Page 101 of Reaper Razed
“Promise me something?” She looks down at her hands and then back at my face. She looks almost… nervous.”
“Anything, Squirt.” I place my hand on hers.
“Even if you’re not my dad, promise me it won’t change anything. I’ve lost too many dads this year… I can’t bear to lose another one!”
“Oh, Squirt!” I pull her to my chest and hug her tight. “The first moment I held you in my arms, I knew you were my daughter… biological or not, you’ve always been mine.”
“Is that why you chose me over Bas?”
It’s the first time she’s ever mentioned what happened with Bas. I know she protected me. I know she knows what really happened, even though she never told anyone what I did.
“Yeah, sweetheart, that moment I held you, I knew I would choose you over anyone else ever.”
She gives me a sad smile before pulling back. “Come on, then let’s see if you’re the one to blame for my fucking attitude!”
I laugh out loud as I slide out of the truck, and she meets me around the other side. I stick my hand out, “Together?”
“Together!” She grins as she takes my hand in hers. I look at her hand in mine, and it’s small, but it takes me back to that first time I held her, and she gripped my finger. She was tiny, this precious little bundle that completely changed the course of my life. She made me a better man in that instant.
We walk in, check-in, and take a seat, picking up a magazine, flipping our legs up, and crossing our ankles over our knees.
“Mr King, Mrs Steel, lovely to see you both again. Please, come through.” The doctor says as he pokes his head around the door. As we take a seat in the office, he explains the two tests they can do to test paternity: a blood test and a cheek swab.
We both glance at each other and then turn to the doctor. “Both!” we reply before looking back at each other and laughing. After the tests, the doctor informs us the results will be back after the weekend, so they’ll call us both to let us know.
As we climb back in the truck, she says, “Fancy coming to Demi’s with me?”
“Are you buying?”
“Yeah, sure! Can I ask you something?”
“Yeah, if there’s cake and coffee, you can ask me anything.”
She barks out a laugh, but then her face drops. “Steel told me last night he wants kids.”
“O.M.G, I’m gonna be a granddaddy!”
“Agh! No, I told him no! Now is not a good time. When I woke up, though, he’d gone.”
“Maybe he just needs some time to sort his head out.”
“Maybe?” She huffs out, “It’s just with The Armoury and Dante, and this with us, it’s just not ideal.”
“Yeah, fair point. You’ve just taken over The Armoury officially, so it’s gonna take a bit of settling in, and although we’re throwing everything at the Dante situation, there’s just no information anywhere. The guy didn’t even exist till two years ago. Dane’s been at it flat out. I think Dice is taking him away for the weekend so he doesn’t burn himself out. And us? I’m sorry that’s one of the reasons not to.”
“It’s just a lot, ya know? I just was thinking it would be a couple of years, but now? I… we…” she trails off.
“Hey, it’ll be fine. Steel’s probably just got over-excited, and you burst his bubble, is all. He probably just needs some time. Maybe ask him to give you six months and reevaluate the situation then?”
“Six months? Yeah, things might have straightened out a bit by then. We need to bury Dante before I even think about kids. But six months would be a good compromise, providing issues one and two are dealt with.”
“That’s my girl.” I grin over at her.
Pulling up at Demi’s, it’s busy. I’m surprised by how busy. “Yo, Ray,” Dozer shouts over. “You doing any fucking work today?”
“Go on, you go. I’ll see you in the bar later?”
“You’re still going for coffee and cake, aren’t you?”