Chapter 27
TWENTY-SEVEN
KILLIAN
The tension in the room could be cut with a knife.
I leaned against the wall, staring at the men in front of me, and tried to keep myself from reaching for my Glock. All I wanted to do was shove it in their faces and tell them to fix this.
We were attacked, out in the open, with our women—and by a bunch of fucking keyboard warriors.
“I understand what you’re asking of me, but I’m afraid it’s not that simple.
” Senator Witt—Hugh—explained in that condescending tone he used in DC.
He wore a neatly tailored suit, and for the first time since meeting him all those years ago, I finally registered that his daughter had his eyes.
And for some reason that realization enraged me.
Because I knew I owed Daisy an explanation about my connection to her father. I just didn’t know how to have that conversation. Not after she opened her delicate heart and shared all her secrets with me. Not after I lied by omission.
But how would I explain that I knew him?
Granted, it’s been at least six years since I had any dealings with him, but it didn’t change the fact that there was an established connection at some point.
“Make it that simple then,” I snapped, desperately trying to control my tone.
His blue eyes narrowed. “I don’t have the power to—”
“The mayor of Rose Ridge gave them his blessing to come after us. Our connections at the local PD confirmed it. They were given the green light to attack us in a fucking residential neighborhood. Now, if you can’t erase this proposed legislation and make an example out of them, then we’ll make one out of you. ”
His expression was murderous. His assistants cleared their throats.
They looked so out of place in my father’s house. We sat at the old, chipped table with the threadbare curtains drawn and the mismatching chairs. The conversation about my mother was sitting too close to my heart, and now being in this house…fuck it hurt.
I sneered, tacking on a little reminder. “That’s how this works, in case you forgot. You wanted us in your pocket, to help you when you needed it. That means when we call for favors, you answer. Plain and fucking simple.”
Mouth parted; he was about to say something when there was a commotion near the back door. I heard Giles arguing, but seconds later, he tripped backward as if someone had pushed him into the room, and my heart jumped into my throat.
Following Giles was sunshine and leather.
“Hello, honey.” Daisy’s sharp blue eyes bounced from me to the table, and her expression twisted into a scowl. “Father.”
She was wearing my property patch over a thick hoodie; her hair was swept up into a messy bun, and she carried herself like she was the queen of the goddamned world.
“Laura, sweetheart.” Senator Witt rose from the table; his panicked gaze flew to me before landing on her cut. “What are you wearing…and what are you doing here?”
Had he missed her calling me, Honey?
She smiled and then moved to stand directly in front of me.
“Oh this?” Then she turned around so he could read the back.
An odd mixture of pride and terror swept through me, making my fists clench.
Hugh’s face paled.
I reached my hand out to grab her wrist, but she moved too fast.
Her gaze flicked between us. The men with her father exchanged nervous glances, my men didn’t even flinch, if anything they’d step in to protect her over me. That made me calm the slightest bit.
“I know everything.” A slap echoed through the room as Laura slammed the manilla envelope full of her father’s secrets down. “And, with all of my heart.” She placed her hand over her chest.
“Fuck you both.”
Her hurt gaze landed on me painfully hard as she stormed back through the back door.
Hugh’s eyes widened as they landed on the folder. He acted like the thing would grow fangs and bite him. So while he stared and tried to ascertain what leverage we had on him, I jumped out of my chair and ran outside.
I went after her, right as the Senator roared my name. That file shouldn’t exist, and if any of our other allies knew that we kept tabs on everything they’d done that was illegal, we’d be fucked. Yet, I couldn’t keep my feet from moving toward Laura.
“Daisy.”
She wouldn’t stop. My chest burned like she’d just flung acid at me and didn’t want to stick around to watch me burn. My eyes narrowed on the words on the back of her cut.
Property of Killian Quinn bent around the design of our club insignia—a skull with roses blooming from the eyes.
My heart pounded quicker with each step she took.
“Laura!”
She spun around, tears stained her face and clung to her lashes.
