Rebel lifted her head from his chest and looked at him. “Remember that the next time you see Uncle Johnnie.”
He smiled. “Exceptionsexist, baby.”
“Not for lowdown traitors and psycho fuckheads.”
Christopher nodded. “I hope I ain’t about to confuse you, Rebel,” he told her. “Bein’ a girl dad so fuckin’ hard. All I wanna do is hide you from the fuckin’ world. Your ma would fuckin’ kill me.”
“I’d help her,” Rebel declared.
“Axel would, too.”
They exchanged a glance and snickered.
“Say what you have to say, Daddy. I’m listening.”
“Answer this first. If you want Diesel when you turn eighteen and I refuse to give my blessing, would you run away with him?”
“I’m not fit to go on the run.”
He didn’t agree, but he’d accept that answer.
“Let me explain since you don’t seem to agree.”
“I ain’t said that.”
“I saw it on your face.”
“I’m listening,” he told her, prouder than he’d admit that shewasso perceptive.
“Going on the run means roughing it. Our accounts probably would be frozen because weleft under those circumstances. We’d have to fly under the radar, which means Diesel couldn’t get a decent job. We’d live in ratty motels with hard mattresses and threadbare sheets, eat cheap food, not have manis and pedis, couldn’t buy new clothes. It would be horrendous. You and Momma didn’t spoil me for my entire life just so I could end living a hard, depressing existence.”
Christopher didn’t know what to say to that.
“Besides, Daddy, I’d never hurt Momma, you, or my brothers that way. Leaving under those circumstances isn’t on my radar. It would also mean choosing. Him or you all. If I wanted to reconnect, I’d have to walk away from him to save his life. Is love really worth that?”
“Real, true love is,” he told her quietly.
“I know,” she said, sighing. “I know it was just puppy love.”
“You so fuckin’ young, Reb. Not even sixteen—”
“For what it’s worth,CJis the one who keeps pushing the Diesel narrative with me or so I have been informed. I don’t know what that boy is thinking. Diesel is trying to have a future with Jana and I sincerely like Kaia. Am I a little jealous over Diesel and Jana? Sometimes, but not as much as before. CJ, though, won’t let it go. He’s determined to control the situation and just sees Kaia and Jana as fill-ins untilhethinks Diesel and me can be together.”
“Ima talk to him.”
“To say what? I get why he’s doing it. Almost losing your life because of crazy motherfuckers makes you feel completely out-of-control. CJ’s badass just like you, so he’ll be fine, but he just wants something to go his way. Manipulating my life is easiest because he knows you’ll co-sign in some way and the rest of the boys will help.”
“You see a lot. More than I give you credit for.”
“Your ability to read a room,people, always amazed me,” she said softly. “Those three little fuckheads left me little choice, but I started assessing situations to be like you, Daddy.”
He hugged her again. “I’m so fuckin’ proud of you.”
This time, Rebel wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. “I’m proud to call you my daddy.”
Christopher’s heart melted, and all the sweet memories of him and his baby girl through the years rushed through him.
“About Diesel…Ryan…the natatorium…”
