conducting the philharmonic herself. It made me smile. Such a precious girl when she wasn’t so angry.
Maybe it was good she was in my care.
Part of me wanted to return her to her family. To her father, at least. But I’d gotten a glimpse of how angry this little girl had become. And it made me wonder if she even came from a good family. At the very least, she came from someone who didn’t understand how to deal with kids. She’d made that painfully clear. Ariel reminded me a lot of my brother and how he’d act out as a child. Back when my father was grooming him to take over the role he had now. She had the same kind of anger that silently devoured my childhood. That made me regret a lot of decisions I’d made with my life.
And that kind of anger didn’t come from good parents.
We listened to song after song until the ice cream parlor in front of us opened. And still, once they were opened, we listened to two more songs before we finally got out of the car. We walked inside, trying to make up our minds while the owner of the small store got everything in order. Ariel stood next to me, pressing herself close. She took my arm and wrapped it around her, placing my hand where she wanted it. She wanted me to hold her. To touch her. To cradle her against my side. So, I did. With great pleasure.
She wrapped her hands around my waist.
“You two know what you want yet?” the owner asked.
“Actually, yes. I think I’m going to get a medium birthday cake surprise. Just without the whipped cream,” I said.
“I can do that. And you?” he asked, looking down at Ariel.
“That sounds really good. Can I have one, too?” she asked.
“You can get whatever you want, you know,” I said.
“I know. It’s just—I kinda had my eye on that one, too.”
“Well, then it’s yours.”
“Can I get extra birthday cake bits?”
“Of course. Just tell the man what you want.”
She smiled. “I want extra birthday cake pieces in it, too, please.”
My eyebrows rose. Please. That sure as hell was the first time, I’d ever heard her say that.
“Coming right up,” the man said.
He got to work on our massive ice cream birthday cake surprises, and I couldn't wait to eat it. Ariel was in such a good mood, and I knew I’d cherish this day for a while to come. I paid for the ice cream in cash and we sat down, taking up a table in the corner. I sat back against the wall, keeping my eyes out the window. Just in case my brother “happened to find us.”
Just in case someone was watching.
Ariel hardly spoke as she gobbled up the ice cream. And I had to admit, I couldn't blame her. The damn thing was delicious. I took heaping bites of it myself. She wiggled around in her chair as the sugar seeped into her veins, causing her to practically vibrate with energy.
And with that energy came a loosening of her lips.
“I think you’d like my Daddy,” Ariel said.
I nodded, trying to keep my composure. “Oh, yeah? And why’s that?”
“I don’t know. I just think you would.”
“Well, maybe someday I’ll meet him.”
“That’d be cool. Daddy doesn’t have a lot of friends.”
“Why’s that?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. I mean, he has Uncle Lyle. But that’s not really a friend.”
I furrowed my brow. “Not really a friend?”
“Yeah. I mean, he’s Uncle Lyle. He can’t be ‘uncle’ and ‘friend.’”
“Oh, he can’t?”
“Nope. He can only be one thing because he’s one person.”
“Well, I think someone can be as many things as they want.”
“Really?” she asked.
“Mhm. For instance, my best friend in high school? She was a ballerina and a swimmer. She was good at both. Competed in competitions with both,” I said.
She paused. “Daddy tells me someone can be really good at one thing, or kind of good at a lot of things.”
“I think what he means is that if you’re serious about something, you have to give it your all and not focus on much else.”
“Huh?”
“Like, if you want to go to school to be a teacher. You have to focus on your classes and your grades and pass your tests. Which means you have to study. If you use the time you need to study to do other things, like play with friends and sleep all the time, you won’t be able to study to pass your classes.”
“Oh! Well, that’s different than what I thought he meant.”
“Sometimes Daddies don’t talk well.”
She nodded. “Yeah. Mine doesn't talk well. He gets upset a lot.”
I paused. “I’m sorry to hear that. My daddy got upset a lot, too, when I was growing up.”
“I mean, he’s not mean. He doesn’t hit me or anything. He’s just… lonely. Or maybe lost. I see him staring off sometimes, and I don’t think he likes it when I see that.”
Thank fuck, she doesn’t come from an abusive family.
“Have you ever asked him what’s wrong?” I asked.
“Sometimes. But he gets upset. Says it’s ‘adult stuff’ and that ‘I need to be a kid for a while.’”
“Maybe he just wants you to enjoy things while you can,” I said.
“I’d like to enjoy it with him. But he’s always working.”
“Hence why you’re with Uncle Lyle.”
