Page 28 of Ky

“I can see that.” I reply, forcing a note of excitement to my voice. But it still comes out shaky when I finally get a good look at the little boy.

He’s the spitting image of Ky.

“Come on sweet pea, get your coat on. We’re going home now,” I tell her. I work robotically, grabbing her coat from the coat hook, and helping her to slide it on.

“Aww but mommy.”

I lower myself to her eye level, my hands on each of her arms. “Don’t you aww mommy me, young lady? When I tell you to do something, you do it without complaining.” I stop myself in time from shaking her, and I notice unshed tears pooling in her eyes.

“I’m sorry, baby girl.” I hug her close to me. “Mommy’s just got a lot of things on her mind. That’s all. Let’s go home.”

“Okay.” My little girl sniffles, and it breaks my heart all the more because I had never acted in that way towards her before.

Holding her hand firmly, I thank Ella once again, and walk outside on shaky legs, not bothering to even tell anyone that I was leaving. Reaching my car, I pull the passenger door open, intent on getting Willow in the car seat and out of here, but freezing when I hear a voice call out to me. Reluctantly, I turn around, seeing Ink jogging toward me. He really was a good-looking specimen of man. Ink covers him from head to toe, cerulean blue eyes that can look deep down into your soul. And not to forget the muscles. Why couldn’t I fall for him instead?

“Where the fuck are you going?” he demands.

“Go back inside, Ink,” I say, without looking at him as I busy myself with clipping Willow into her car seat, before sliding into the driver’s seat.

He snorts. “If you think I’m going to let you drive in the state you’re in, you’ve got another thing coming,” he says, before yanking my keys out of my hand. “I’ll drive you and Willow home.”

“Oh, you’re not going to let me, are you? What state? I’m just fine and dandy. Besides, won’t Lily be missing you?” I say, sarcasm bleeding into my voice, as a look I can’t fathom comes over his face, but before I can question it, the fact he now has my keys finally registers.

“Hey, give me back my keys.” I shriek.

“Not happening,” Ink replies cooly, and before I know it, he’s got me out of the driver’s seat and in the passenger seat without breaking a sweat.

“What the fuck, Ink.” I hiss scornfully so that Willow can’t hear. That’s all I need, my daughter picking up all the swear words. “You’re taking liberties with me; you don’t have a right to,”

“Shut up, woman,” he growls, getting into the passenger seat, adjusting the seat to his height, before shoving the key into the ignition, his words shocking me into silence.

“Do you know who that was?” I ask in a whisper, collapsing in on myself, all the fight leaving me.

Ink looks at me with almost pity in his eyes, and I want to slap his handsome face, as I focus my gaze on the skull inked on his neck, with orange flaming eyes. “That was Mariah. Ky’s ex.”

Unable to speak, all I can manage is a nod. So that was his first love. Doesn’t surprise me, she’s some leggy, beautiful blonde. While I was the short, frumpy one. Of course, he’d choose her over me. And if that was his kid, then that trumps everything.

“Get whatever you’re thinkin’ out of that pretty little head of yours,” Ink orders. “Mariah’s been gone for years. She lost the right to Ky when she dumped his ass because she couldn’t handle the biker life.”

“Doesn’t mean he’s going to turn his back on her, especially knowing she had his kid,” I argue.

“If it is even his kid,” he mumbles.

“What? You don’t think the boy’s his?” I ask.

Why would she lie?

“Come on, let’s get you home,” Ink says without answering. Revving the engine, he throws the car inReverse, driving out of the compound,. My last thought was whether Ky would even care that Ink had driven me home. Probably not.

I force myself to enjoy the quiet drive home, the hum of the engine a dull counterpoint to the lingering thoughts of Ky and the woman with the child. By the time we arrived, I was feeling a little better about things. Silently, Ink helps me with a sleeping Willow, taking her to her bedroom, and tucking her into bed.

“Thank you.”. That was all I could say at that moment, as words failed me. For a brief period, in Ink’s company, I could detachmyself from the ruins of my world. If only I had thrown Ky out on his ass when he showed up at my house last night. I wouldn’t have let him inside my home or my body.

Ink turns to look at me, a lopsided grin on his handsome face. “You’re welcome. If you need anything, let me know.”

“You’re sweet to offer, but I can’t keep imposing on you, Ink.”

“I don’t mind. I enjoy spending time with you, and the little munchkin,” he says, a knowing look in his bright blue eyes, and not for the first time, I wished I was interested in him in that way. I can’t help the slight blush that colors my cheeks as he bends and plants a soft kiss on my cheek.

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