Page 42 of Viper
A big part of me thinks I’m being selfish, but the other part knows this is the right decision. I can barely keep myself up as it is, and having a baby… I refuse to screw her up and allow the club to put a label on her before she’s even born. Instead, she’s going to a family who is far away from the club, from me.
The club cheers louder, and I look away from Huddy to see Fury carrying Skylar bridal style down the little aisle and towards the tables and marquee, and I swallow hard.
Maybe they won’t notice if I leave…
I know Viper is here, I can feel him, but I don’t dare look his way.
I did once when I walked down the little aisle to see Cherri trying to get his attention, and I haven’t looked since. I refuse. I don’t know if he has a date, and if I look and he has one, it would destroy me.
The blade in my nightstand enters my vision, and I blink, trying to get rid of it.
I don’t need it.
The crowd follows the happy couple, and I sigh when Ivy raises a brow, not allowing me to run, and I move my feet to follow as well while Psycho takes his son from his woman. He is a little miracle giggling at his daddy while Ivy grins widely.
Sadness and jealousy fill me as my daughter moves slightly and I swallow hard before quickly moving away from them, thenweaving through the people, ensuring I don’t touch anyone and avoid eye contact. I know I’m not welcome here, heck, I can feel the distain washing from the brothers and Cherri.
I find my dad sitting at the back table and I smile a little, seeing him looking around at everyone with a weird expression, one I know well.
He misses them and hates it.
He sees them all as family, and of course, he hasn’t gone back to Gary’s Motors yet making it even harder to want to leave permanently. Mama Lopez is playing on her healing so he won’t leave the club. By the way he’s looking at her and Brick, who are all loved up, a sight I had longed to see, he’s ready to leave.
“Hey, Daddy,” I say and take a seat next to him, “Dusted off your suit shirt, huh?”
He snorts, wrapping an arm around my chair as he mutters, “Only for Sky and Fury,” and I grin before looking towards the small dance floor to see them embracing with Tate between them.
Another sight I had longed to see, now if Raya and Venom would get their shit together.
“She deserves the world, and I am so glad Fury finally got his head out of his ass to give it to her,” I whisper as I lay my head on my dad’s shoulder.
He hums before kissing my head, then replies, “She does, she’s been through a lot, but pumpkin, you deserve the world as well.”
My eyes automatically go to the bar area set up out of instinct, and my eyes connect with the hazel ones I’ve missed oh so much, and electricity builds between us, the sparks flying everywhere.
I break the connection first when he doesn’t attempt to, and I lie, “I’m fine, Daddy, I have everything I want.”
He snorts, “No, you don’t, I can see right through your façade. You miss him, Lake. How hard is it to admit to? Especiallywhen he’s looking at you like you’re his world and he’s drowning without you.”
“There’s just too much pain between us, Daddy,” I whisper, and he sighs, wrapping his arm tightly around me.
“I just hope you don’t wake up one morning and regret not fighting for him over the silliest of reasons why you broke up to begin with,” he mutters, and my eyes tear.
Too late, but I don’t say that. I people-watch, trying not to look in Viper’s direction again. I say quietly, “Mama Lopez is mended.”
He sighs, “I know, I was going to speak to Blade tonight, Gary’s expecting me back next week.”
“You love it here, Daddy,” I whisper, and he hums and admits, “I do, but the brothers put a label on my daughter's head before she was even born, a label they had no right to give. I can’t stay around that.”
I swallow hard but don’t say anything.
Maybe I do deserve that label. I allowed a man to take me like a whore when I was drunk, and when Viper finds out, he’ll never want to see me again. It’s the main reason why I won’t go and speak to him. He’s going to hate me even more than he already does when he finds out that I’m pregnant, and he’ll most likely kill me when he finds out I’m giving our baby up for a closed adoption.
It’s for the best, though, for me, him, and the baby.
“Incoming,” Dad murmurs, and I look around before I notice Cherri, in a tee and jeans, walking this way, her cherry red lips curled ion distaste.
Great…
