Page 32 of Viper
“Ms. Lovely said I was the bestest at sitting,” Tate gloats as I walk towards my truck, my sole focus on her.
Bestest? Pretty sure that isn’t a word, but I don’t tell her that, her smile is so big, I don’t want to correct her.
“Is that so?” I ask instead, and she nods seriously, making me chuckle before my whole body tingles and my stomach tightens.
I know that feeling, it’s one I get whenever he’s around.
Without a second thought, I look towards my truck and pause in my steps at the vision before me, and my stomach tightens, my legs feeling weak, which isn’t good considering I’ve got Tate in my arms, who’s still talking about being the ‘bestest’.
Tight white t-shirt, his cut, jeans, and biker boots, Viper sits astride his matte black bike with white scrolls over the tank, right next to my truck. His dark blonde hair is messy from the wind, his hazel eyes hidden behind his shades, though I can feel them on us.
I swallow hard. I may not be able to see his eyes, but I can feel his anger from here, anger I don’t understand. Fury asked me to pick her up, and I did. He can’t be mad about that, and he certainly isn't taking her from me either, so his showing up here is just stupid.
“Auntie Lake,” Tate whispers, breaking my connection with the man I’m pretty sure wants to shoot me for holding her, and I look at her and ask, “Yes, little darling,” but I notice her attention isn’t on me, it’s on Viper, her body shaking with fear and I tense.
Damn…
Realization hits me. Fury didn’t just call me, he called Viper as well to pick her up, knowing Tate should be alright with him wearing his cut if I’m here. The ass also knows we won’t argue in front of Tate.
Not only is he proposing, but he’s also trying to get us to talk and help his daughter overcome her fear of brothers.
Awesome.
Softening, I continue my path to my truck again, Tate’s body shaking harder as we get closer, and I notice her eyes on the leather he’s wearing.
“Little darling,” I whisper as we get closer to Viper, who tilts his head. I say quietly, “You know your uncle Viper would never hurt you, right?” as I stop next to him.
Tate nods her head hesitantly, her eyes still on the leather, and I whisper, “Just because he’s wearing that leather, doesn’t mean he will ever hurt you or put you in harm’s way. Your daddy, your uncle Viper, Uncle Venom, and Uncle Blade have all made sure you are safe, so every brother that is wearing that leather, they will never hurt you, especially this one.”
Tate sniffles but nods, and I say, “Why don’t you give him a cuddle? I bet he’ll make everything feel perfect again.”
Shaking, she bravely nods again, and I carefully hand her over to him. He takes her instantly, our fingers touching accidentally, and sparks shoot up my arms, but I quickly pull back, not allowing myself to embrace it.
He slept with someone else, and honestly, I don’t think there’s any coming back from that.
“Hey sweetie,” he murmurs, and Tate throws her arms around his neck, and I swallow hard, trying to ignore the tightness in my chest as I look down, my eyes going to the brace on the front of his bike for her.
Guess he wasn’t aware I was here either.
“It seems we’ve been set up,” Viper says with a hint of boredom, but I don’t look at him, refusing. He continues, “I’ll meet you at the park, let you spend some time with her before I take her back to the club.”
Jackass.
He’s taking away my evening with her, and honestly, that just makes him a dick.
Ignoring him, I lean forward and take her from him, ensuring I don’t touch him and she comes willingly, wrapping her arms around my neck and I turn, before opening the passenger side of my truck, then placing her in the pink princess car seat I bought especially for her, then click her in.
“Ready for the park?” I ask and she nods excitedly, making me smile as I shut the door.
Without looking at Viper, I walk around the hood, but I tense when he says, “I’ve got shit to do, so you’ve got an hour,” and my bottom lip wobbles at his coldness.
Things to do, as in a person?
Why can’t he go ‘do’ whatever he has to and leave her with me.
Swallowing back the tears, I nod once, then climb into the driver's side of my truck before starting her up, then gently pulling away.
The roar of a bike echoes, and I look in the rearview mirror to see Viper riding behind us, and I quickly look back at the road, trying my hardest not to cry.