“Yeah. Uncle Lyle’s more like Daddy, I guess. And Daddy’s just…”
My heart ached for her. “A friend?”
“Yeah. I guess. But
not like Carlie. More like, my teacher’s a friend. But not a friend that’s around a lot. And not a friend that talks a lot.”
The more she opened up to me, the more I found she came from a misguided family. Not a bad one. Simply misguided. However, the way she talked about her father sometimes warmed my heart. She had a great deal of love for him. She wanted him around more often. He just wasn’t. More than ever, as we talked over ice cream, I was set in my plan. Rejuvenated, and had a fire lit underneath my ass. I had to figure out who this man was so I could get her back to him. No matter what.
Even though it might get me killed, this girl didn’t deserve what was coming her way. None of these children did.
And for once, I’d make the right decision instead of the easy one.
7
Ryker
I studied the woman who held my daughter’s hand. After multiple horns honked at me, I turned right at the stoplight. I pulled into an alleyway. Part of me wanted to pull my gun, rush over there, and point the damn thing at her forehead. Part of me wanted to rip my daughter from her grasp and take off with her while putting bullets in her fucking chest. But something stopped me.
Something in my gut I couldn't ignore.
They looked so happy together. So peaceful. Ariel was laughing. Clutching that woman’s hand. Who the hell was she, with that auburn hair and those striking green eyes? Was she a wife of one of the mafia members? Possibly a girlfriend? I parked my bike in the alleyway as their laughter echoed around the corner. The instinct to go wrench my daughter away from her was strong. But this was my chance to find another “in” with this mafia organization. With Lars and his fucking men that wouldn't leave us alone.
So, I slipped off my bike and worked my jacket off my shoulders.
They hadn’t seen me, and there was a very good chance she wouldn't know who I was. Mostly, because women who were part of organizations like this were never filled in more than they had to be. For all this woman knew, Ariel was simply a girl she had to watch until further notice. Had she been with this woman the entire time? Judging by how hard they laughed as they walked by, I figured as much. Ariel wasn’t one to open up. She kept herself locked down, like me. She kept herself closed off from other people. A trait she’d learned from interacting with her “wonderful” father.
I watched them walk by without a care in the world and froze in my spot.
The woman was gorgeous. Her auburn hair framed her face, flipping out and creating a playful frame around her jawline. Her milky skin boasted of a few deep brown freckles. Beauty marks that dotted her skin. Her laughter was soft. Effortless. Flawless. And at the end of it, the softest of snorts. A beautiful sound punctuated with an adorable little bow that made my lips curl up into the softest of grins.
I had to focus, though. For all I knew, the rest of the mafia was lurking in the shadows. Watching them while they were out and about.
Which meant the second I revealed myself to them, they’d reveal themselves to me.
I tossed my jacket over my bike, deciding to walk up to them without it on. I kept my eyes peeled as I removed my gun, tucking it away in the small trunk I had on the back of my bike. I kept my knives in my pockets, though. No reason to go in there completely unarmed. If this woman was some sort of secret fighting machine, I’d have the upper hand with being so close to her.
Keep your cool in front of Ariel, asshole. You’re still a father. You’re not just a savage.
As I made my way out of the alley, I kept my eyes peeled for anything. Any movement or any person that looked suspicious. Because the second the mafia revealed themselves, I’d have to get out of there. For the sake of my daughter’s safety. I had to do this as swiftly as possible. As quietly as possible. But I wasn’t sure how I’d do that. I followed behind them silently for four blocks, listening as they laughed and talked. I kept my distance, looking around at the buildings and dipping into stores whenever they stopped. However, once they dipped into a soup shop, I saw my chance.
I gave them a few seconds before walking in, and Ariel spotted me immediately.
Her eyes widened and her jaw fell open. But I put my finger to my mouth as quickly as I could. I silently shushed her, hoping she wouldn't make a scene. And as the woman ordered them some soup, completely distracted from the situation, I walked up and stood behind them. I kept silently shushing my daughter as her jaw dropped open. I prayed and hoped with all my might she wouldn't say anything. And as I stood there in line, I listened as this woman struggled with her order.
“I don’t know, is your tomato bisque made in-house? Because putting all those preservatives in it gives it this weird taste,” she said.
“We make all of our breads and soups in-house,” the girl behind the register said.
“Perfect. Okay. Um, them a small tomato bisque and a small broccoli cheddar. Why choose today, huh? Especially since we just had ice cream. Might as well turn the entire day on its head.”
“I don’t mean to interrupt, but it sounds like you guys have had a fun day,” I said.
