“How do I get to your place, baby? I need to run by the clubhouse first. Then I’ll head over. I’ll only be a few minutes behind you.” He ran his thumb along my bottom lip, and I wanted to grab it between my teeth.
There I go again! I was hopeless.
After I gave him directions, he nodded and winked at me before putting his bike into gear and roaring off with a burst of the throttle. I listened to him work through the gears as he raced off. The rumble of his bike faded as his taillights became specks in the distance.
Giddy, I touched my lips where he’d kissed me and squealed like a schoolgirl. I couldn’t believe it. Things were actually falling into place.
Is this really my life?
As I backed out of the parking spot and pulled up to the stop sign, a pair of headlights appeared behind me. It pulled me out of my musings, and I hoped I hadn’t been sitting long at the stop sign. They probably thought I was an idiot.
As I headed toward home, I called my mom to give her a heads-up.
“Mom? Uh, well, I wanted to let you know Colton is coming over. I wanted to make sure Remi was still awake,” I nervously rattled off.
“Remi is definitely wide awake and waiting for you to get home.”
“Thanks, Mom. I’ll see her soon.” As I slowed for the turn and rolled up my parents’ driveway, I was surprised to see truck headlights turn in after me. I wondered what Sam was doing there again.
I parked and Sam pulled in behind my SUV. When I got out, his headlights blinded me.
Dang, Sam, you ass!
Frustrated, I held my hand over my eyes, waiting for him to get out so I could tell him I had talked to Colton.
The truck door opened, then slammed shut.
“Sam, you don’t have to be pissed anymore. I talked to him.” I lowered my hand in time to be pushed up against the back end of my SUV. My head hit the rear window and bounced off. When my vision cleared, I saw Michael glaring at me with gritted teeth bared in rage.
I tried to scream, but he grabbed tight around my neck with one hand and shook me hard. My head whacked against the window again.
“I cannot believe you! You would barely let me touch you, but you’re all over some nasty-ass biker? I saw how you looked at him when you watched him ride off. You fucking slut! You’re fucking him, I know you are. Don’t even try to deny it! How could you do this to me? To us? I was good to you! But you ran off to this shitty little town to hook up with a dirty-ass biker!” he roared. With spittle flying out of his mouth and his eyes wild and angry, he looked like a crazed maniac.
I was terrified. Where was Colton? I prayed he’d get there soon. I was torn between wanting someone to come out of the house to help me and hoping no one brought Remi out to meet me.
“Michael! What are you doing here? How did you know where I was? I just needed to get away for the weekend. That’s all. I wasn’t running off, honest!” My words were raspy as he continued to hold my throat. Desperate, I clawed at his fingers as I tried to placate him and get him to calm down.
It was possible that he’d really hurt me before anyone even knew I was out there struggling. I had no idea how he had found me. That in itself was terrifying. How long had he been following me?
“I was worried about you walking home late at night after work, so I installed an app on your phone. I only wanted to keep you safe, Steph. You and Remi are so special; I just needed to protect you and watch out for you.”
Holy Jesus, he’s insane! How could he think something like that was okay? He’d stolen my key and tracked my phone. What else had he done?
Finally, I heard the rumble of a motorcycle and saw a headlight come around the curve of the driveway before suddenly skidding to a stop. The bike was still running as Michael’s hands were ripped from my neck and he flew backward.
Shaking and feeling nauseous, I dropped my hands to my knees, taking in ragged breaths. Looking up through the curtain of my hair and the dust billowing from around the bike, I saw a fist connect with Michael’s jaw. He staggered back before catching himself and charging toward my rescuer.
“You sonofabitch! Don’t you ever touch her again!” Colton raged before he grappled with Michael again. They were evenly matched in height, but Michael had insanity behind him. Then again, Colton had sheer power and a fighter’s instinct.
They struggled before they fell to the ground. Colton straddled Michael, hitting him over and over with his fists.
As I ran to stop Colton before he killed him, the front door banged open and my father yelled out to me. Before I could reach them, my dad had scrambled down the front steps and wrapped his strong arms around me.
