Page 54 of Nova

16

Promise

It's been two days since Cain came home and told me about what went down with Piper and her mom. He didn't divulge the details of what is happening with this other club, but he did give me the rundown on Madison. Cain and his daughter have been thrown for a loop, discovering that her mom is now the old lady of the President of Hell's Punishers. And not only that, she has been in the same state for several years now. She was even keeping tabs on Piper.

Now Piper has been held up in her bedroom for the last two days. Cain has talked to her, but we both can see her shutting down. It kills him to see his daughter struggling and not have a clue about how to help her. He has confided in me his experience with his own mother, and he too knows about mine, but Piper's is different. Cain and I can understand her pain, but we can't relate. I know someone who can, though.

''Would you allow me to take Piper out today?'' I ask Cain, who is sitting on the edge of the bed, lacing up his boots while I stand in front of the dresser putting on my earrings.

''Sure, babe, if you can get her to go. What do you have planned?''

''I don't want to overstep, but I called London last night for some advice on Piper.''

At that, Cain peers up at me. ''What do you mean?''

Sighing, I sit down on the bed beside him. ''London was adopted by her stepmom when she was five. Her birth mother left her and her dad when she was just six months old. Her dad remarried when she was two, and later her stepmom, Barbara, adopted her.''

''Shit. That's rough, babe.''

''It wasn't for a long time. Not until London was fifteen. One day out of the blue, her birth mom showed up. She had her issues and her reasons for the choices she had made with London but had wanted to get to know her daughter finally. I won't go into detail because it's not my story to tell, but I feel London can help Piper. She wants to help. The same confusion and hurt Piper is feeling is something London can relate to because she too has been in Piper's shoes. And if you're okay with it, London and I would like to spend the day with Piper. I think some retail therapy and a trip to Sadie's salon is just the medicine she needs. I want her comfortable enough to open up to us and not make it feel like we are staging an intervention.''

Cain grips the inside of my thigh and squeezes. ''You're fuckin' amazin'. Thanks for caring' about my girl like that.''

''Well, I think your daughter is pretty wonderful, and I can't stand to see her hurting the way she is. So, if there is anything I can do to help ease her pain, I want to do it. As long as I'm not overstepping.''

''You're not oversteppin', babe. I plan on you being in mine and Piper's lives for a long time. That means I want you to feel comfortable about the permanent role you will have in this house.''

The thought of Cain, seeing me as an actual part of his family, makes my heart soar. ''Do you see me like that?''

''Fuck, babe. Have you not been payin' attention? Have I not said you belong to me?''

''Yes. But…''

Cain shakes his head. ''No buts. You're mine, Promise. This thing between us is not fuckin' casual, and it doesn't have an expiration date. You're it for me. So, get that through your head now and know when I say somethin', I mean it.''

He studies me for a minute to make sure his words are sinking in. ''We clear?''

I nod. ''Yeah, honey. We're clear.''

''Good, now give me your mouth so I can go. I have shit to do.''

''So bossy,'' I mutter and give him my mouth

After Cain leaves, I walk down the hall to Piper's bedroom and knock on the door.

''Come in,'' she calls out.

Opening the door, I find her sitting on a chair in front of the window, with a notebook and pen in her hands.

''Hey. London is on her way over. We're going to hit up the mall and then go to my friend Sadie's salon and have a mani-pedi. Want to come?''

Piper gives me a small shoulder shrug. ''Sure.''

Her response isn't very enthusiastic, but I'll take what I can get. ''Great! Meet me downstairs in ten minutes.''

Piper, London, and I spend our first three hours in the mall going from store to store and talking about mundane things. I ask Piper about school and graduation. She asks London and me how we met and about our time together in college. Piper is still undecided about what college she wants to attend. After leaving the mall, we decided to grab some burgers and fries before heading to Sadie's.

''I don't know if I could go out of state,'' she says, popping a fry in her mouth.

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