“Jesus Christ, Dad. Fuck. I’m sorry.”
“Ain’t your fault Deacon’s an asshole. If it wasn’t Kadence, he woulda used some other bullshit excuse to come at us. This shit’s been brewing since before your time.”
“I know, but still.”
“That’s why it’s extra important she locks her bullshit down tight when she’s around the Bulls. Needs to watch her mouth around her sister, too. That’s a straight line back to their bloodthirsty enforcer.”
“Yeah, I figured.”
“I can guarantee you that sister of hers is gonna try to subtly question Kadence. Feel her out and try to figure out if Kady stole that package.”
Fuck. Of course Dante will use his woman for that.
“You’re gonna need to watch how much you tell Kadence. Tell her enough to keep her out of trouble, but that’s it.”
My father acts like he didn’t bring me up in the club. Like I haven’t been living, breathing, and hustling since I was a kid. “I don’t discuss club business with her. Never did.”
“Iron Bulls haven’t always been friendly. This—”
“Yeah, I get it.”
“They’ll have a couple guys from another club visiting, too, so keep your eye on Kadence.”
“No problem.” I cock my head and study him for a minute. “You’re okay with this?”
“You and Kadence? Yeah. ’Bout fuckin’ time. Jesus Christ.”
My laughter echoes in the small room my father uses as his home office. “You don’t care?”
“Fuck no. Love that girl. Just tell me you weren’t fucking around with her when I was married to her mother.”
The unspoken reason rests between us: Kadence was underage.
So was I, though, so I don’t think it really matters all that much. “You don’t want me to answer that, Dad.”
“You think I’m stupid, son? Think I didn’t know she was living at your house while she was going to school?”
“No, I figured you knew.”
“So why didn’t you just tell me?”
My shoulders lift. “She didn’t want me to. Thought you’d be mad at her or some shit. Was waitin’ for her to finish college.”
“Yeah. Then she up and left you right around the time you got hurt. Now,thatI ain’t pleased about.”
If my father has his suspicions about who really stabbed me, he doesn’t voice them. “She had her reasons. We’re working it out.”
“Listen, if I have reservations about the two of you, it’s because I’m not sure where she stands on the club. Her mom hated it. Did her best to poison Kadence against the club too. Probably my fault for not explaining how things were sooner.” He stares over my shoulder, and there’s definitely some pain there. We don’t talk about it, but I think my dad really loved Kadence’s mom. She did him dirty, and no amount of whoring around seems to make his pain go away.
“At least one good thing came out of that clusterfuck.”
“Kady?”
He nods once. “She’s smart. Nothing like her mama.” He stares me down. “You think you can keep her in line?”
“Yeah, if I don’t tell her I’mkeeping her in line.”
He shakes his head and chuckles. “She always was a contrary little thing.”
