Page 95 of Guilty For You

Houston smirked at me as I got more riled up, “How’s it feel to be a dad?” He asked goodheartedly.

I told him on the phone a few days ago about Penelope and he could tell simply from my voice how fucked I was over the little girl already.

“Like I want to scream to the sky in excitement and puke in fear all at the same time.” I admitted and he grinned even bigger at me.

“I’m happy for you man.” He smacked my shoulder, “If I’d known that Delilah was here in Belden this whole time I would have gotten you out here a lot sooner.”

“I know.” I shook my head and took a drag off the cigarette, “Fucking meant to be or something.”

“Fate.” He agreed and looked out over the pavement. “We’ll find him man; no fucking loner, piece of shit is going to come into my turf and fuck shit up now that I’ve finally got things in order thanks to your mean ass.”

“I ain’t mean.” I glared at him.

He snorted and turned away with a shrug, “Sure. And I ain’t ugly.”

I puffed my nicotine again and sighed. “I’m not going to be running club shit in the future for you man.” I said, grabbing his attention and dragging him back to the conversation. “I told D years ago the MC thing wasn’t my long-term goal, and now that I have her and Penny to protect, I’m not dragging them back into this world. Look at how D’s already suffered because of me in the last week alone.” I shook my head as he watched me closely, “I can’t put them in danger like that.”

He mulled that over for a minute and then lit up his own cigarette. “I won’t lie and say it’s easy to watch you walk away. Fuck,” He grunted, “Most men don’t get a walk away option, and you’ve done it to two different clubs.”

He was right, most members patched in for life. But I was a nomad, Colt let me walk away because I needed to find D, and he knew keeping me as an ally was better than turning me against him. When I agreed to come out and help Houston, I told him I wasn’t a lifer, that it was temporary.

Then I went and bought a house a couple months ago I had no business owning and it made no sense unless I planned to stick around. Now with D, Penelope and Maddie to think about, I needed to think about their wants and needs.

“But I get it.” He added after a long pause, “And I’m grateful for your help while you were here. You’re always welcome to stick around and be a member without being in the thick of it.” He offered.

“I’ll think on it.” I agreed, “Delilah doesn’t want to go back to Rawlins, and I don’t know if she wants to stay here either.” I shrugged, “I guess we’ll have to wait and see.”

He nodded in understanding, “I’m going to head over to a spot in East Tracks and rattle some cages. See if I can’t spook out some info on Taz,” He smirked at me knowingly as he walked to his bike, “Want to ride along?”

“You know I do.” I grinned, because he knew me better than most. I was a bastard on a good day and the appeal of knocking some skulls together and riding my bike was my idea of a fun time, even if I wanted to make better decisions for my daughter.

I’d start that tomorrow.

Or as soon as Taz was eliminated from the equation.

Chapter 30 – Delilah

Present

“Wellyoulookrefreshed.”Winnie smirked as I sat down at my desk a few hours into my shift. “Couldn’t possibly have anything to do with tall dark and handsome Opie now, could it?”

I rolled my eyes even as my lips pulled up in a smirk, “You just never mind.” I chided her as I tried to focus on charting my last med rounds.

“Ooh!” She gushed, rolling her chair closer, “Tell me, everything.”

I laughed and shook my head, “No way.”

“Yes way!” She whined, “I’ve worked along side you for almost four years now, and not once have you ever looked so bright eyed, and bush tailed.” She pushed my hair off my neck with one finger, “Is that a hickey?” She giggled.

I slapped her hand away with a glare and tried to pretend to be serious, “Of course not, I’m an adult.”

“An adult getting boned by a sexy biker that I’d give my left tit to ride.”

“Oh my god.” I hissed at her bluntness. “You cannot say things like that about him.”

“Why not? Are you territorial already?”

“It’s not already.” I droned, “It’s still.” I closed one of the charts and looked at her out of the corner of my eye. “Five years still.”

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