Page 11 of Sabotage

“Now. you wanna explain to me why this couldn’t wait until a little later after I got a bit more sleep?” I ask her teasingly, though I already know the answer. She wanted a moment with her dad and not have an audience.

Rather than answering, Fawn pulls away, twists so that she’s facing me, and grins. “You do realize that if you and Ryann are actually doing this, if you have a kid, my sibling would be younger than my children?”

Oh fuck.

I hadn’t thought of that, though I can say the idea of seeing Ryann growing round with my kid inside her doesn’t repulse me in the slightest. I didn’t think I’d want any more kids after Fawn. I liked my time as a nomad. Living wherever traveling, and handling business for the club where I was needed. I hadn’t missed living in one place.

Thinking of it now, I don’t mind it so much. Being able to give that to Ryann gives me a sense of peace.

Fawn and I ease into our normal banter while we enjoy the time alone together and drink our coffee. Viking won’t have Fawn out of his sight for longer than he has to, but he’ll do it when he knows she’s protected or with me. Still, that man loves his ol’ lady and is protective.

Once the two of us finish our coffee, I help her off the table, and we head back into the clubhouse. I take her cup as Viking comes out of the kitchen, his own mug in his hand, eyes on Fawn.

“I’m heading back to bed,” I announce, setting the mugs on the bar top. “Need me for anything before noon, I’ll shoot whoever comes near the door.”

Fawn laughs, and Viking smirks.

“Risk texted me that their ETA would be this evening, and they’re bringing a present.”

“Sounds good.” I nod. I give my daughter and Prez a two-finger salute and head back to my room to find Ryann still sleeping soundly in the middle of my bed. Only she curled herself around one of my pillows.

I climb back in with her and tuck her into my side, kiss the top of her head, and close my eyes.

“Please, Daddy, help me, I need your help,” Ryann screams in her sleep, waking me.She jerks in my arms and whimpers. “Daddy, I can’t get out.”

I wrap Ryann tighter in my arms and hold her. “Shh, gorgeous, it’s only a dream,” I murmur, pressing my lips to her forehead and laying my cheek on top of her head. “You’re okay.”

My voice seems to penetrate her nightmare, and her breathing eases. Glancing at the clock, reading one in the afternoon. I’d gotten some more rest, and she’d slept through the morning. This was good.

“Sabotage,” Ryann whispers, fingers curling in around my waist.

“Right here, gorgeous.” I draw her up and over my body, holding her flush against me. “Just breathe, baby, and feel me.”

I knew she had nightmares. Maverick told all of us about her and Nevaeh having them. But I hadn’t heard her have one. The only night we’d been together, I’d spent the time we were together exhausting her.

Long moments later, Ryann’s body relaxes fully, and I gift her with another kiss on her head. “You good?”

“Yeah,” she whispers, her breath tickling my chest. “Thank you.”

“No need to think me, Ry.”

I didn’t need her thanking me for being here for her.

Ryann lifts up off me, arms crossing over my chest so she’s able to look down, her hair falling around her head. Even in the darkness, I can see her, yet I wish I’d turned the light on.

“Why now are you being so nice to me? You’ve avoided me since that night. I mean, you said stuff, but I still don’t understand. What changed?”

Sighing, I cup her cheek. I hate this type of shit, but this is Ryann. With everything she’s been through, she needs to know she can trust me to give her what she needs.

“What changed is the fact I nearly lost you. That changes a man’s perspective when the idea of never seeing his woman again, even when she wasn’t his,” I tell her, stroking her cheek. “You get in deep with someone and know shit with them is what you want, but you take caution ‘cause you don’t want anything to go wrong. I hadn’t been in a relationship in years, last one was Fawn’s mom.”

“That’s a very long time,” she agrees.

“Yeah, and that wasn’t a good one at that.” I grunt. “What I’m saying, gorgeous, is that I found out you were gone, your car in an accident, I pulled my head out of my ass. There’s no way I could think about living without you right where you are.”

“And if that’s not what I want?”

“Ryann, don’t bullshit me. We both know you’re not only where you wanna be, but where your ass belongs.”

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