“Wh-what just happened?” I stare at the man who hurt me for years, slumped over dead as blood seeps from the bullet hole in his temple.
Lunatic guides me to the bathroom of the bar to clean me up. My body shakes as shock sets in. Hector’s dead by his brother’s hand.
“I don’t understand.”
“When I came to Lonerock Big Daddy and Hot Mama had a meeting. There was a third man in the room with them.”
“Jose?”
Lunatic nods. “They brokered a deal, except they weren’t sure if he’d keep his word. The woman Hot Mama is protecting is their sister. Jose is the one who helped her get away.”
“You knew and didn’t tell me?”
“Only found out this morning.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“You can think about it while we go wait for your daughter. Jose provided a DNA test to Big Daddy this morning.”
I shove at his chest. “You knew and didn’t tell me.” Tears well up in my eyes.
“I couldn’t risk it. Not until I knew Jose would make good on his end.”
I understand his reasoning, but I don’t want him keeping things like this from me.
“My daughter is alive,” I whisper.
“Yeah, Babygirl. Let’s go meet her.”
“I’m not prepared. I don’t have anything for her.”
“One thing at a time.”
An hour later, true to his word, one of Jose’s men drives up to the gate of the clubhouse. Lunatic opens the back rightpassenger door and she’s right there. My perfect angel. My little princess sits strapped in a car seat. She has my eyes.
“Gracie,” I whisper.
“Go on. Get your girl.” Lunatic nudges me forward.
I swallow. Hard. My daughter stares at me with curious eyes, but she doesn’t cry. She smiles at me like she knows me. I unbuckle her and crush her against me.
Tears roll down my cheeks, and she touches her hands to my face. “Don’t be sad, Mommy.”
“I’m not sad. I’m just so happy.”
We spend our first week at Big Daddy’s while Lunatic and his crew spend their time renovating my apartment to add a second bedroom for my daughter.
I can’t stop staring at her. She’s perfectly healthy and so smart. I am going to spend the rest of my life making up for the five years we’ve lost.
I watch her every move, afraid I’ll miss something or that I’m going to wake up to this all being a dream. I’m getting everything I’ve ever wanted and more. I have my daughter. A home. A damn good man. A fine one at that.
What more could I ask for?
Sissy chases after Gracie through the grass while blowing bubbles from a wand.
“She’s amazing,” Gwynee tells me.
“I can’t wrap my mind around it. I have a daughter.”
