Page 27 of Devil's Queen

“So, you have him working at your new garage, huh?”

“He fills in when we need him.”

I step toward him, my eyes searching his face for any signs of deception. “I want to believe you, Rex,” I admit, a flicker of vulnerability slipping into my voice. “But everything that’s been happening lately… it’s just too much of a coincidence.”

“What else has been going on, Rem?”

“Nothing you need to be concerned about.”

He reaches out and gently grasps my arm. “I understand why you’re suspicious, Rem. And I won’t pretend that our past hasn’t left its scars. But I promise you, I had nothing to do with this. You have to trust me.”

I take a deep breath, allowing the nagging thought to form in my throat. “Something you said about the garage is a little weird. If you left my shop early this morning and didn’t get to the garage until the afternoon, where were you exactly?”

Rex releases his grasp, putting distance back between us. “I didn’t know I needed to give you a detailed itinerary of my daily schedule, Rem.”

“It’s just a little suspicious that you weren’t here or at the garage when my shipment was taken. So, color me curious as to why you think I should believe you had nothing to do with this, yet you admit you could have been there based on what you’re telling me.”

“I didn’t fucking take that bike, Remington.”

“Then where were you?”

“At home with my daughter.”

His rock-steady voice throws me. My heart plummets into my stomach as I process his words. “Your daughter?” I gasp, my voice trembling like a leaf in the wind.

Rex stares at me with a grave expression before confirming it with a single nod. “Yes, Rem, I am a father. My daughter’s name is Birdie, and she is five years old.”

His words hang heavily in the air, weighing down on me like an anvil. The thought of him having a child consumes me with a mix of emotions—surprise, confusion, and a tinge of jealousy.

“This isn’t how I wanted to tell you about her.”

I step back, leaning against the workbench for support as I try to process this new information. Rex has a daughter. A part of him I had no idea existed until now. My mind races with questions and emotions.

“I thought you didn’t want kids.” When we were together, he’d been adamant about not wanting a family. It was another reason I never told him about Beaux. It was better for our son never to know his father than to have one who didn’t want anything to do with him.

“Things change, Rem.” He shrugs.

“Who is her mother?” I blurt out before I can stop myself.

Rex’s eyes soften, and he moves closer to me, reaching out to touch my arm gently. “Rem, it’s complicated. Birdie’s mother and I… things didn’t work out between us. She left when Birdie was just a baby, and I’ve been raising her on my own ever since.”

A mixture of curiosity and hurt washes over me. The thought that Rex had someone else in his life, someone he had kept hidden from me all this time, stings deep within my chest. I feel ridiculous for even feeling this way. I’d dated in the years we’ve been apart. I’d even considered marrying Skyler before shit hit the fan, but knowing he’d found someone else too hurts even when it shouldn’t.

“I’m sorry that happened.”

“I’m sorry about a lot of things in my past, Rem, but I will never be sorry for Birdie. Life wouldn’t be the same without her.”

A part of me wants to admit that I, too, know that feeling well. Beaux gives me purpose—a reason to wake up every single morning to fight for our life and protect children like him and Birdie from the predators of our world. Yet, admitting that aloud would only draw more suspicion. Rex has his daughter. I have our son. That’s how it has to be.

I can’t help but think about the paths our lives have taken since we parted ways all those years ago. The choices we made, the secrets we kept. As much as I want to understand Rex’s journey, a part of me wonders if our paths might have been different had he chosen me over the Zulu Kings.

Rex pauses for a second before he continues, “I don’t get to spend as much time with her as I would like, so that’s why I was late to the garage.” Rex reaches into his pocket, pulling out his phone. “Do you want to see a picture of her?”

“I believe you,” I admit, waving him off, unsure if I could stomach seeing her right now.

Hurt crosses his face as he shoves his phone into his pocket. “If someone in my club has anything to do with this, Rem, I will find out. I told you this morning I want to protect you if you’ll let me.” He steps closer, his hand still lingering on my arm. “I’ll always protect you.”

“I appreciate that, but my stance on your protection hasn’t changed from this morning.”

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