The Keeper (Silent Phoenix MC #5)

Chapter 14

FOURTEEN

GHOST

Ivy & Piper’s Guide to Life Rule Number Thirty-Six:

Know your limits.

“ C ’mon, princess,” I coaxed, bringing the syringe of liquid Tylenol to her pursed lips. “Open up for Daddy. It’ll make the owie feel better.”

Avery stared at me like I’d sprouted a second head before jerking her chin away.

Seemed my daughter was familiar with the Just Say No campaign. Unfortunately for her, this wasn’t my first rodeo, and after a series of ridiculous facial expressions and exaggeratedly pretending to drink it myself, the medicine was in her system.

“That’s my good girl,” I praised, wiping her face with a damp paper towel. “Now, let’s take care of that diaper.”

She babbled happily as I laid her on the changing table, oblivious to my watering eyes and the toxic sludge in her pants. The smell could have knocked a buzzard off a shit wagon, but I soldiered on while she reached for anything and everything she could get her tiny little hands on.

Who’d have thought diaper changes were a full- contact sport?

“All done,” I panted, dropping the soiled diaper into the pail and scooping Avery up. She giggled, patting my cheeks with her chubby hands.

“A-ma!” she bellowed, twisting in my arms to look for Piper.

“Mama’s taking a bath, sweetheart,” I explained, carrying her to the living room. “How about we watch some cartoons while we wait?”

She immediately grabbed a fistful of my beard, tugging with surprising strength for such tiny fingers.

“Easy there. Daddy needs that to stay attached to his face.” I gently pried her fingers loose and pretended to nibble on them. “Nom, nom, nom!”

Avery let out a belly laugh and patted my cheek, babbling something that sounded suspiciously like “Da-da.”

“That’s right,” I said, pressing a kiss to her cheek. “I’m your daddy. Can you say Da-da?”

“A-ma!” she yelled, her green eyes sparkling with mischief. Great. She was a brat…just like her mama.

“We’ll work on that one.”

She snuggled against my chest as I scrolled to find her show, her little legs bouncing in excitement.

“Boo!” she exclaimed when the opening notes of Bluey filled the air, looking to me for a reaction.

“Bluey,” I echoed before pointing at the screen. “And who’s that? Is that Bingo?”

“Beh-beh!” she babbled, reaching toward the colorful characters dancing across the screen.

I couldn’t help but grin, marveling at how such a simple thing could bring her so much joy. Then she wrapped her little hands around my fingers and gazed up at me with a look of complete trust and innocence, and suddenly, I felt like the luckiest son of a bitch alive.

The lump in my throat threatened to choke me. I never imagined loving someone I just met this fiercely, but Avery had stolen my whole damn heart.

I had heard my dad say he was willing to lay down his life if it meant keeping his kids safe, but I never truly understood it until now.

She was everything I never knew I needed. As I watched her giggle and clap at the characters’ antics, I knew I would protect her until I took my last breath.

God help any bastard who got in my way.

The bathroom door creaked open, and Piper appeared, hair damp and cheeks flushed.

“Feeling better after your bath, darlin’?” I asked, quirking an eyebrow suggestively.

She blushed deeper. “Much better. Has she eaten?”

I glanced down at our daughter, who was so transfixed by the cartoon dogs prancing across the screen she hadn’t even noticed her mother come in.

“Tell Mama you had a container of yogurt and two of the blueberry muffins on the counter,” I said, grinning at Avery. She was still completely engrossed in Bluey, her tiny brow furrowed in concentration.

Piper’s eyes widened. “My goodness, Avery. You were a hungry girl!”

“Wasn’t sure about giving her eggs, so I stuck with what looked kid-friendly,” I explained, aware of how much I still had to learn.

“Oh, yeah,” Piper said, realization dawning on her face. “She doesn’t have any food allergies. I’m sorry. I should have said something.”

“No worries. We figured it out.” I nodded toward the kitchen. “There are eggs and bacon in the microwave, so eat up.”

I couldn’t resist adding, “Hope you’re a hungry girl, too, because you’re gonna need your strength for what I have planned.”

“A-ma!” Avery shrieked, finally noticing her mother and pointing excitedly at the TV.

“I see, pumpkin,” Piper managed, her eyes wide and voice slightly strained. “We should get your diaper changed?—”

“Already done,” I cut in. “And she’s had her pain meds. Now, sit your pretty A-S-S down and eat your breakfast.”

