Page 33 of Viper
He’s so cold and closed off.
What happened to the man who told me I was his forever?
Guess he’d rather have the ring girl.
Chapter 12
Viper
I gently pull up beside Lake’s truck and turn my bike off, but I don’t get off. Instead, I watch as she grins widely at a chatty Tate as she lifts her out of the car seat, not looking at me once.
I didn’t think Tate would come to me with my cut on. I was hesitant, that's for sure but Lake made sure Tate knew the cuts aren’t scary, that I’m not, and no, I will not be looking more into the way it made my heart race.
“Come, Auntie Lake!” Tate says excitedly as she grabs Lake’s hand and drags her towards the park, and my jaw ticks while my stomach tightens.
Auntie Lake?
Damn, I liked the sound of that more than I’m willing to admit.
I watch them go through the gate, my eyes taking in the way her ass is shaped in those jeans, and of course, my dick twitches.
Fucker.
Huffing, I quickly grab my phone from my cut with their giggles surrounding me, and ignoring the photos I can’t seem to make myself change, I bring up the text thread between Fury and me.
Me:
You, me, in the ring tomorrow, this shit is not alright, brother, and you fucking know it!
I press send and put my phone back in my cut, shaking my head at the shit he’s just put me in, just as Tate shouts, “Come on, Uncle Viper!”ordering me around like always.
At least she’s not scared of me now.
Chuckling, I climb off my bike and, doing as she’s asked, head over to the slide where she’s currently climbing the steps with Lake hovering over her. I keep my cut on like Fury demanded when he called me an hour ago.
Fucker set me up.
He knows I won’t start an argument with Tate around, that we’ll try and be on our best behavior.
Again, fucker!
“Swings, Auntie Lake,” Tate demands, and Lake giggles and follows Tate as she runs over to the swings, and I follow, shaking my head.
“Alright, little darling,” Lake says as she helps Tate in the swing bucket seat, then gently pulls her back before pushing her.
I stand back a little, leaving them to it, not wanting to talk, needing to keep my distance.
This was Fury’s bright idea, not mine. Lake and I are over, have been since that day at the diner. We’re too toxic together,and I don’t plan on sticking around. The club may have voted against me going nomad, but it isn’t down to them, it’s down to me, and as long as I train someone to take my place, they can’t say fuck all.
Blade knows I need to leave, that I’m struggling to keep my anger under control.
“I want to slide again Auntie Lake.” Tate demands with giggles, and Lake grins, not once looking my way.
My stomach tightens, not liking it, but I swallow the emotions wanting to take over, stopping the nasty words just to get a reaction from coming out. I step forward, stopping the swing before she can, helping Tate out, and just as I put her feet on the ground, she runs back over to the slide, and Lake follows, again, without looking at me.
“I can’t see my life without you, Jaylen, you make everything better.”
Her whispered words haunt me as I follow a step behind her, trying to resist the urge to wrap my arm around her waist and hold her tight to me like I used to.
