Chapter 16
Pulling into his driveway, Vex guessed immediately where the Little girls had gathered for the tea party. His front door was open, and giggles drifted out into the fresh air. Everyone had come to visit his Baby girl. He loved that they thought she was as special as he did.
With a smile, he turned off his motor and swung his leg over his bike. By the time he’d taken off his helmet, the others had joined him.
“Sounds like they’re having a blast,” Razor said. “Let’s go join them.”
“Daddies are home,” Vex announced as he led the way. He immediately stopped inside the door. Wraith bumped into him with a “Whoa, dude.”
“Daddy!” Angel leapt to her feet and ran forward to jump into Vex’s arms. “We’re having a tea party. Did you come to join us? We did some decorating. I hope that’s okay.”
“We’d love to join you. I didn’t want you to have all that fun without me.
” Vex carried her inside, looking around at the change that had occurred over the last few hours since he had left.
He’d never gotten around to putting up pictures and froufrou embellishments at his place.
Pretty things hadn’t been important—until now.
“What an improvement you’ve made in here.” Vex hugged her close as he carried her inside and out of the way. His Baby girl made everything better.
With Angel adding life to his previously solitary space, Vex had noticed the plain white walls and the lack of vibrancy in his cabin.
The interior couldn’t be described as boring now.
Feather boas wrapped around his ceiling fan in a variety of jewel colors.
Completed coloring pages decorated the walls like precious landscapes.
Vex smiled at the scene in front of him on the floor.
They’d moved the coffee table out of the way and sat in a carefully arranged circle, alternating Little girls and stuffies.
A decorated plastic teacup on an equally floral saucer sat properly in front of each woman and every stuffie.
A platter of cookies sat in the middle. The Little girls wore floppy hats and lots of makeup and perfume.
“I told you he’d like it,” Caroline said and raised her arms to her Daddy. Wraith settled on the floor with more flexibility than Vex expected from the heavily muscled man.
“We need more cups. Daddy, sit there at my spot. I’ll get more and be back in a jiffy,” Angel said.
“Maybe I could borrow Sammie’s?” he suggested.
“No way, Daddy. Sammie’s enjoying his tea!” Her dramatically offended expression almost made him laugh with delight. Angel was adorable. Quickly, he apologized for his mistake and smoothed his Little’s ruffled feathers.
“I’m so sorry, Sammie. Maybe you and I could share a teacup, Baby girl,” Vex suggested.
“That’s a perfect idea.” Angel plopped herself down and winced slightly as she landed.
Instantly, Vex lifted Angel onto his lap. She leaned into him and pressed a kiss to his cheek as a quiet thank you. From Wraith’s snort, he guessed Angel had left a red lipstick mark on his face. He liked the idea of being marked by her.
“Maybe I should have a hat too,” Scythe commented, hesitating to sit down.
Winnie immediately looked horrified. “Daddy! Gentlemen do not wear hats inside. Especially to tea parties!”
“What are you thinking, Scythe?” Razor asked, straightening his make-believe tie. Honey patted his thigh approvingly. Razor smirked at Scythe.
“Sorry, Chipmunk. You’ll have to forgive me. I don’t get invited to a lot of tea parties,” Scythe told Winnie.
“It’s okay, Daddy. I’m glad you’re here,” she assured him.
Soon, everyone settled in a circle on the floor, and the refreshments could resume. Not eager to declare himself a tea-party virgin like Scythe, Vex took a wait-and-watch approach to the party. Thankfully, his Little girl helped him out.
“Would you like to try my tea, Daddy?” Angel offered, holding out her teacup.
All four Little girls stared at him intently. Instantly, he was suspicious. Something was going on. They focused on him too closely.
The liquid inside wasn’t hot. He was glad to see they hadn’t used the stove to risk burning themselves. It was the right color—a deep brown. As he lifted the porcelain higher, the aroma caught him. He pretended not to notice and took a drink. Pure bourbon.
“How much tea have you Littles had?” he asked, arching an eyebrow and looking meaningfully at his MC brothers.
“That’s our second splash,” Angel answered carefully.
“Let me try that,” Razor said, plucking Honey’s cup from her hand and lifting it to his mouth. He, too, paused when the liquid approached his mouth before taking a drink. “Now, I understand the giggles.”
Wraith and Scythe confiscated their Littles’ cups and sniffed them suspiciously. Wraith drained Caroline’s before announcing, “That’s good whiskey.”
“Bourbon tea, Daddy,” Caroline corrected him. “We have cookies too.” She leaned forward to scoop up the plate of sweet treats and knocked two to the floor. “Oops.”
That, of course, set off another round of delighted laughter as the two closest Littles scooped up the cookies and took big bites.
Angel crowed, “Two-second rule!”
Vex exchanged a look with the other men. He, Scythe, and Razor followed Wraith’s example and finished the last of the liquid.
