Page 46 of Victorious: Part I

She sighs, takes my hands in hers, her tiny fingers looping around my callused fingers. “Dad, you carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. All the stuff from what happened back in your military days, to me being taken by the Cartel, and now Mom… all while being in charge of the club. It’s a heavy burden.”

“Are you a fucking eight-year-old psychiatrist now?” I mock, smirking at her.

Poppy grins. “I mean, they did teach us psychology at The Nest.”

“Of course they did,” I mumble under my breath, but she continues.

“But that’s beside the point, what I mean is, you can’t be everything for everyone all the time. This is a club, a brotherhood, a family,right?”

Groaning, I frown at her. “Right?”

“So, if mom were here, what would she say to you right now in this situation?”

Shaking my head, I let out a light chuckle. “To take the support and lean on my family.”

Poppy’s lips turn up, that cute little dimple on her cheek popping in, just like her mother’s did. “I know you want to protect me, Daddy. You always do and always will, but you also need to let us,your family,protect you too. Deal?”

Reaching forward, I grab her, pulling her to me in a tight embrace. She lets out a small giggle as we both drop back onto the bed. “I love you, kid.”

She beams up at me. “Love you, too, Daddy,” she replies as the door to our room creaks open, and I glance over my shoulder when I hear Haven trying to sneak in.

“It’s all good, Little Lamb. We’re both awake,” I tell her.

Haven’s shoulders relax, and she moves through the room with more ease, approaching the bed as Poppy and I move to sit back up. However, as I notice the grim expression on Haven’s face, that’s when my muscles tense all over again.

Letting out a groan, I pat the bed beside me. “It’s not even seven in the morning, Haven. How could youpossiblyhave shitty news for me already?”

She rolls her shoulders, moving to sit on the bed beside me. “I honestly don’t even know if shitty covers it.”

Clenching my eyes shut, I inhale sharply as Poppy slides in between us. “Hey, remember what I said, Dad?”

Opening my eyes, they focus directly on my innocent-looking daughter. The one who I know could slice a man’s neck open before he even has a second to react. “Family?” I reply.

Poppy smiles wide. “Exactly. Whatever this is, you have an entire clubhouse of family here to lean on and help you.”

Haven tries to fight back her smirk while simultaneously raising her brow. “Well, did you hear that, Big Guy? Your daughter’s saying theexactsame thing I’ve been saying for months.”

Groaning at the smug look on their faces, I huff. “Mmm… it’s almost like you’ve been colluding or something.”

Haven shakes her head with a soft sigh. “Not this time. But it doesn’t negate the fact we’re both right, though, and to be fair, wealwaysare.”

Poppy chuckles, banging her knuckles into Haven’s. Ignoring their mutual admiration society, I continue with the situation at hand. “The shitty news?” I grumble.

Haven wracks her jaw from side to side like she’s trying to figure out the best way to tell me, but she decides to just go for it. “Remember how I told you there was a bird with Javier?”

Furrowing my brow, I nod. “Yeah.”

She hesitates, moving to stand. “Well, it’s a little more complicated than that.”

Folding my arms across my chest, I sit taller. “Haven, just tell me what I need to know.”

Haven’s eyes shift to Poppy momentarily before moving back to mine. “I’ve just been with Loki and Montana. I know Montana spoke to you briefly about shit popping off in Valerie’s prison before all this escalated.”

Fuck, I forgot all about that when this crap with Livvy started.

My eyes widen. “Is Val okay?” I blurt out in concern.

Haven grimaces. “Depends on your definition.”

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