“How was I supposed to know?” he grumbles. “It’s my first time delivering babies.”
“Apologies, Zilphia,” Spider says, his voice low. “I didn’t know you were my daughter. I spent a week with Loretta and never saw her again after that.”
“What’s he talking about?” she asks, peering back at me, confusion in her beautiful brown orbs.
“He speaks the truth, but it doesn’t matter.” I ease her against the tree and stalk toward him. “Any last words for your daughter?” I draw the gun from the waistband of my jeans and aim the barrel at his forehead. “Speak now or forever hold your peace.”
“Sandman, don’t!” Zilphia shouts. “If he’s truly my father, I’m begging you not to kill him. Please do this one thing for me.”
“I can’t do that.” I glance at her over my shoulder. “Too much blood has been spilled.”
“Thought we were going to let bygones be bygones,” Spider growls, narrowing his gaze at me. “I want to know my daughter and grandchildren.”
“Bye.” I empty two bullets into his skull. “Now you’re gone.”
Zilphia looks at me with dead eyes, tears slipping past the grime on her face. It had to be done, and I don’t give two fucks about it.
Six weeks later
I grind my teeth, what’s left of my patience hanging by a thread. I have better things to do than wait on this red-headed motherfucker, but Zeus decided it was time for us to squash our beef once and for all.
So here I am, waiting to go toe-to-toe with Draco. No weapons. No dirty tricks. Just good old-fashioned fists.
Personally, I don’t have a problem with the fucker, except for the stick lodged so far up his ass it’d take the Jaws of Life to remove it.
The last month and a half have been a rollercoaster. Zahara and Zeppelin are healthy and whole, though they spent two weeks in the NICU just to be safe.
We buried Loretta, and with a little bribery, Zilphia was able to adopt her sister, Liliana.
With Spider gone, the Disciples slinked back to the shadows. Maybe they’ll attempt a comeback one day, maybe they won’t. Either way, we’ll be ready for the fuckers.
Harley pulled through and will be fully recovered in another week or two. I can’t say the same for Snake. He’s his own worst enemy right now and has a long road ahead of him.
“Think he chickened out?” Cricket asks to my left. We both sit astride our bikes, shoulder to shoulder with our brothers.
I grunt in response, too fucking pissed to speak. I just want to get back home to my family. That’s where I spend most of my time these days, much to Zilphia’s annoyance. She’d love nothing more than for me to go back to my sixty-hour weeks at the garage.Tough shit.
I’m not missing a moment. I’ve been peed on, puked on, and everything in between. I’ve given bottles, given baths, and made it to every doctor’s appointment. I’ve even pulled my share of night duty—those 3:00 a.m. feedings can be brutal. Who knew something so tiny could cry so loud?
Still, despite the sleep deprivation, I love every second of being a father.
Caring for three newborns isn’t for the weak, so we hired a nanny. Meela and Leah help when they can. Naomi too, whenever she’s not at the hospital.
“It’s Saturday night, man,” he complains. “I’m supposed to be at the bar balls deep in some pussy.”
I echo his sentiments. Yesterday I was so fucking hard I could’ve drilled through brick.
“Here he comes now,” Cricket says, nodding toward the approaching motorcycle. “Looks like he decided to grace us with his presence after all.”
I swing off my bike and shrug out of my cut, wanting this over and done with. The leather hits the seat with a dull thud. My shirt follows, landing beside it.
“Good luck,” Cricket says, winking at me.
“Luck is for pussies,” I quip, rolling my shoulders before striding into God’s Glory with steadfast confidence.
Soon after, Draco joins me, bare-chested and wearing a scowlthat says he’s just as ready to throw down as I am. This fight’s been a long time coming.
“I’m owed an apology,” I drawl, closing the small distance separating us. “You kept me waiting.”
