Page 52 of Charger

“Mom,” Jules says only loud enough for us to hear. I hold my hand up, letting her know it’s okay. It wasn’t what I was expecting, but I definitely deserve that.

“How dare you. My daughter not only had to suffer the loss of her brother.” Her voice shakes and a tear slides down her cheek. “But she had to endure the pain of losing you too. She needed you and you weren’t there.”

I keep my eyes on hers, giving her the respect needed. I can take the abuse. Hell, I want the abuse. Take me, string me up, and let me have it. I deserve nothing less. She takes another small step toward me. Should I brace for another hit? Instead, she lifts her motherly arms before wrapping them around my back. “But I’m glad you’re okay and it’s good to see you.” Jules’s body relaxes before she flashes me a smile. I return the warm gesture. It feels like home to hug her mom—something I hardly ever did with my own.

Pulling away, she looks at me with a smile. But it fades when she takes in my patch, reading my MC’s name. “I just hope whatever you have going on doesn’t affect my granddaughter or my daughter.”

“I’m sorry about everything. About leaving, and for you guys losing Garrett.” Saying his name out loud is harder than I thought. “And there’s a lot that goes on in the club, Mrs. T. But I can promise you that I’ll try my hardest to keep them both safe from it.”

She studies my eyes, then steps away. “I hope you do.” She smiles. “Since Chloe’s father is here, Jules, I guess you don’t need me,” she says in a low voice, glancing at Chloe who is, yes, still drawing—guess she got her artistic interest from her mother. She kisses Jules on the cheek and I hear Jules thanking her. Before she leaves, she flashes me a smile, then disappears out of the apartment.

“That went better than I thought.” Jules laughs with some sarcasm behind it.

“Yeah, thought it went pretty well.” I smirk, rubbing my cheek. We both turn to Chloe, who is removing her headphones.

“All right, so much for giving her time. Chloe bug, can you come here please.”

“Hold on, Mommy. I’m drawing a masterpiece right now.”

I laugh deeply, which catches her attention. She turns in her chair to look at me. “It’s Charger!” She hops down, her small feet running over to me, barely able to keep up with each other. I crouch down to her level, so does Jules. “Mommy, he’s less scary than the other man.”

Jules hums out a groan and my blood instantly boils. Who the hell is Chloe talking about? I give her a look, but she ignores it.

“Chloe, we have to tell you something.” Jules places a gentle hand on her arm.

Holding back my curiosity for now, I return my attention to Chloe. To her million-dollar fucking smile, her eyes. Christ, she has my eyes.

“Is Charger my daddy?” She looks up at Jules. Kid is smart as hell.

“Yes, Charger is your father.” A tear slides down Jules’s cheek. She closes her eyes, waiting for Chloe’s reaction. Chloe reaches up and brushes her small hand in my hair. Then, she slams her body into mine, wrapping her arms around me. Though they don’t quite make it, the feeling of her hugging me is by far the best moment of my life. Yet another hug today that I don’t deserve. But I return it nonetheless and engulf her in my hold, overcome by this overwhelming urge to always protect her with my life.

Jules has her hand over her mouth, tears slipping down her face. Tears of happiness, not sadness. I’m glad I can give her some type of joy, considering all the pain I’ve caused.

“He’s going to watch you for a little bit, okay?”

Chloe pulls away, nodding her head with excitement. “Yay!”

For the first time in a long while, I feel weak. Almost dizzy, like the floor beneath me will collapse at any second. An overwhelming feeling that I can’t explain hits me hard. I think being a father just sunk in.

“Um, well, if you need me, I’ll be right downstairs. You sure you’re going to be okay?”

“Yep, I got it.” I swallow nervously. I can do this.

She kisses Chloe and takes off for the bar downstairs. Chloe stares at me, then grabs my hand. Guiding me to the sofa, she sits down with her feet dangling over the edge. “Why do you wear that, and why is your name Charger?” She points to my patch and what I’m guessing is my leather cut.

I clear my throat. “This name was given to me by a special family. And I wear this.” I tug at my cut. “To show love, respect, and loyalty.” I have no idea if she understands what I’m saying. She might be too damn young, but she smiles like she does.

“Oh!” She jumps down from the sofa and practically face-first onto the coffee table, and my heart skips a beat. My hands fly up ready to catch her, but she doesn’t fall. She runs off to the other room. The urge to keep this child, my child, safe is off the charts. It’s like a natural instinct, appearing out of nowhere.

When she comes back in, she holds up a necklace. “Mommy said that you gave this to her a long time ago. You should give it to her again.”

I take the necklace from her tiny hand and my stomach drops, remembering the day I picked it out for her like it was yesterday. I knew it was perfect as soon as I saw it. Jules will always be like the stars in the sky. My star. The fact that she’s kept it makes me love her even more. Yeah, I love her. I never fucking stopped.

“I like the way you think, kid. And I think you’re right. I do need to give her this present again.”

She smiles proudly as I tuck the necklace into my pocket while being mindful not to tangle it up. Her feet are kicking off the couch as she looks at me with her big, bright, blue ocean eyes. It’s as if I hung the moon in her eyes, which leaves a swell in my chest.

“Why did you leave Mommy?”

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