“Stephanie.”
Grace turned and gasped. “Uncle Stephen?”
Popeye pulled Grace into his arms and kissed the top of her head. I stared at my woman. Who the fuck was Stephanie?
“Where’s your mother?” Popeye asked. Grace didn’t answer right away; she just stared at the man. I knew she knew who he was, but apparently, she had no idea he was her father.
“Where is Scarlett, Stephanie?”
“She died,” Grace whispered. “Almost five years now.”
“Fuck,” Popeye said. “I’m so sorry, baby girl.”
“Why are you here?” Grace asked. “How are you here? Where the fuck did you go?”
Reaper leaned close. “Now would be a good time to protect your woman.”
Grace stepped back, and I pulled her against me. “Grace, do you know him?”
“He’s my uncle Stephen.”
“Baby, I think he’s your father.”
Grace pulled away and glowered at me. “What?” She turned on Popeye. “Is that true?”
“Yes, sweetheart.”
Grace stepped closer and put her hands on Popeye’s chest. In a blur of motion that gave me PTSD, she brought her knee up and nailed the son of a bitch in the balls. Every man in the room groaned and as Popeye started to fall, she shoved him over and walked down the hallway without a glance at me.
Montana roared with laughter as Reaper whistled proudly. “Damn, brother. My cousin has a killer fucking knee. Must be that Golden blood running through her veins.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?” I asked. “Cousin?”
“Woman looks just like my cunt of a mother. Not saying your woman is a cunt, but I’d have to be blind not to see the resemblance.”
“Hold up,” Montana butted in. “If she looks like your mother, wouldn’t she be your sister?”
“You fucking moron!” Reaper snapped. “I’d remember if my mother had another kid.”
“Well, you said...”
“I KNOW WHAT I SAID!” Reaper roared.
Groaning, I rubbed my temples, my headache now a full-blown migraine thanks to Tweedledum and Tweedledumber.
Grace stormed back into the room, taking off her cut as she walked toward me. She slammed it against my chest and said, “I’m not doing this again.”
She turned around. “Oh, fuck no!” I shouted, grabbing her wrist. “Get your ass back here.” When she turned back around,she had tears in her eyes. “Nothing has fucking changed. Put this cut back on.”
“I can’t. It’s the same shit over and over. I can’t do it anymore.”
I grabbed her arm and dragged her into church. When the doors closed behind us, I laid the cut on the table and pulled her against me. “Nothing has changed. I don’t give a fuck who that man out there is. You are mine.”
“King—”
“What did I tell you in the beginning about Steele?” She looked away. “I already fucking claimed you; your father can’t say shit. He’s not a club president. He’s not even in a fucking club anymore. He’s retired. Baby, he’s your father and I’m glad he’s here so you can get the answers you need. But his presence doesn’t change a fucking thing. You. Are. Mine.”
She took a deep breath and nodded. I knew she was scared. She didn’t fully believe me, but I would make sure she did. “Do you want to talk to him?”
