Page 14 of Rooster's Redemption

Eight

ALYSSA

Watching Rooster walk away from me was the hardest thing I’ve had to do. I dropped a huge bomb on him right before church but hopefully, he will be able to forgive me for keeping this a secret for so long. I was afraid to tell anyone what I knew when Savage Saints MC rescued me from the Black Destroyers. After everything I’ve been through, knowing who to trust is hard. But the way Rooster treated me last night, like he could actually see me and not a victim, made me decide I can trust him. I hope it doesn’t bite me in the ass.

I knew about Rooster’s ex Phoebe missing for years, but I didn’t put two and two together until I saw her picture up on Rooster’s computer and Kington’s men cornering me during Stryker and Holly’s party. What they said to me about one bitch gone and I knew they were referring to Phoebe. Now her daughter is paying for Phoebe’s mistakes.

Needing air, I go into the kitchen and out the back door. Sitting on a swing on the back porch, I let the warmth of the suncascade over my skin giving me a moment of peace in a world full of chaos.

Poison sits down next to me and I turn to look at her. I mean really look at my sister. Her cheeks are hollow and her eyes that match mine are sunken in with dark circles around them. “Are you OK? You don’t look the greatest.”

“I’ll be fine. Listen, I don’t know what’s going on with you and Rooster.” I open my mouth to deny it but Poison holds her hands up stopping me. “And I don’t care. It’s not my business. What is my business is if whatever the two of you have will negatively affect the club.”

“It won’t, I promise.”

Poison places a protective hand over her belly. “Good because I see the way the two of you look at each other. If that doesn’t mean more than what I think it means then I’m losing my touch.”

“I do like him, a lot. He’s the first man to see the real me. I just hope I didn’t mess it up too bad today.” I confess.

“What happened?”

Might as well go for broke. “I know what happened to Phoebe, Rooster’s ex, and have been trying to protect her little girl. I didn’t say anything to anyone because I didn’t know who to trust. After last night, I told Rooster the little girl I’ve been protecting is Phoebe’s daughter. I didn’t tell him…” I trail off and then inhale a deep breath before letting it out. “According to Phoebe, I didn’t tell him that little girl I’ve been protecting is his daughter.”

“Holy shit.” Poison whispers. “How?”

“How’d I know?” Poison nods her head. “She looks just like him without black hair. Everything else is a spitting image of her father.”

“You need to tell him.” Poison encourages me.

“Like you need to tell Kayne your secret?” I bite back.

Poison flinches. “I have my reasons for not telling Kayne. It’s not the right time.”

“Poison, it will never be the right time.” I air quotetheright time. “If you don’t do it now, it’ll be worse the longer you wait.”

“I should tell you the same thing.” Poison nudges me with her shoulder. “Do it together?”

I hold up my pinky finger. “Together. I’ll drop my news, then you drop yours, that way I don’t steal your thunder with my depressing news.”

“Deal.” Poison twists her pinky finger around mine, sealing our deal. Together we stand and make our way back inside. Once we’re outside the church doors, Poison turns to me. “Wait here until I come to get you.” She knocks twice before the doors swing open.

Nerves flit in my stomach and I press my hand against it, trying to calm myself down. My palms are clammy as I wait for Poison to come back out. I contemplate leaving but I know I can’t. I promised Poison I would do this. I won’t chicken out no matter what the outcome will be. That little girl depends on me to follow through. Rooster’s little girl.

Will he still want me even after he knows that child is his?

Is he still in love with Phoebe even after all these years and she left him?

Does he think she’s still alive?

Will I be pushed to the side again?

What’s going to happen to me once the truth comes out?

The church doors open slightly pulling me out of my questions and Poison sticks her head out of the crack. She’s searching for me with a worried look on her face. Once she spots me, she opens the door wider and relief pours from her.

I step inside and my feet freeze to the floor. All the Savage Saints brothers are watching me with guarded expressions. Kayne is sitting at the head of the table, not giving anythingaway. Blayde, Stryker, Axel, Tex, Ace, Maddox, Damon, Butch, Duke, Knuckles, Tatt and Rebel all glare in my direction but it doesn’t unnerve me. Not like the way Rooster does. The way he’s looking at me has me shaking in my shoes. He’s scowling in my direction and doesn’t try to hide it and show me the man he was earlier.

Forgetting for a moment these men are stone-cold killers has me wishing I didn’t know what I know. Poison gives me a push, forcing my feet to move until I’m standing at the end of the table. Sweat beads on my forehead and I wipe it away with a shaky hand.

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