24. Levi
Chapter 24
Levi
T he shop lot’s half empty when I pull in, the early Saturday sun hitting the cracked pavement in harsh, unforgiving lines.
Ghost is out front, crouched low over a stripped-down bike frame, the torch in his hand hissing low and steady.
He doesn’t look up when I drive passed him into my usual spot. Just lifts a hand in a lazy wave like he felt me coming.
I kill the engine, pocket the keys, and sit in my truck for a minute longer than necessary.
My body’s wired, exhausted, and still very much affected from last night.
From her.
Sienna.
The one good thing I wasn’t supposed to touch. But now that I’ve claimed her. Now that I know what she feels like writhing under me. Taking me, God , I can’t get it out of my head.
I scrape a hand over my jaw, the weight of guilt gnawing at the back of my throat.
Me… and Brody’s daughter.
No. Not his daughter. Not really. He didn’t even know she existed until a few weeks ago. He hardly even has a relationship with her.
Still feels the same, though.
Wrong.
Still something I’ll have to answer for when all this catches up to me. Which I’m sure it will. Shit like this always catches up to people.
I shove the thought down and step out into the cold air.
The second I cross the open garage door, Milo trots towards me like he’s been waiting for me all morning. He’s wearing his service vest, tail wagging slow and steady. Happy to see me.
Oh, good. A surprise visitor. What perfect timing.
I drop a hand to his head automatically, ruffling his ears.
“Hey, bud.”
Milo gives a soft huff and sits back on his haunches, tongue lolling.
Then I hear that all too familiar voice behind him.
“My brother from another mother,” Brody says, pushing up from the chair where he’d been waiting.
His face breaks into an easy grin, the same one he’s had every time he sees me after all these years.
The guilt twists deeper, now in my gut.
“Didn’t realize you were in town,” I say gruffly.
He crosses the room, clapping a hand on my shoulder with a thud that rattles all the bullshit loose inside me.
No suspicion in his face. No judgment. Just a man happy to see the guy who’s had his back through all of life’s ups and downs. Almost as happy as Milo.
I hate myself a little more for it.
“You got a minute?” Brody asks, jerking his chin toward my office door.
“Yeah,” I grunt, taking quick inventory of who’s already here.
Not Sienna. That much is clear. I would’ve sensed her the moment I pulled up.
Milo pads after us like a shadow, settling by Brody’s stool once we’re inside. The one Sienna usually sits in when we’re going over shop details.
I close the door behind us, feeling the walls close in a little tighter around my chest.
Brody pulls a folded packet of papers from the inside pocket of his jacket and lays them on the desk between us.
“What’s that?” I ask.
“Broker’s opinion of value.” His voice is easy, calm, like he’s talking about the weather. “He sent it over last night. I tried calling but figured you must’ve been busy with Josie.”
Wrong. I was busy having my way with your daughter on this very… nevermind. I need to focus.
I stare at the papers but don’t reach for them.
Brody leans back, casually.
“If we sell, after paying off the loans and expenses, we’re looking at about a million dollar split each.”
A million.
He says it like it’s good news. Like it’s freedom. But all I hear is the death knell of everything we built. Everything I bled for.
I sink into my desk chair, the leather creaking under my weight.
“You serious?” I ask, even though I know he is.
Brody shrugs like it’s no big deal.
“No decision needed today. Just wanted to show you that you have options. You’ve got Josie to think about now. Stability. The future. Might be a good time to get out while you’re ahead.”
I glance out the office window, to where Skid’s rifling through parts fighting with Gramps. Kick’s in her corner, bopping to her ridiculous music as she fabricates some pieces.
My chest tightens, a slow brutal squeeze.
“This place is finally turning around,” I tell him, voice low. “The crew… it’s like they’re getting their second wind. Hell, even the books are starting to make sense again.”
Brody smiles, easy and a little proud.
“Yeah. And that’s why now’s the time to think smart. You’re doing right by them, Levi. Always have. But maybe it’s time you do right by yourself, too.”
Milo shifts at Brody’s feet, pressing against his leg. Brody absently drops a hand to scratch behind his ears.
“Just think about it,” he says. “Nobody’s forcing you to do a damn thing. But now more than ever, I really want you to think about what life might look like without the headache of having to keep SKC afloat.”
I nod stiffly, but it feels like the ground’s slipping right under me.
The world’s shifting again. And I don’t know if I’m ready for it.
“Yeah… okay. I’ll think about it.”
My phone vibrates on the desk, lighting up with Sienna’s name. I flip it over, before Brody has a chance to notice.
“Was that all?” I ask him.
Lucky for me, he’s distracted looking down at his own phone.
“Hmm? Oh yeah, yeah. Well, almost. I’m gonna need Sienna for a bit if you don’t mind. I’m sure you won’t considering how bad you fought me to get rid of her,” he says with a grin across his face.
