Dad looks up at me from behind his desk. I figured the first thing he would do is yell at me for coming to the club. He doesn’t. Instead, he leans back in his chair and studies me. He looks at me so intently and for so long that I have to fight the urge to shift around, betraying my nerves. I haven’t said much to my father—except for yelling at him—since the day he showed up at the cabin. I’m hurt, mad and a million other things and I hate it. My father has always been my hero and I’ve always been his baby. He spoiled me, and I knew it. I don’t know what to do with this new relationship that we have.
“Where did the time go?” Dad mutters, and my brow wrinkles in confusion as I try to understand what he’s asking.
“I don’t—”
“It seems like yesterday that we brought you home from the hospital. I swear you were the prettiest thing I’d ever seen in my life. You had me wrapped around your finger instantly, just like your mom.”
“Dad…”
“I’m sorry, Princess.”
There’s so much sadness on his face, regret that it makes my heart hurt. I’ve never seen my father look like that.
“What for?”
“For calling you names. I know it hurt you. I get angry and I say shit without thinking. That’s not an excuse, it’s just the truth and I’m sorry.”
I swallow down the emotion that threatens to choke me, and walk around Dad’s desk to stand beside him. I lean against it, letting it hold me up because my legs feel more than a little weak.
“Dad, I need you to let Chains go.”
“You really love him?” Dad asks.
I take a deep breath and let the emotion shudder through me. I look straight at my dad because I need him to see the truth.
“With all my heart.”
“Why did he kidnap you?”
“You haven’t asked him?” I ask, surprised.
“He and I haven’t really been talking.”
“Dad, please tell me you haven’t hurt him,” I whisper, scared.
“Nothing he won’t recover from.”
“Oh God, Dad you have to—”
“He lives in this world, Kayden. He’ll be fine. He understands.”
“I live in this world and I’m not sure I do.”
“It’s different. Tell me why he kidnapped you.”
“I’m not sure you can call it kidnapping, I kind of wanted to go with him,” I tell him, summoning up a weak smile.
“Not at first, Princess. I saw the surveillance tapes. Hell, he chained you to a steering wheel at a gas station.”
“Dad—”
“Don’t take up for him, Kayden. That was in a rival’s territory. What the fuck would have happened if one of the DC’s would have gotten their hands on you? Do you even understand what the fuck went through my mind when I saw that tape?”
“I… I didn’t realize we were in their territory,” I mumble, lamely. I don’t have a lot to do with the club life, but I do know that the DC’s are constantly giving Dad and the club trouble. I also know what it would mean if they got their hands on me. It doesn’t excuse it, but it does explain why my father—who is never really calm when it comes to his kids—has been this bad.
“You need to tell me what happened, Kayden.”
Confession time. It’s not something I’m looking forward to, and I’d rather not tell him, but I need to make him understand that Chains is a good man.
“Thomas called me and asked me to come to the club and pick him up. There was a party going on, so I waited outside. While I was there, I noticed Chains standing there with Twinkies draped all over him.”
“And that’s the kind of man you want? A man who goes for easy pussy when he has a good woman? Do you think your mom would put up with that shit?”
“No and that’s why I wouldn’t go with him willingly. But, I misread it. He says I would have seen him knocking them away, if I had kept watching.”
“And you believe him?”
“I completely and utterly, believe him, Dad. Chains would never lie to me.”
“He’s a damn drifter, Princess. You don’t want to live the club life. You had plans. Do you really think Chains can give you the life you want?” Dad asks, bringing up a very good point.
“I honestly don’t know what will happen, Dad, but that’s something that Chains and I need to figure out. It’s time you let me grow up.”
“You’re too damn young.”
“I’m not that much younger than Mom was when she met you, Daddy.”
“That seems like a lifetime ago. Damn, she was something else back then. Still is, but back then she was hell on wheels. She busted a Twinkie’s nose once over similar shit. She could probably give you pointers on that shit, Princess.”
“I know, she told me. Will you let Chains go, Daddy?”