Page 58 of Biker Daddy

“Is it true you’re the real artist, Mr. Fitzer? Or is it still Mr. Trigger?” Rebecca Snow shouted and Addi wrapped her arms around Drew’s waist.

“No comment.”

Rebecca pelted them with questions as Drew backed the bike out of its parking spot. His gut was tense beneath her arms and she wished she had the power to calm him like he calmed her.

“Is it because you murdered Officer Doug MacAfee when you were a member of the Skull Grinders Motorcycle Club?”

Addi swallowed hard. Murdered an officer? Skull Grinders?

“Is it because no one would buy art from a murderer?”

Addi pulled away from Drew’s sturdy body to spin and spear Rebecca with a cold look. She didn’t know if Rebecca’s accusations were true or not, but she knew Drew and he was no cold-blooded killer.

“Baby girl, tuck into me now!” His voice held panic she had never heard from him before, but she ignored his demand.

“Maybe it’s because fame-hungry vultures like you twist everything around and make a story out of nothing, ruining good people’s lives!”

“Are you implying the death of an officer of the law is nothing?”

“Goddamn it, Addi, don’t say another word.” He’d spoken through clenched teeth so she tightened her arms around him again and clenched her mouth shut. He started the motor and they rode off, leaving the reporter and her crew to run after them.

The ride wasn’t long enough, Addi decided as she climbed off. She enjoyed the escape of it, like when he dominated her. She wasn’t in control, and when he leaned to go around a corner, she had no choice but to lean with him—as if she was both a part of the bike and him. The first time she rode with him she fought it, but once she gave into it, she truly began to appreciate its power and that made her feel powerful, too.

She thought the camp was fenced completely, but there was a small hidden gate in the corner of the property that she hadn’t known existed. She assumed very few knew about it since it was a rough single rutted path that led them through the thick forest to the edge where the cliff house stood overlooking the lake.

He had taken the path slowly and told her to tuck in tight so she wouldn’t be whipped by branches. She hadn’t needed to be told twice, especially when her bare arms got scratched.

She enjoyed the sight of the rocky outcroppings and water when they broke through the thick forest, but once they turned toward the main camp her nerves had kicked up. It seemed easy to ignore the issues they were facing with the warmth of their bodies pressed together and the rumble of the bike so loud she couldn’t think, but that was about to end. She needed to know what was going on, but what if she couldn’t handle it?

When they were off the bike, she held her breath, watching his expression as he pulled off his helmet. She hadn’t known him long even including their summer together, but his handsome face had become so much to her. He was a hardened man to most, but with her, there were cracks. She released her breath noting the concern, anger, and worry on his face, but when he scrubbed a hand over it, it was gone.

After years of people-watching, attempting to understand them, she knew this man was afraid. Not the kind of fear she carried daily for all things risky, but fear of losing someone. Her.

She reached for him and he looked away, chewing the inside of his cheek.

“Babe, I think you need to read your uncle’s letter before I say anything. I don’t know how much Layla told everyone at the funeral, but I’ve got a pretty good guess and it’s going to require some damage control. I’ll tell you everything after, but it’s true. I am partially responsible for that cop’s death.” He looked down at the helmet he held in both of his hands now. “I know I don’t deserve you, no matter how much I’ve loved you all my life, but I want you to know if I could trade my life for that cop’s I would.” He looked her in the eye. “He should never have died.”

“You what?” She couldn’t believe what she’d just heard. He stepped forward, dropped the helmet with a thud into the dusty dirt and gravel and placed both hands on her face.

“Baby girl? Are you paying attention to me now?” His tone was stern. The one that gave her nervous tingles everywhere and throbbing in all her sexy places. The fear all gone from his features, he was the man she’d come to depend on—the man who took control.

“Yes,” she whispered in a breathy voice. Her stomach flipped and her heart kicked up its pace. All her worries and troubles paused. He calmed her, quieted her mind.

“I’m partially at fault for that cop dying. And I’ve loved you since we were nothing but screwed-up teens. Even when I broke your heart, it was for your own good, not because I didn’t love you. I’ve never stopped loving you—not once. There’s been no one in my heart but you all these years. You got me, babe?” His brow quirked up.

She swallowed audibly. “I got you, Daddy.”

His hands left her face and traveled down her arms until he held her hands. “And you said you trusted me, yeah?”

She nodded without hesitation. “I do, but I have so many questions. I can’t comprehend you being responsible for someone’s death, especially when you’re responsible for saving my life.” She looked away. “In more ways than one.” Fearing everything like she’d been doing her whole life was no way to live. When her eyes found him again, so sexy in his suit and tie, his face was patient and his smile gentle.

“Was it an accident?” she asked in a whisper.

“My part of it was, yes.”

“How?”

“He was shot in the chest.”

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