“Sienna? What–why do you need her?”
He gives me a confused look. “Aha,” he says, pointing a suspecting finger at me. “I was right, wasn’t I?”
“About?” I say, raising an eyebrow at him.
“She’s grown on you. I told you she’d be just what you needed.”
Oh, Brody. More than you can imagine.
“Let me guess, she’s the magic behind all the sudden increase in business, isn’t she?”
I roll my eyes to play along. But fact is, it’s true. Since Sienna started working here we’ve been more productive, making more money, and finding a new rhythm that makes working here–I don’t know–good again?
“She is your daughter,” I say. Wanting to internally facepalm myself for the stupid reminder.
“Yes, she is. And–” he takes a separate piece of paper out from another pocket. “It’s official.”
“Are you just going to pull a paper out from every pocket today?” I ask as he hands it to me.
“Nah, unfortunately, that’s the last surprise. Open it.”
I do. At the top of the page in bold are the words DNA Test Report.
“Is this a–”
“Yep!” Brody nods, enthusiastically.
I look down at the paper. There’s a series of letters and numbers that I don’t understand but at the very bottom, it says Probability of paternity: 99.9998%
I look up at Brody, whose smile widens even more.
“So you’re saying there’s a 0.0002% chance that you’re not.”
Brody laughs and snatches the paper back, stuffing it into his pocket. “You’ve always been the glass half empty one of our relationship. But at least you’re funny.”
I give a weak laugh.
“Yeah, at least.”
I don’t think I’ve ever hoped for the odds to be true for something harder in my life.
“And she agreed to this? The test?”
“Sienna? Yeah, man. She asked for it.”
My brows cinch.
“She did?”
“After the hockey game. She texted me, said how much she appreciated me bringing her and Julian out but she didn’t want me to think that she wanted a relationship with me just because of what I could do for her. She wanted us to be sure.”
Sounds like my Sienna.
“And now that you are?”
Brody pushes off the stool and grabs me by the shoulders.
“I have a daughter, Levi. Can you fucking believe it? Me, a dad!”
I shake my head. Nope, still can’t believe that.
“Anyways, I’m taking her to have breakfast. Get to know each other while I’m in town.”
And he couldn’t have picked a more inopportune time. I wanted nothing more than to see her and talk to her about how she feels after everything. But now, here’s Brody, whisking her away.
“That’s good, man. Happy for you,” I manage to say.
“Yeah. It’s wild. Hey!” he says snapping his fingers as if trying to recollect something. “I’ve been meaning to ask you, whatever happened to that woman you met a while back? The one you were talking about at my place the day Sienna showed up. Anything ever come of that?”
My stomach drops. And all I can do is shake my head. “Nope.”
“Huh, that’s a shame. I was rooting for you, man. After all this Evie shit went down I was hoping you’d have something good to hold onto.”
I would… if you would stop talking about your daughter. I need this conversation over, stat.
Luckily, Skid drops something and bounces around on his toes drawing our attention out to the garage bay.
“Oh, Joey!” Sienna says, carrying in some bags.
He hisses as he keeps hopping around.
“It’s fine. I’m fine. It’s fine.”
Sienna shakes her head as she approaches the office. She sees me and her face lights up. “Hey.”
“Hey,” I say back, as casually as I can.
Brody clears his throat behind me and Sienna’s eyes widen, not having noticed that her father was in the corner.
“Hey!” she says, looking surprised and maybe a little shocked. “Good to see you.”
Brody puts a hand to her shoulder and they do that awkward hug thing again. Maybe they should spend time together. They’ve got nearly twenty years to catch up on. Even if I am jealous that I’m not the one that will get to spend time with her.
“What’s in the bags?” I ask, poking a finger into one of them.
“Just a little project I’m working on,” she says, pulling the bags away from my reach. “So no peaking.”
I put my hands up in surrender.
“You ready to go?” Brody asks her, after she drops the bags in the corner.
“Yeah,” she says smiling up at him. “You gonna be okay for a bit without me, boss?”
I know she’s being playful, but if I answer truthfully, the answer would be no. I’ll be counting every fucking minute until she gets back to me.
But that wouldn’t be appropriate. So instead I say, “I think I can manage, kid.”
She scrunches her nose when I say kid. And I internally cringe too.
Yeah, not doing that again.
After they leave, I pick up my phone and see the text Sienna had sent.
It’s a picture of her… completely topless.
Her red hair draped across her shoulder, just barely covering her nipples. Her green eyes sparkle. And damn, she looks stunning.
Sienna
In case of emergency.
My cock stirs to life inside my jeans.
There wasn’t an emergency before I saw this picture, but now… I close the door to my office, locking it, and shutting the blinds.
I won’t be able to think again until I get some relief after seeing that.