Page 40 of Suspicious

Last night was a fantasy.

She was drunk.

I knew it.

I guess I took advantage of that fact.

At least she has no memory of us breaking that friendship boundary again.

So I shrug. “That’s what I am here for… to be the friend who takes care of you,” I reply, but I can’t help the rigid sharpness in my tone.

She furrows her brows, obviously sensing my aggravation, and she frowns. “Okaaay… I’m gonna go get some food, try to soak up this alcohol.”

Dipping my head once, I slide out my hand in a gesture for her to leave. She hesitates like she wants to say something else, but then she exhales, turns, and walks away. The second she leaves my presence, my shoulders slump, and I run my fingers through my hair. “For fuck’s sake,” I mumble under my breath.

After everything we shared last night.

Just like that, has she forgotten it even happened?

What kind of cruel joke is this world playing on me?

Onus?

Right now, I don’t feel much like eating, so I think I’ll go straight to finding Alpha and tell him what little information Ihavefound out about the app breach. My feet pound like lead weights as I thump up the stairs on my way to the Chapel. If Alpha’s not in the main clubroom, it’s safe to assume he’ll be hiding away in here, looking through club paperwork.

Walking through the door, he sits at the head of the table, paperwork sprawled over the walnut epoxy table—Alpha’s pride and joy. The lines of black resin throughout the table encase wheel chains, sprockets, and spark plugs, but the brilliance of the table is hidden beneath the mountain of what looks like receipts and contracts.

Raising my brow as I make my way over to my chair to the left of him, I plop my ass down, a couple of papers shifting a little with the air movement. “You doing okay, Pres? There’s a lot of shit you’re going through.”

His eyes slowly lift to meet mine, and he glares with the fury of someone trapped in the seven pits of hell. “Why the fuck did Ieverlet myself become one of those dads who lets his daughter get whatever the fuck she wants?”

Trying to fight back my smirk, I shrug. “It’s only natural, Pres… you thought you lost Poppy. So when you got her back, of course, you’re going to spoil her and let her get away with whatever she wants.”

Groaning, Alpha sinks back into his chair. “Her eighth birthday is coming up, and it’s a joint party to celebrate Louis’ first birthday. But South and Ingrid told me because he’s a baby, he’s not going to remember anything, so to make the day all about Poppy. So do you know what she wants as the theme for this damn party?”

Chuckling, I shrug. “I’m guessing it’s not unicorns andcupcakes?”

He throws his hands in the air. “Fucking war games! I swear to God. This kid is driving me batshit crazy. I’m trying my hardest to steer her away from what she has learned at The Nest. But her assassin training won’t leave her, especially with Haven in the picture. Don’t get me wrong, Haven is my fucking everything, and I adore her, but in this case, shedoesn’thelp. Poppy wants to be Haven when she grows up—”

“Pres, I hate to interrupt, but… would that be such a bad thing? For Poppy to be like Haven when she grows up?”

Alpha leers at me like I have lost my damn mind. “She’s eight!She doesn’t know what she wants. She should be playing with dolls and coloring in, not wanting to blow shit up and fucking torture people.”

“Yeah, and I get that…” Tilting my head, I exhale. “But unfortunately, Poppy hasn’t had a normal life. So, yougottastop thinking of her as a typical eight-year-old. Because she just isn’t, Alpha. I know you want her to be, but the second you let that image of the Poppy you knew go and embrace the amazing girl you have now, you will see how much potential Poppy has, and, if I have permission to speak completely freely with you…” I ask, and he hesitates but nods, so I continue, “… you’re stifling her, Alpha. You need to let Poppy grow into the young woman she is going to be now that her life has taken on this new course.LetHaven train her.LetPoppy learn how to shoot even better than she already does.Lether fight because, honestly, Pres… she could end up being a real asset. And it’s going to be beneficial to her as a woman in the long run to be able to protect herself from therealthreats out there.”

Alpha slumps back in his chair, his eyes turning up to the ceiling as he lets out a long, forced, exasperated breath. “Fuuuck!” he yells, obviously getting his frustrations out.

I glance down at the paperwork, now seeing it’s all quotes forcombat costumes, Army displays and paraphernalia, a paintball circuit, and many other kinds of things he’s trying to set up for Poppy’s war game-themed birthday party. Smiling, I begin sorting them into some kind of order for him. “It’ll be okay, Pres. Poppy can handle her own.”

Alpha drops his gaze to me with a subtle nod. “Yeah… you’re right. I know you are. She’s just my baby girl, and she’s already tougher than some of the guys here, and that shit’s hard for me to wrap my head around.”

“You should talk to Haven about this. She is all about making Poppy into her own person but also about makingyouhappy. I’m sure if anyone can find a solution to easing your anxiety, it’ll be your Old Lady.”

Alpha nods. “You’re right. I’ve been trying to keep her out of it because I don’t want her to think I am ashamed of her coming from The Nest. The way Haven handles herself… well, you know that watching her go all badass does things to me.”

“She knows, and Haven is one of the most understanding women I have ever met. Look at how she is with you and Livvy. So if you think she isn’t going to understand that you feel some kinda way about Poppy being trained by the same people who trained her, then… sorry, Pres, but you’re a dumbass.”

Alpha finally cracks a laugh, his posture softening. “Thanks, Loki. Sometimes, I need a good slap down. Now, I should be helping you with your shit.”

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