Daisy
The rocking chair screeches as I start singing a lullaby for my daughter, Amber. She’s resting on the cushion placed in the crook of my arm. She’s four. My body sways in the chair as my muscles relax. The baby in my belly kicks me and I chuckle. Mike turns his face to me and raises his eyebrows. I see a few greys in his hair shine like silver threads.
“Your son is very naughty,” I say and stroke my belly.
“Boys should be naughty.” A grin crosses his face as his eyes gleam with joy and he sits on the step.
I love this veranda. It offers a view over the clubhouse and the woods. It makes me feel like I’ve gone back in time.
Amber jerks her little hands up and drops off to sleep. I sink deeper into the chair as my thoughts float to my sister, Cindy. It’s over—the nightmare that’s stretched over the generations, but a grey wisp will remain in my hair forever. A remainder that my sister was kidnapped by the Voronin Bratva.
So many years of bloodshed and anger and fear. So many years of living in hiding.
We’re finally free.
Cindy and Luka ended the blood feud between two Bratva families.
My grandpa, Dimitri, started it.
He was eighteen.
He was in love.
He was unstoppable.
Samael, they called him.
He really was like a fallen angel with his punishing machete.
“What are you thinking about, Daisy?” Mike asks.
“About Cindy and Luka and Dimitri.”
Mike inhales his e-cig. “Luka is a decent man, but I’ll feel better when Yegor dies.”
“Me too.”
Luka is on our side, but Yegor will be our friend as long as we are useful to him.
Chaviva will launder his money.
Dimitri will store his guns in Spain.
I sigh.
Will my children be outlaws like us?
Will they love or hate their origins?
I am who I am.
My family is not perfect, but we’re like a pack of wolves—we’ll be a pack forever.
Is this my choice to love this life or is there no choice but accept this life?
We buried Kolya.
We buried Mac and Wendy.
We buried Shay.
Is this life worth living?
It is.
It is as hell.
And it isn’t sometimes.
I see Sol emerge from behind the corner of the clubhouse, Asher is riding a bike in front of her, Britt is clinging to her leg and Cotton is resting against her chest. My soul beams at the sight of her. Sol picks up the pace and stops in front of Mike. She gives him Cotton then brings Britt closer and sits her beside him.
My God. She looks like she’s been living in the post apocalyptic world—her hair is a mess and her clothes are even worse.
“Asher,” she says in a sharp voice. “Come here.” She nods at Mike several times. “I need a break.” It comes out as a desperate plea. “I really need a break. I’ll pick them up in two, three hours.”
Mike opens his mouth to protest, but Sol walks off at a fast pace. She doesn’t look back.
“Have you seen this?” Mike pulls Cotton to his chest and grabs Britt’s hand. “She’s just left them like I’m her childminder.”
“She’s tired,” I say. “Gunner Junior is in Chaviva and she’s never been much organised. You know her. She’s a total mess without Gunner Junior.”
“Good he decided to take her with all the mess and her mouthy attitude.”
“Gunner can handle her.”
Mike strokes the kids’ heads. “We should build a kindergarten and run it.”
I chuckle. “That’s not such a bad idea. I love kids. You love kids. Let’s do it.”
“Les do zit,” Britt mimics me.
“Alright,” Mike says. “Let’s do it. All the women here will pray to us like we’re some gods when we let them know about our idea.”
“Not too soft as for the big scary biker you are?”
“Kids are fun. I want to have fun in life.” His eyes wander off to somewhere in the distance. “I don’t care about others’ opinions. I’m old. I want to have a lot of fun in life.”
“We’re gonna have a lot of fun together, Mike.”
I know this is partly because of the guilt he carries in his heart. Every young child is little Rebel to him. He’s good and patient with all the kids now. He’s a wonderful dad for Amber. He is building something solid and good with Rebel.
Mike
Daisy is in bed and I’m seated in the chair in the kitchen.
I spread the letter from Thunder on the table and start reading.
Mike,
If you’re reading this letter, then I’m dead.
I love you brother, but I love my wife and kid more. Even a biker may want a family and I want mine more than anything.
This was Lizzie’s wish to keep the truth about Rebel secret. I love my wife so I’ve kept it secret for all these years.
Watch over our boy,
Thunder.
My glance meets Rebel’s. “You knew. For all these years.”
“I heard my parents talk about it once. They thought I was asleep and I wasn’t.”
I pat his shoulder. “I wish I could go back in time.”
“No, they were my parents. They made me the man I am now.”
I nod. “Thunder was proud of you and so am I.”
His eyes blaze and he nods several times. “I…”
“Spit it out.”
“I want to put a claim on Star, Prez.”
“I bet you do.”
“I have some savings in my bank account so I can buy a small house for us. I can provide for her.”
“You also need to talk to Athena. Star needs proper care.”
“I know.”
“Take Star and go visit Zane and the others.” I put my hand on the back of his neck and pull him to me. “Take Star as yours to the chapter. From now on, she’s your old lady and your responsibility.”
“I’ll take care of her out the best I can,” he rasps.
“You’d better.” I sense his impatience to run upstairs and abduct Star out of her bed. “Tomorrow. Go to your place now, but tomorrow she’s all yours.” I’ll bet he’ll stay outside my house and wait for the sun to rise. “Go.”
“Thank you, Dad. Thank you for everything.”
“No.” I shake my head. “I should thank you. Thank you for being my son.”
We shake hands and he walks off.
***
Thank you for reading my book.
Planned Books:
Rebel: Devil’s Tears MC Book 3
Tyler: Devil’s Tears MC Book 4
Samael: A Dark Romance
Athena: Shadow Wolves MC
Check out my other books:
The Shadow Wolves MC series (Sive, Brianna, Munroe and Stanka)
The Shadow Immortals MC series (Rive, Talia, Adva)
(Subject to change)
By
Daniela Jackson
Devil’s Tears MC Book 3