I knew she wouldn’t pick up given the hour and her recent packing, so instead I called her Alpha. Koz is used to being awake at all hours of the night given his line of work.
I have never ever stood in between what they share despite his age and Koz’s chosen career, but I sure as fuck did with Puck, one of her other Alphas. I was looking out for them both. I’m hoping my kiddo extends the same level of understanding when I tell her about Tristan.
“Hey.” She picks up faster than I thought she would; she sounds barely awake but there’s a flood of alarm in her voice. “It’s not even sunrise, everything okay?”
“Yeah, Raney, it is now,” I say, sitting down on the lounge, suddenly feeling fucking old and tired. “I just needed to hear your voice.”
I can hear her shuffling and her pack talking to her. “You’re scaring me, Dad, did something happen?”
“Yeah, but I’m good now. I promise.” I can feel her anxiety climbing higher and I didn’t want that. I just needed to hear hervoice. “Raney, it’s club drama so I’m not fucking telling you. I’ve got a few loose ends to fix up, I need you aware. Sorry, kid.”
“I am aware,” she insists before her voice drops away. “King, you’re really scaring me, are you sure you’re okay? Is it Joker, Dad?”
Of course, her concern jumps to one of her pseudo uncles. “Nah, a bullet isn’t going to stop him, is it?”
The both of us stop talking. I’m kind of stumped at what else to say. I only called to hear her voice. “I’ll let you go.”
“What sort of problem, King, you can tell me,” she insists, and I break my fucking rule of ever involving her.
“One of the club women did me real fucking dirty, Raney. I know you’ve got a soft spot for them but if any of them reach out, I want you to lock your door and let me know.”
“Are you fucking serious?” she yells, getting fired up on my half in a red-hot minute. My daughter is certainly more like me than Jenn, a fiery temper with a giant fucking heart.
“I know you got a soft spot for some of the girls, but what they did is inexcusable. People got hurt. They will be punished accordingly, and it won’t be nice.”
“I’m so sorry, King,” she confirms the obvious, but it is still nice to hear.
“I know, kid, I know. Promise me you’ll stay safe. I’m not sure how long I’ll be dealing with this shit. I’ve called all of them back in, so now is the most dangerous time too, yeah?”
“I hear you.”
“Good. Be safe. Let me speak to Koz again.”
“Love you.”
The phone gets handed over; I can hear a muffle of voices as she explains to Koz the reason for my call. I wait until a door shuts.
“What’s going on?”
“I’m calling every fucking woman associated back into the club. We’re going into lock down while I deal with them. I’ve got a score to settle with the Death Riders’ president.” I hiss out through clenched teeth, my anger bursting out of me. “I need to know Raney’s safe.”
“Of course she is. Do you need a hand?”
I pace around the room, feeling trapped by the situation we’re in. Talking about the deception takes me right back to seeing Tristan hurt and finding her after the days I couldn’t. Koz waits until I breathe through the worst of my memories.
“Nah,” I answer after a while. “It’s not a great place to be is all. I’m worried about the fallout since I missed this bullshit until now.”
“Don’t doubt yourself, King.”
I start pacing through the suite, feeling trapped in the room, needing to finish what has started. “Fucking women though? I know it shouldn’t shock me, but it does.”
“Just because deception comes at you wearing a pair of tits, doesn’t make it any less offensive. Especially in our world where every motherfucker understands the term of loyalty and the rules. An eye for an eye, irrespective of gender. I’m sure you are not acting without proof, so stay focused on the reason and less on what is coming to those who have wronged you.”
I stop in front of one of the windows, looking out over the night sky, wishing we were all as peaceful as the view. “When’d you get so fucking wise in your old age?” I ask, knowing what he’s saying is true.
Hearing his views isn’t necessary and wouldn’t have changed the punishment lined up for the bitches who sold my queen, but it does make me feel better.
“I have always been smarter than you. Jesus, if you’ve forgotten that perhaps I really should fly over and help.” He laughs, intentionally winding me up. We’ve known each otherfor a very long time. “You’re a good person, for an asshole. Now I’m going back to bed. If you need me, you know where I am, but your daughter is safe.”
