Page 53 of Nova

Crow hands her a handkerchief he pulled from his back pocket, and she blows her nose. "I've been keeping tabs on Piper for a long time," she admits. "You've done such a good job raising her, Cain. I had no intention of causing problems."

"Yeah, well…" I leave the rest of my thoughts unsaid.

Crow clears his throat. "I think we've all had enough for one day," he pulls Madison to her feet. "We'll be staying in town for a few more days. You know where to find us if you need me," Crow directs his words to my brother.

"Can I see her?"Madison asks between breaths as she collects herself.

"If it was up to me, you know the answer." Her face falls. "But it's not. That choice is Piper's and hers alone," I clarify. I may not be ready to forgive Madison just yet for walking out on Piper, but I damn sure won't project my feelings for the matter on her. If she was to tell me today, she wanted to see her mother, I would support her decision.

Madison nods her understanding.

We follow Crow and his men out the door and watch them mount their bikes. As Crow and Riggs shake hands, I hang back and bum a cigarette from Fender. "You okay?" he asks.

"Not sure, to tell you the truth," I admit.

Just as the words leave my mouth, I spot Pop's truck parked down the road at the Blue Star Cafe.Shit.I forgot to tell Pop to stay clear of this area because of the meeting being here at the bar. Not a second after my thoughts, and kicking myself in the ass, Piper can be seen jogging our direction as her, Pop, and Promise exit the restaurant.

"Daddy, wait." She holds up a brown paper bag, and immediately my eyes dart to Madison. My body stiffens when her eyes hon in on Piper. Relief washes over me as she stands unmoving beside her man's bike. I also feel my brother's eyes burning a hole right through me for my mistake.

Piper makes it to me and catches her breath from the run. "I wanted to make sure you ate lunch," she shoves the bag clutched in her hand at me. "Here—your favorite. Fried boudin balls with some of Annie's famous comeback sauce." She smiles not realizing what she walked into. Not that she is in any danger. We've established that as much. I'm confident the Hell's Punishers want no harm to come to her.

She finally looks around, noticing several faces she doesn't recognize, then takes in her uncle's irritation. "Crap. I shouldn't be here, huh?"

"No, Bean, you shouldn't. That's my fault." I kiss the top of her head.

"Daddy," she whispers, "who is the lady staring so hard at me right now?" My head turns, and I eye Madison, who takes a small step forward, her expression full of hope.

There's a struggle inside me to tell my daughter the truth, and for a moment, I don't think I can, but I stomp those feelings down because I won't have her find out from anyone else but me. "Bean," I place my finger under her chin and have her look at me. "That woman over there is your mother." Piper's eyes widen, and she looks over her shoulder, staring intensely at Madison, then looks back at me. Her eyes fill with unshed tears that she is struggling so damn hard to hold back and my heart crumbles.

"Why is she here?" her bottom lip wobbles

Piper doesn't need to know much, just the basics about her question. "To see you," I force out.

Piper straightens her back, and a couple of tears trickle down her sweet face. "I don't need her. I only need you, and the rest of my family. She means nothing to me." I didn't expect her words to be so harsh, if at all. Most of all, I didn't expect her words to make me feel a twinge of pain for Madison. Piper buries her face in my chest, and I hold her to me, stroking her hair. Down the street, I notice Pop and Promise looking on, but hanging back.

I shift my attention to Madison, shaking my head, letting her know without words, Piper wants no part of her right now. Madison clutches her chest but doesn't put up a fight as Crow swings his leg over his bike, holds out his hand, and helps her settle in behind him. Crow looks my way, and gives me a short nod, before firing his engine, and pulling out into the road. Once the Hell's Punishers are gone, my brothers walk back into the bar, except for Riggs and Wick, who hang back.

"You okay, Sweetheart?" Riggs asks, and Piper turns to look at her uncle.

She sniffles. "Yeah."

"You sure?" Wick also asks, just as concerned.

"I'm sure."

"Good. Give me a hug." Wick opens his arms, and Piper goes to him wrapping her arms around him.

"Bring that hug over here." My brother opens his arms, and Piper hugs him too.

Pop pulls his truck up to the bar and yells out the window. "Don't go into explaining nothing. I saw her with my own two eyes."

I walk my daughter to the truck, and Promise opens the door, getting out so Piper can slide in. "I'll be home soon, Bean." I kiss her forehead, and she climbs in next to her Gampy.

"Everything okay?" Promise asks with worry.

"Yeah, Sugar."

"She's crying, Cain." Promise cocks her head. "Why?" The protectiveness in her voice is firm but gentle, and it cements my feelings for her even more.

"She just stared into the face of someone she hasn't seen in seventeen years, babe," I explain.

"Who?" Promise scrunches her face.

"Her mother."

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