The woman jumped and whipped around at the sound of my voice. Our eyes connected, and we stood so close to one another that the brown flakes of her eyes caught my attention. Her bright green eyes swirled with brown. They reminded me of a forest. Of the thick brush at the base of mountains that housed life. A great metaphor for her body, which was fraught with curves. Thick with rotund beauty.
At any other point in time, she would’ve been my kind of gal. A woman I’d take straight to bed and coat myself in all damn night. I couldn't trust her though.
Because she had my daughter.
Just grab her and run.
“Yes, we’ve had a very fun day. Haven’t we, Ariel?” she asked.
I looked down at my daughter and watched her nod. I was so proud of her, too. The shock had fallen away from her face. Her jaw closed. Nothing on her face gave away who I was or the fact that she knew me. But that fact also broke my heart.
A nine-year-old shouldn't be so good at putting on a face.
“I have to admit, I’m jealous. I’ve had a pretty rough day myself. That’s why I came here. To get a bit of comfort food,” I said.
“I’m sorry to hear that. What happened?” she asked.
“You want to know what happened on some stranger’s bad day?”
She shrugged. “Sounds like you might need to talk.”
“So, you are just as kind as you look. And here I simply thought it was your looks that made you beautiful.”
She blushed. “Well, that’s quite a line you’ve got there.”
“And judging by the flush of your cheeks, I see it worked.”
“Are you going to order?”
The girl behind the cash register caught my attention. I quickly placed an order for their butternut squash soup and half a loaf of asiago cheese bread. Cut into slices and toasted, of course.
“Hey, Ariel. Look. Someone else likes that bread you got,” the woman said.
Shit.
“It’s the best bread ever,” my daughter said.
I smiled down at her. “Maybe one day I’ll make you my own version of the bread. I think it’s better than this place’s bread.”
And when I winked at her, she giggled.
“Would you like to eat with us?” Ariel asked.
“Pretty girl, this man’s a stranger. Plus, I don’t think he wants to—.”
“I’m Ryker,” I said.
The woman whipped her eyes up to mine. “Uh, Kaylynn.”
“A beautiful name for a beautiful woman. I should have expected nothing less. But now, we aren’t strangers. And I’d love to eat with the two of you. Of course, if you’d like me to,” I said.
She smiled softly. “Um, sure. That couldn't hurt anything.”
“Sounds wonderful,” I said.
“Yay!” Ariel exclaimed.
As I sat down with them, we began talking. Ariel was a little chatterbox, and the woman seemed as unassuming as they came. She had an e
asy laugh. A loose tongue for stories and laughter. For someone who was involved with the kidnapping of my damn daughter, she didn’t come off as tough. She didn’t come off as someone who could kill. Or rip a child from their home. Or torture anyone. Hell, she wasn’t even armed!
Who in the world was this Kaylynn woman?
As I dipped my bread into my soup, I kept gazing past Kaylynn’s shoulder. Ariel sat right next to me, and she had her leg wrapped around behind mine underneath the table. I felt her trembling. I saw the anxiety in her face. My heart ached for her, and it made me want to wring this woman’s neck even further. We all talked like it was nothing. Kaylynn laughed like nothing was wrong. But as I gazed beyond her shoulder, I saw a black SUV park in front of the soup shop.
Mafia. You need a distraction.
I stumbled with my soup-soaked bread, making the slice dump itself into Kaylynn’s lap. She gasped as she caught it in her hands, but not before making an absolute mess of things. The soup splattered all over her clothes. My jaw fell open in mock shock as she tossed the bread onto the table.
“I’m so sorry, Kaylynn.”
She shook her head, smiling. “It’s okay. I promise. Let me go get some napkins since our dispenser is out. I’ll be right back.”
She got up from the table and turned around, and it took all the energy I had not to stare at her. I peeked down at Ariel as she walked across the shop, making her way for the girl behind the cash register. And as her back kept itself turned to us, I quickly leaned over to my daughter.
“Daddy. Oh my gosh. You found me. Can we go home now? Please?”
I kissed her cheek softly. “Ariel, I need you to answer this question for me, okay?”
“Okay.”
“Is Kaylynn treating you all right?”
She nodded. “Yeah. She’s nice. We just bought a TV and Netflix today.”
“She’s not hurting you?”
“No.”
“And it’s just the two of you?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay, I need you to listen to me. If I take you now, a lot of bad people are going to try and hurt us. I need you to be strong for me, princess. Can you do that?”
She sighed. “I always have to be strong.”
Dead Souls MC: Prospects Series Books 1-5 Page 50