“No, Dad! I can’t let Colton kill him. He’ll go to jail! I need him! He’s her daddy!” I screamed as I frantically thrashed in my dad’s arms.
My dad sat me on the steps, telling me he’d take care of it and not to move as he ran to grab Colton.
“Son! Stop! My girls need you! Don’t do this!” My dad tackled Colton in a bear hug.
Colton fought the hold, and I prayed he wouldn’t hurt my dad in his blind fury. Something seemed to finally click in his mind, and he stopped struggling, but his chest rose and fell in great heaving breaths. He held his bloodied hands up to my dad to signal he was calm and wouldn’t continue to fight.
My dad and I walked Colton toward the house. Blood dripped from his hands. It was also splattered across his face and chest. Michael was rolling around on the ground, groaning. With shaking hands, I pulled out my phone to call the sheriff. Jesus, I prayed my mom had Remi distracted somewhere.
I’d pulled up the sheriff department on my phone when I heard a truck roar to life. Gravel sprayed as it spun out of the driveway and down the road.
Thank God.
I debated having the sheriff take him in to put the fear of God in him. Except I was pretty sure he’d think twice before messing with me after the beating Colton had given him. Hell, I was surprised he could still drive.
Asshole.
“Son, let Steph get you cleaned up and put some ice on those hands.” My dad looked up at me, giving me a nod to take him inside. Not arguing, I wrapped my arm around Colton’s waist and walked him into the kitchen.
“Baby, I’m fine. I just need to wash my hands. Honestly, I’m okay.” Colton closed his eyes, taking a deep breath before he placed his hands under the cold water I had started. He hissed when the water hit the nicks and cuts on his knuckles, then used some dish soap to scrub the blood from his hands and arms until the water ran clear.
Dad walked in and handed him a clean white T-shirt, then reached out to shake Colton’s hand.
“Son, I owe you a debt of gratitude. I don’t know how to thank you. If my intuition is correct, I would say that was the young man who’s been giving my daughter a hard time.” He turned to me with a questioning look to confirm his statement.
Reluctantly, I nodded.
“I was in the shower, and Stephanie’s mother had Remi watching a movie, so I didn’t even hear anything until your bike pulled up.” My dad looked slightly defeated, and I knew he felt he had failed me.
“Dad, it’s not your fault! I had no idea he was here either. I actually thought it was Sam pulling in behind me or I would have gone straight into the house. Don’t blame yourself.”
I filled plastic zipper bags with ice and wrapped them in a towel. Colton changed out of his leather cut and bloody shirt into the shirt my dad had handed him. My dad’s eyebrows rose when he took in Colton’s tattoos, but I gave him a silencing glare just as Colton’s head was popping through the tee. My dad just smiled and raised his hand in acquiescence to me.
Colton’s eyes stared into mine as I placed the ice on his hands while he rested them on our kitchen table. Something told me we were in for a long, uncomfortable discussion after the night was wrapped up.
Great. Nothing ever went as planned between us. It wasn’t exactly how I’d intended to tell him about Michael.
“Do you still feel up to seein
g Remi, or do you want to wait until tomorrow?” I was worried after everything that had happened. What if he hated me for having his daughter around a man like Michael?
“I don’t want to wait. I think I’ve waited long enough.” He pulled a hand from under one of the ice bags to touch my face. His cold fingertips caressed my cheek before he slowly pulled his hand away.
Stepping back, I grabbed his dirty shirt from the floor and gave him a small smile. Quietly, I turned to place it in the washing machine. “I’ll go get her. That is, if you’re sure.”
He raised his eyebrow, his expression saying, What do you think?
Anxious, I went through the hall and up the stairs to my parents’ room, where Remi was contentedly watching an animated movie with my mom.
For a quiet moment, I stood soaking in my precious baby girl. Her silky dark hair hung in fat ringlets against her round, rosy cheeks. Her blue eyes, so like her father’s, reflected the flashing colors of the movie. They seemed wise beyond her young years. It wasn’t long before she realized I stood in the doorway.