“I was honest with you, Killian. I shared my secrets with you, and you sat there—acting surprised. You made a fool of me!”
I stopped far enough away that she didn’t feel crowded.
I had mentioned being at a safe house, it was an idiot choice to go to the one place she knew about.
I had men stationed at the start of the drive, all of which should have stopped her from getting this far.
I suppose the cut on her back made it so they didn’t question her arrival.
“I know…I didn’t know how to—”
She stepped closer, her face getting pink as the cold air clung to the tears on her face. “Was this a big joke? Did everyone know?”
The way her voice shook nearly had mine doing the same.
I was so fucking afraid she wouldn’t hear me out. I needed her to hear me out.
“Jameson King first told me when they came to discuss our club taking on one of their pregnant women.”
She scoffed, shaking her head. “More secrets.”
Yes, more secrets than she even knew what to do with.
“You took the files from me after they came.” Her eyes narrowed in understanding, and now it felt like I was about to lose her. I stepped forward as she pulled her arm out of reach.
“You didn’t want me to find his file.”
I didn’t know what to say. She was right, but not for the reasons she assumed.
“At first, yes…it was simply that I didn’t want you involved. He’s one of our biggest political assets. But it changed…I was falling for you, and I didn’t want you to see your father in that light.”
Her head was shaking, more tears falling.
“You said I was more important than the club.”
Hurt and fear flayed me open, forcing me to close the gap between us.
“You are. This is new…I can’t—”
She pulled away from me right as her father slammed the back door to the house and thundered down the weathered steps.
Her gaze remained on me, her arms pulled in tight.
“I’d understand if you hadn’t known he was my dad, Killian. But even now…you texted me this morning, but couldn’t share that you were meeting with my dad? You know who told me?”
I didn’t respond. Her citrus scent was overwhelming my senses, making me want to pull her back into my chest.
“My mother. She was trying to schedule a lunch for me and my dad. She mentioned some sullied biker club that he was meeting with.”
An echo of one of my fears reared its head, forcing my patience to snap.
Her father was stopped by Harris, and Riley. Hugh was screaming but we’d begun walking back toward my truck, which she parked further down the drive.
The gravel crunched as she stormed away but I was on her heels.
“Exactly, Laura. You grew up in a world that doesn’t even touch mine.
Your dad is a sick fuck, but he’s still your dad.
I wasn’t going to ruin that for you. You don’t understand the way my world works.
This is likely just a passing moment for you.
You’ll wise up in a few years, go back home and marry some senator’s son. ”
She scoffed, swiping at her nose and eyes, but I knew deep down I was right.
“What are you saying right now, Killian?” She stopped by the hood of my truck.
I couldn’t take the look on her face, but it felt like this might be the only chance I had to set her free.
“I’m saying that I think we’re having fun…but I have no delusions that it will last. You’re going to leave…one phone call from home, and you’ll be back at the family mansion, attending parties and playing the role of dutiful daughter.”
Watching as she wore every single emotion on her face was breaking me. I just needed her to be safe and not a target anymore... I wanted her to tell me I was wrong and wrap her arms around my neck, vowing to never leave me.
“If that’s what you think then there’s nothing I can do to change your mind, Killian.”
Her steps crunched the gravel under our feet as she gave me her back and walked around to the drivers side door, and then got in.
Fuck. This was all a mess, and I just needed a second to think before anything else happened.
Right as I thought it, my phone buzzed in my pocket.
Jameson King.
“Ya.” I stood there watching as the woman I loved backed up and drove away.
Jameson didn’t waste a second. “I need to move Penelope tonight. Some shit is going down. I need your help, Quinn.”
What else was going to happen on this fucking day?
Rubbing the stress out of my forehead, I tried to think.
“Yeah, okay. Bring her, we’re going to get her set up.” I’d have to tell him about the attack, so he was aware, but that was just one more problem I’d have to solve later.
My gaze lifted to where Laura had driven off.
You said I was more important than the club.
She was; I just didn’t know how to prove it.