The weight of Piper’s gaze burned into me as I turned my attention back to the TV, watching as Bluey and her friends played at the park. “I can feel you staring at me,” I said without turning around. “You gonna eat, or do I need to feed it to you myself?”

She inhaled a sharp breath before grumbling, “I can feed myself. ”

“Prove it,” I said, grinning at the sound of silverware clinking against the plate.

When she finished and headed toward the sink to start cleaning up, I shook my head. “Leave your dishes and come sit.”

“But I can do it.”

I narrowed my eyes, twisting to look at her over the back of the couch. “I know you can, darlin’. You’ve been doing it the whole damn time. Now, it’s my turn to take care of both of you. End of discussion. Come here,” I said, patting the space next to me.

She hesitated, conflict clear on her face, before she finally sank down beside me.

“Careful, or she’ll rope you into an all-day Bluey marathon,” Piper said, looking up at me with a bemused smirk.

“Better than singing sharks,” I drawled, pulling her closer.

She rested her head against my shoulder, her damp hair tickling my neck. I breathed in the scent of her shampoo, enjoying the feel of her in my arms.

“You’re handling the whole fatherhood bombshell pretty well,” Piper said after several minutes of silence. “Most men would be freaking out or demanding a paternity test?—”

“A paternity test?” I scoffed, bristling at the implication. “Why the hell would I need that?”

“Well, I mean, look at her, Dane. Red hair. Ghost-white skin. She doesn’t exactly look like either of us.”

I chuckled, shaking my head. “That’s all Lucy Riggs right there. My mom’s hair has more white in it these days, but it used to be the same color as Avery’s.”

Avery perked up at the sound of her name, her green eyes wide and curious. I searched her little face, soaking up every detail. “There are parts of you in here,” I murmured. “I see you in her eyes and her little button nose.”

Piper stroked her cheek, a soft smile playing on her lips. “These dimples are yours.”

I nodded, seeing more of us in our daughter with each passing moment. Our eyes met, and my heart damn near burst out of my chest at the vulnerability in her gaze. A single tear tracked down her cheek, and I thumbed it away before cupping her face in my palm .

She leaned into my touch, eyes fluttering shut. “Sorry,” she whispered. “It’s just surreal, having you here.”

“Too late to change your mind now. You’re stuck with me.” I tilted her chin up toward me. “Hey, I’m serious. We’re a team now. A family.”

Her breath hitched. “I want to believe that, but…”

“But you’re not there yet,” I finished. “I get it. Trust doesn’t happen overnight, but I’m not going anywhere. And I’m willing to do whatever I can to prove it to you.”

She turned to bury her face in my neck, breathing deeply as if to ground herself. Knowing her old man hadn’t bothered to stick around, her reluctance made sense. Piper had been let down one too many times to believe someone might want to stick around for the long haul.

It was evident in the guarded look in her eyes and how unused she was to accepting help.

And as much as I’d love to place blame solely on her old man’s doorstep, I hadn’t exactly given her much reason to trust men either. Regardless of what my intentions had been, I’d hurt her just as much, if not more, than her father. He’d walked out without a word. I’d been the bastard who said he wanted more than one night before bailing on her without a word.

Earning her trust wouldn’t come easy, but it’d be worth it.

As we sat there, wrapped up together with our daughter between us, I felt a sense of peace settle over me. This was where I belonged—with my family, my whole world within these walls.

Eventually, Avery’s mouth stretched in a wide yawn, her eyelids growing heavy as she snuggled deeper into my chest. I plucked her sippy cup off the table and offered it to her, gently rocking her as she drank.

“You’re like scary good at this,” Piper whispered, watching us with a mix of awe and something else I couldn’t quite place.

I shrugged, trying to play it cool even as pride swelled in my chest. “I’ve had plenty of experience with my brothers’ kids,” I admitted, a pang of grief hitting me as I thought of Levi. I pushed the feeling aside, focusing on the warm weight of my daughter in my arms. “You think I should lay her down? ”

She checked her watch. “Yeah, she usually takes her morning nap around this time.”

“Come here, sweetheart. Let’s get you to bed.”

Piper followed as I carried Avery to her room.

“Sweet dreams, princess,” I murmured, kissing her wild curls before lowering her onto the crib mattress. I tucked her blanket around her and placed her teddy bear beside her, marveling at how tiny she looked.

Piper launched herself at me as soon as the bedroom door was closed, wrapping her arms around my neck and crushing her lips to mine. I groaned, backing her against the wall as heat flared between us.

“Take me to bed,” she said against my mouth, her fingers tangling in my hair.