“We need more tea!” Angel announced and shifted to get off Vex’s lap.
“No more tea, Baby girl. Let’s get some real food in you. What does everyone want for dinner?” Vex looked at each of the Little girls.
“Burgers,” Caroline announced and glanced around the circle.
“Can we have tots?” Honey asked.
“How about some healthy additions?” Razor suggested.
“And pickles!” Winnie requested. “They’re green!”
“I’ll grab those and some veggies,” Razor said.
“With ranch?” Honey asked.
“You bet,” her Daddy said.
“It sounds like we have a cookout planned for dinner. I’ll start the grill,” Vex announced. “I have some frozen burgers. Does anyone have buns?”
Everyone scattered. When they returned bringing contributions to the cookout, the hats had disappeared, and each Little girl returned with their Daddy and a freshly washed face.
The women made chains of clover flowers as their Daddies bustled around getting food ready.
Standing at the grill, Vex enjoyed watching Angel with the other Littles. She meshed perfectly with the group.
“Patches! Stop eating my flowers,” Honey complained and tried to shoo the chicken from the pile she’d picked to weave into her bracelet.
“That’s Fluff. She never listens,” Winnie told her. She picked up a flower and rolled the stem between her fingers to catch the hen’s attention. When the fluffy bird headed her way, Winnie tossed the blossom to the side. “Have at it! She’ll be happy there.”
“Are they your chickens?” Angel asked. She’d never been that close to live poultry before. “Are you going to eat her?”
“Good heavens, no! They’re technically Scythe’s.
He grew up on a farm that was sold several years ago.
He brought Fluff and Patches with him to remind him of home.
We couldn’t eat them!” Winnie’s voice dropped in volume significantly on one particular word as she checked to see if the chickens were listening.
“Sorry,” Angel said quickly.
“You didn’t know,” Winnie reassured her without a trace of discontent.
“Burgers are done. Anyone hungry?” Vex called.
“Starving!” Caroline answered, and the others echoed her response.
“In that case, come get a plate and your Daddy’s help, and I’ll toss down some blankets so we can have a picnic,” Vex declared. “Better get a burger. The vultures will appear quickly.”
Angel checked the sky trying to spot the predators. All she could see were fluffy clouds. “Where are they?”
Almost as if they’d planned the timing perfectly, Street and Toxin turned the corner to reach the backyard. Vex swept a hand out to indicate the two bikers. “Told you.” He lowered his voice and stage-whispered to Angel. “Vultures.” To his delight, her giggles filled the air, making everyone smile.
“Hey. We could leave, but I brought more burgers,” Toxin said, holding out a sleeve of frozen patties.
“All are welcome, brother. Toss those on the grill as we get the ladies fed,” Vex said with a smile as the women raced to grab a plate.
In a few minutes, the backyard bustled with conversation and laughter. Vex looked around at the gathering and shook his head slightly. He would never have guessed he’d end up here.
“Daddy? Are you sad?” Angel asked.
“Sad is the farthest emotion from how I feel. I am blessed with an incredible Little girl and the best family.”
“The Devil Daddies are like a family, aren’t they?” she asked, crawling into his lap to wrap her arms around his neck.
Vex kissed her lightly before answering, “That’s exactly what we are. Sometimes dysfunctional but always committed to each other.” He gestured around the group. “I think everyone who’s not on duty is here tonight.”
“I like this, Daddy. You must feel incredible to have this group to rely on.”
“They’re here for you too. I’d like you to wear a tracker from now on, Baby girl,” Vex told her, watching her reaction.
“Then you could find me if someone took me?” she asked.
“Yes. Lots of different devices are out there. You can choose what you like.”
“Okay.”
Thanking his lucky stars that she would cooperate, Vex said, “You could ask any Devil Daddy to help you at any time. I want you to know each of these guys would put themselves at risk for you.” Vex had never been so sure of anything in his life. Finding Angel had cemented his trust in his MC.
“Would you help Honey, Caroline, and Winnie?”
He understood what she was asking. Would he endanger himself to aid the other Littles? “I would, but I would make damn sure I’d get back to you, Baby girl. I have an excellent reason to always come home.”
Angel nodded and cuddled against his chest. He rocked her slowly in his arms. Ten minutes later, she was sound asleep.
The combination of bourbon, tea, delicious food, and the growing darkness zapped her ability to stay awake.
Glancing around the crowd, he noticed the other Littles nodding off as well.
Razor carried Honey away first to tuck her into bed.
Scythe and Wraith followed soon after. Vex stood and headed for the back door.
The rest of the guys gathered their things and quietly called their good nights.
Vex could hear the regret in their voices.
Not for the evening ending early but that they didn’t have a Little to get ready for bed.
Vex sent a wish into the world that each of his brothers could find their Little girl. Soon.