Page 29 of Speed

We sat and watched the movie until Ally had given out and fallen asleep. I carried her to bed then grabbed my laptop to work on schedules until I was ready to go to bed, or maybe some TV. Anything to take my mind off the changes my life and Ally’s was going to go through, sooner rather than later.

Chapter Thirteen

Speed

“Almost five fuckingyears I’ve lost. Wish you could see her. Meet her. She’s beautiful just like her mother. It’s not like what happened to you with Clarice, I’d thought about the possibility, but it didn’t fit. She hadn’t known me and if she’d wanted something you know as well as I, she would have been at the club raising hell. Instead, she went to school, got a job and from the look of my daughter, she is raising her well.” I knelt down with my hands on my knees, and for the first time that day I smiled.

“I figure I’m going to get a little push back when I tell the mother she doesn’t have much of a choice. Pretty sure Stroker, Cruz, Flyboy, Preacher, and Romeo will get a big kick out of it all. You too for that matter. Don’t know much about kids, but neither did any of you when you took on parenthood.

“I told you the club was changing, it’s a good thing, right? I’ll do right by her, just as you did right by me. Grab a beer, hope you enjoy the show.” I stood and started back to my bike, I’d put if off long enough. Calmer, I sat on the seat, started my bike, then pulled out.

There I sat on my bikein the driveway and stared at the glow of the light in the window. She was up. Good. The deep breath helped before I dismounted and made my way to the door and as I stood there with my finger on the bell, the thought that what was behind that door was mine, was a heady feeling. It didn’t bother me.

The sound of the doorbell followed by footsteps could be heard through the door, and as I watched, I saw the shadow move over the peephole.

A minute went by, nothing. I pictured her looking at me through the peephole and debating if she should open or not. Like she had a choice as I stood in place. If she thought I was going to leave, she was nuts.

“You can debate all you want, but I’m not going anywhere. Open the door, Sami. We need to talk. If not, I will talk from here, and I’m sure your neighbors would love it. Up to you. You got one minute to decide.” I looked down at my watch and in my head counted off the seconds. When I’d hit fifty, the lock turned, and the door was pulled open.

“It’s late,” was all she said.

“It’s eight o’clock.” My eyebrow rose, and her hand hit her hip, a little fire entered her eyes.

“If you wanted to talk, you should have come early after you saw her.” Hmm... I found it interesting since she hadn’t seen me that she knew I’d seen my girl.

“Other things to do before I showed up here.” I slid part of my foot in the opening in case she decided to slam the door.

“Figures, you find out you have a daughter, then take care of other things. Wow, she doesn’t even know you or you her, and she’s taken a back seat to the club.” I opened my mouth to speak, but she wasn’t done yet.

“Since she seems to have your interest, waiting until tomorrow to see her shouldn’t be a hardship.” The door started to close, my foot stopping its progress.

“Think you’re getting off that easy, Sami?” I heard the door to the house next door open, and I turned my head the same time Sami’s did to watch the older woman step out on her porch.

“Look what you have done. Mrs. Mayson will call the police if you don’t leave.”

“Who, Sheriff Lance? Maybe your good buddy, Deputy Monroe?” The older lady stepped off her porch and started across the yard toward them.

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