“Mommy!” She jumped up to her knees, bouncing on the bed when she saw me. My mother chuckled and paused the movie. Remi stood and walked across the bed with Mom prepared to catch her if she fell. She launched into me and wrapped her little arms around my neck.
“Wemi miss you, Mommy!” She gave me a big kiss.
“Mommy has a big surprise for you, bugga-boo,” I said to her as I smiled at my mom over her shoulder. Gesturing for her to follow, I turned to head back downstairs.
Lordy, I was nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs.
Here goes everything….
I MADE SMALL TALK with Stephanie’s dad while she went upstairs. He really cared about his daughter. He struck me as loving but very protective, and I liked him.
It had me wondering if it would be the same with the little raven-haired baby girl I would officially meet soon. Suddenly I was hella nervous.
Fuck. Was I doing the right thing? Was it fair to corrupt them with the fucking ugly blackness that consumed my body and soul?
Would she even want anything to do with me? She’d blithely climbed up into the booth with me earlier, but what about when she found out I was her daddy?
Her daddy. It sounded strange, but I fucking loved it already. Would I be worth a shit as a father? It wasn’t like I had an example to follow. My dad had never been around while I was growing up, having shit-canned my mom when I was a baby. He never contacted us again.
Just as the silence in the kitchen began to border on uncomfortable, I heard footsteps on the stairs. They were followed by the small giggles of what I assumed was my daughter.
My daughter.
Ready or fucking not….
Though I wanted to stand, I couldn’t. My legs were lead weights as I watched them close in on me.
A woman there was no denying was Stephanie’s mother entered the room behind them. I barely registered the brief look of censure she gave me before standing next to Stephanie’s father. My ink and scruffy appearance probably weren’t winning her over. Her father whispered in her mother’s ear, and I watched her expression relax.
Stephanie walked up to me, holding Remi in her arms. I studied her raven ringlets, her clear blue eyes, and her solemn expression as she held several fingers in her mouth. Then she pulled her fingers out, covered in drool. She cracked the biggest grin, revealing two dimples which were miniature version of my own.
Fuck if that didn’t melt my heart. Hell, mine were in full effect as she leaned over quickly, reaching for me.
I pulled her in a tight hug, but I loosened it quickly for fear of scaring her.
“Remi, baby?” Stephanie knelt in front of me and spoke softly to her. “This is your very own daddy.” Her voice wavered as she said, “daddy.”
I damn near started crying as her bright blue eyes turned to me and her chubby hands grasped either side of my face. There was still slobber on her hand, but I didn’t give a shit.
She stared deep in my eyes in such a solemn manner it was unnerving. If the little girl was seeing straight to my soul, I prayed she wouldn’t find it lacking.
“Wemi daddy!” she suddenly exclaimed. I had no fucking clue if she understood what hearing her say “daddy” did to my galloping heart.
Keeping the smile off my face was impossible. It was in danger of cracking in fucking two, my smile was so big. My heart swelled with love for a child I’d never held before that moment.
Stunned, I realized I was a motherfucking father. I’d had a part in creating that beautiful, precious little princess.
Fucking hell. I was a goner already.
“Thank you, Stephanie. Thank you for this gift. You have no idea…. Thank you for taking such good care of my princess when I wasn’t there to do it. She’s beautiful.”
Stephanie continued to kneel at my feet with tears silently streaming down her face.
I had no idea when her parents had left the room, but I was thankful for the minimal audience as tears broke free from my eyes. I swiped at them quickly.
Fuck, I was getting soft.
We spent the next hour sitting in the living room surrounded by the soft glow of a floor lamp while Remi showed me all her toys and treasures.
My face fucking flamed when she stuck a small silver plastic tiara on my head, looking so proud of herself. Stephanie burst out laughing, quickly covering her outburst with a hand, but she couldn’t hide the laughing twinkle in her eyes.
Little shit. I’d get her for that later.
