Page 76 of Biker Daddy

Drew frowned. His baby girl was in shock and talking nonsense. He wondered how long it would take her to get over all of this without him. She would, he had no doubt of her strength and resilience, but it would take time and she would grieve the loss of him.

“We haven’t been properly introduced, Andrew Trigger. I’m Sean MacAfee and you saved my life.” He reached out to shake Drew’s hand, but Drew was too dumbfounded to move.

“Sean MacAfee?” Drew asked, and Sean nodded.

“You shoved me behind the dumpster and saved my life. I regret it took years of therapy for me to talk again. Otherwise, I may have been able to give testimony to prove your innocence.” He reached out further to take Drew’s hand, shaking it firmly. “Thank you for saving me.”

Emotion welled inside Drew and it was mirrored on Sean’s face. He shook his head and pulled Sean into a bear of a hug.

“You have no idea how good it is to hear you’ve forgiven me.” Drew released Sean and rubbed the back of his neck with his hand, a little embarrassed.

“Forgiven you?” Sean’s question was paired with a furrowed brow. “How could you possibly blame yourself for any of it?” He gathered a breath and Drew glanced at Addi.

“My uncle pulled some strings, cashed in favors, and used his influence to make sure you were locked up and I regret I wasn’t able to stop any of it. You were only a little older than my sister and being held responsible for a murder you didn’t commit. Any other twelve-year-old in the same situation would have been protected, given therapy and care, but you were condemned because of my uncle and my weakness.” Sean’s hands shook as he placed them on Drew’s shoulders.

“I need you to forgive me.”

“You were just a kid.”

“And you weren’t?”

* * *

It was later, after Sean left to debrief his firm and the RCMP was satisfied enough with all the statements to let everyone leave, that Drew took Addi on the back of his bike down to the river where he used to draw as a kid.

“Are you okay, babe?”

“I’m fine. I’m okay.” She nodded excessively as if she were convincing herself as much as him. The last thing she sounded like was a person that was okay.

“Honey, Daddy’s here.”

Her eyes filled with tears and she threw herself into Drew’s arms. “You almost had me convinced, Daddy.” And her tears spilled hotly against his chest.

“Convinced of what, baby girl?” He tilted her chin up and wiped the tears from her face.

“That you were going back…” she sobbed and took a shuddering breath. “And that I meant nothing to you.”

“Aw, I love you, sweetheart. And I will spend the rest of our lives convincing you that you’re the most important person in the world to me.” He shushed her when she buried her face in his chest again.

Addi’s cell buzzed in her pocket. Drew was going to take it, but Addi was too quick in answering.

“Yes, Dad?” she sniffled.

Drew waited as she listened on the line. Addi rolled her eyes at whatever he was saying on the phone.

“Dad, you’re a grown man, I’m not your wife, your assistant, or your goddamn slave. Grow a pair and take care of yourself for once. I’m done!” She pressed end and tossed the phone into the river.

She looked at Drew and smiled. He beamed back at her.

“Have I told you lately how fucking amazing you are?”

She laughed. “Yeah, but now I finally believe it.”

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