“It’s not what it looks like.”
“So she’s not your girlfriend?”
“Queenie is mine all right, but we don’t live here. This—” The phone in my pocket vibrates. “Son of a bitch. I have to take that. I have hurt brothers waiting on me.”
“She told me about this, too. The club always comes first, right? Things haven’t changed at all.” Her words hollow me up from the inside out. Numb, I answer the phone. “Hello?”
“Thank God,” Aries sighs. “It’s been nearly thirty minutes. We started to think you got into trouble.”
“I did. I haven’t left yet.” I look at the two women who mean everything to me and know I can’t leave them here like this. “I need a prospect here.”
“What? Queenie can handle herself while we figure things out.”
“Alexandria is here.”
“Who?” Aries asks.
“My daughter.”
“Wh-What? Why?” He splutters like he’s drowning.
“That remains to be seen. Alexandria’s run away from home.”
“Mother—” Aries clears his throat. “I’ll send out Smiley.”
I picture the large prospect with the easy smile and edgy vibes. Pleasant but ready to prove himself and protect those who need it, he’s a good fit for this mission.
“I appreciate it. I’ll settle up here.” I hang up and shove the phone into my pocket.
“How do you plan to do that, Father?” she asks.
“I don’t blame you for being angry. I have no idea what your mother’s told you, and I want to work this out. Not a day has passed that I didn’t think about you and wonder how you were. If it wasn’t for the private investigator I keep on retainer to check in on you remotely, I’d have gone insane years ago.”
“I don’t … I don’t understand why you would do that,” she whispers.
My phone buzzes with a text, and I close my eyes. “I want nothing more than to stay here with you and hash all this out. But I have a man’s life in my hands right now, and I can’t let him down.”
Her eyes widen.
“My woman, Queenie, will take good care of you while I’m gone. I have someone on the way to watch over you both.”
Queenie’s eyes threaten to bulge out of her skull as she looks from me to Alexandria.
I step away from my daughter to cup Queenie’s face, making her focus on me. “I am trusting you with my greatest treasure, Flower. I know you’ll take care of her and yourself. I can’t leave her conflicted with everything going on.”
“I know. And I wouldn’t want you to.” She inhales deeply. “Thank me by coming back in one piece, as soon as possible.”
“Always.” I press a sweet kiss to her plump lips and force myself to step away from her.
“Alexandria, this is a to-be-continued moment. We only had six years together, but if you remember anything, you’ll know I keep my promises. Queenie can answer some things.”
Queenie nods. If I hadn’t already been falling in love, her acceptance of my child would’ve done it. “The club demands a lot, but they give more, and there is time for them and you in my life. Your mother decided she was done with the Sinners and, by extension, me. Please remember that when you try to judge me by the lies she’s told you.”
Her mouth forms an O. “Y-You didn’t decide you made a mistake becoming a father?”
“Of all the things I’ve done in my lifetime, you, Alexandria Rose Goodwin, are the best.”
She gifts me a tentative smile as tears stain her red face. “I want to believe you.”