“Daddy princess!” Remi announced.
Holy shit.
Who the fuck would have thought Colton Alcott, former sniper, current big bad biker, would be sitting there with a plastic tiara on his head? All while a gorgeous blonde giggled and a raven-haired princess glowed.
And I was fucking loving it.
Colton had been so sweet and tolerant with Remi. It was amazing to watch them together. It was bittersweet seeing how well they connected despite the time they had missed.
There was little I could think of that was better than knowing they were finally able to be together. I wondered what the future held, and I prayed he didn’t break her heart… or mine.
I wasn’t simply falling for this man, I was afraid I already loved him. Absolutely and irrevocably. We didn’t really know each other, so maybe it was a little crazy, but looking at him, my heart was warm and full. When I saw him with our baby girl, I thought it might burst.
Remi climbed in his lap and began petting his short beard, making him smile. Remi’s eyes appeared heavy, and she snuggled closer to his chest as if listening to his heartbeat. While she was curled into him, she fisted his shirt in her little hand and began to drift off to sleep.
He held her close and slowly ran his fingers through her dark curls and across her little cheek. Closing his eyes, he rested his scarred cheek on top of her head.
“Do you want to help me put her to bed?” I whispered.
His gorgeous blue eyes met mine and his dimples flashed, causing my stomach to flutter.
Slowly, he stood with his precious bundle. I led the way to the stairs, listening to the familiar creak of the steps from his weight as he followed me to the top. When we reached the top, I turned into my room and motioned to the Pack ’n Play set up in the corner.
After he laid her, ever so gently, in her bed and covered her with her fuzzy pink blanket, he turned to me. Silently, he gathered me in his arms. Relieved, I laid my head on his shoulder and wrapped my arms around his waist.
One hand rested on my head, cradling it to him as he placed the other on my hip. The domestic quality of the moment was not lost on me, and I fought the silly tears that struggled to escape.
If only we could’ve stayed like that forever. If I died tomorrow, I’d die a happy woman.
“Thank you again for tonight, Stephanie. I cannot even begin to tell you what this means to me. I’ve been alone for so fucking long. To be bl
essed with this precious gift? You have no fucking idea. When I think of all the other possibilities you could’ve chosen after finding out you were pregnant, my heart aches. I want to kneel at your feet and fucking worship you, and yet I’m sure even that wouldn’t be enough,” he whispered.
I reached up and kissed him softly, letting it linger until our lips merely feathered against each other. Then I took a deep breath, stepped back, and grabbed his hand to lead him back down the stairs.
Quietly, he walked to the door. We went out onto the porch, my hand still held securely in his. He stopped at the top of the porch steps, staring at the stars scattered brightly across the dark night sky.
“God, I want to stay with you tonight, Stephanie. But I’d never disrespect your parents’ home like that.” He swallowed hard. “When do you plan to leave? I need to see you both again. Fuck, I don’t want you to leave at all, especially with that asshole out there. We need to talk about our future. God, you’re both an addiction in my veins already.” The moonlight reflected in his eyes when he turned to face me.
Pressing my lips together, I bit them between my teeth. Hell, I didn’t want to leave either, but I had a job and a life that weren’t… well, they weren’t… there.
What I needed to do was think about my options and decide what would be feasible and best for us. Plus, I still had the situation with Michael to deal with. I cursed the day he’d moved in down the hall.
“I really need to head back tomorrow afternoon. Would you like to have an early lunch? If that’s okay, we can talk then.” My exhaustion sank in as I looked over to where I’d been assaulted by Michael and rescued by Colton.
Jesus, it’d been a long damn day.
“Yes. What time and where? Do you want me to pick you up, or do you want me to meet you somewhere?” He placed soft kisses to the top of my head as he spoke.
“Well, considering I don’t think both Remi and I will fit on your bike with you, how about we meet you at eleven at the café downtown?” I said with a smirk.
Demented Sons Series Volume One: Books 1-4 (Demented Sons MC Iowa) Page 16
