Page 26 of Gunnar

“Sir.” I addressed him as a superior out of respect. If he wanted to be my dad, that was up to him. Still, it made my chest ache to think my father would be so disappointed in me he’d reject me.

Cain scowled. “Sir,” he spat out. “Fuckin’ sir.” He stood abruptly and stalked toward me. Pippa stiffened, but I set her away from me, moving her toward Knuckles. Cain rolled his eyes. “And now you’re protectin’ your woman from me?”

“Well, you look a little like you’re about to kick my ass, and I don’t want Pippa gettin’ in the way.” I gave him a wary look, but didn’t take up a defensive stance. Mainly because I knew anything he dished out I deserved.

“Little punk,” he muttered at me before lunging at me to pull me into a tight embrace. Thankfully, he didn’t whale on my back like Knuckles had. I wasn’t sure I could take much more. Felt like Knuckles had given me the beating he was afraid to while Pippa was watching. “Your mother missed you.”

“Yeah. She told me.”

“Hannah, too.”

“Her too.”

Dad held me close for several minutes before he pulled back, blinking rapidly. “Gonna have to have a talk with Torpedo about makin’ sure he gives you a better room. This one has too much dust.”

“Yeah. Makes my eyes water too sometimes.” I grinned at my dad.

“Now. Introduce me to your woman proper-like.”

Things were better after that. Dad told me how he’d initially been disappointed in me for not bringing the situation to him or my brothers. Or anyone in Bones MC. Every time he looked at Pippa, though, he averted his gaze. Every time he did, I saw the smile on his lips.

Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore. I had to know. “OK. What’s so funny?”

“Hum?” Dad looked all innocent and shit. Like he had no clue what I was whining about.

“Every time you look at Pippa, you smile. Why?”

Cain stopped trying to hold back then and chuckled, shaking his head and wiping at his eyes. “I’m sorry. And it’s not you, Pippa. I was remembering when I barged in on Stunner and Suzie in a similar situation.”

“Suzie?” Pippa looked confused but smiled.

“My sister. Mom and Dad adopted her and my two bonehead brothers when they were little more than teenagers. At least Cliff and Dan were. Suzie was about nine or ten, I think.” I took Pippa’s hand in mine and tugged her to the couch. “Didn’t expect you here, Dad. We stayed long enough at Bones, I really thought you’d get there before we left.”

“Well, aren’t you lucky I happen to be on great terms with the president and vice president of Kiss of Death.”

“Torpedo and Bohannon ratted me out.” Gunnar grinned, shaking his head.

“I wasn’t sure I could make it to Kentucky before you left, so I went to your ultimate destination. Also, I knew where you were the second you got out of prison, I knew what you were tasked with, and I knew that motherfucker was gonna try to force you and his daughter together.”

“I thought you said you didn’t know my dad, Knuckles.”

“Said I hadn’t met him. Cain and I have worked on different sides of the table a few times.” Knuckles gave Cain a level look.

“Someone has to nudge people in the right direction when they’re being dumbasses.” The two men chuckled before clasping hands in a firm shake. “Good to finally meet you.”

“Likewise.”

“Fuck me,” I bit out.

Pippa narrowed her eyes at Knuckles, then shifted her focus to Cain. “Did you set all this up?”

“Does Mom know about this?”

Cain and Knuckles exchanged a look. “Well.” Cain scrubbed his hand through his beard. “I mean, you wouldn’t let me keep you out of prison. The only other option I had was to make sure you had help on the inside.”

“Son of a bitch.” I shook my head, but I could totally see the beauty of it. “You’re a sneaky bastard.”

“No sneakier than you.”

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