“He’s probably right about that,” Lavender replied, her eyes meeting mine over Brynn’s head.
An hour passed before I noticed Brynn’s moves slowing, her eyelids growing heavy.
“Falling asleep on me to avoid another crushing defeat?”I asked, keeping my voice light.
She fought a yawn, stubborn to the end.“No way.Just resting my eyes before I make my final move.”
Lavender smoothed her hand over Brynn’s forehead.“Maybe you should take a break.The game will still be here later.”
Brynn’s eyes fluttered closed, then snapped open again.“Promise we’ll finish?”
“Promise,” I said, the word carrying more weight than I intended.
She nodded, satisfied, and surrendered to sleep within minutes.Her face softened in slumber, the fierce intelligence replaced by a vulnerability that hurt to witness.This was my kid.My DNA.My responsibility I’d neglected for eleven fucking years.
Lavender moved the game board to a side table, her movements careful so she didn’t wake Brynn.We sat in silence for a moment, watching Brynn’s chest rise and fall with each breath.
“Coffee?”I suggested quietly, tilting my head toward the door.“Cafeteria should still be open.”She hesitated, glancing at Brynn.“She’ll be out for a while,” I said.“And Ada texted that she’s on her way back up.”
Lavender nodded, rising from the bed.“OK.”
Once Ada arrived, we headed out for food.The corridor outside felt expansive after the confines of the hospital room.Fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, casting everything in an unforgiving glare that deepened the shadows under Lavender’s eyes.
“You’re good with her,” Lavender said as we walked.“I wasn’t expecting that.”
I shoved my hands into my pockets.“Just being myself.She’s too smart for bullshit.”
“She is that.”Pride colored her voice.
The cafeteria sprawled before us, mostly empty at this hour.Plastic tables gleamed under the overhead light, the smell of “hospital brew” coffee and reheated food hanging in the air.I guided Lavender to a corner table, far from the few other patrons.
“Black, right?”I asked, surprised by how certain I felt about this one detail from our past.
She nodded.“Some things don’t change.”
I returned minutes later with two steaming cups, setting one before her.We reached for the sugar simultaneously, our fingers brushing against each other.Electricity jolted through me, sharp and immediate.I froze, my hands hovering above the plastic holder with the little packets.Lavender’s breath caught audibly.
“Sorry,” she murmured, pulling back slightly.
“Nothing to be sorry for.”My voice came out rougher than intended.
She cleared her throat.“Um, what do you… I mean, you seem like you’re pretty tight with your club.I know Ada’s your sister and Jag’s her fiancé, but what about Knuckles and Hannah?I met them briefly and Ada tells me they’re trying to give us privacy from strangers but hanging out in case you need them.”
“Yeah.They’re a great bunch of guys.”I couldn’t help but smile.“Saved my ass more than once.Inside and out.”I realized what I said and sat up straight, meeting her gaze and holding it.“I’m not saying I never do anything against the law, but nothing I do for the club is for my benefit.I do background checks for the women in the shelter our club protects.We don’t hurt people, Lavender.And none of them would let me do anything that would land me in prison again.”
“Ada says most of the guys in Kiss of Death have been in prison at one time or other.”
“Yeah.”I nodded.“Ada’s man, Jag, pulled a really long stretch.Most of us owe pretty much everything to Knuckles.”
“And he came with you.Did you ask him to?”
I snorted.“No.I told him I was leaving.Next thing I know I’ve got guys blocking the exit to the compound and Knuckles had Tiny forcibly remove me from my bike and shove me into the passenger side of his Bronco.Hannah rode with Jag and Ada.She thought I might need some privacy, and Knuckles doesn’t count.”
“Doesn’t count?As privacy?”
“No.He’s always nosing in everyone’s business.Knows most of the time what we’re going to do before we do.”
“So… MC president equals daddy?”
