11. Pez
Pez
“What the fuck?” Sabre mutters as I pull into Daphne’s driveway.
I let my gaze move across the front of a small brick home in Manchester, Kentucky.
The place looks like shit. Even with my help and that of the club, this place needs some bigger work done.
It’d be stupid to put money in the place right now, though.
It’s just going to be sold. There’s no point in losing even more money, when it’s just going to be sold, and Daphne’s asshole ex will be getting money from it.
That’s the main reason that most of what the club and I do at her place is just what is needed most to keep her and Cammie comfortable including landscaping.
I also keep her car running, but I’ve never let her know when I do that anymore—mostly, because she keeps trying to give me money.
There’s not much Daphne will allow. The damn woman makes me feel like I’m constantly walking a tightrope and praying she doesn’t get upset with me.
Daphne doesn’t understand how much I care about her. If I had my way, her and Cammie would be living in Corbin close to the club where I could take care of her. Fuck, if I had it my way, she and Cammie would be living with me. I’d be her man.
Fucking pipe dreams.
“What are you bitching about already?” I ask Sabre.
“Where’s Dane’s vehicle and Daphne’s van? What’s that thing in the driveway?”
“That’s the damn piece of shit your daughter drives,” I inform him. “That fucking slime she’s married to, took the van and his car when he moved in with his secretary.”
“He left my little girl—he left Daphne for his secretary? When the fuck did this happen?”
“For a while now, asshole. He filed for divorce and lately he’s focusing his efforts on trying to take Cammie,” I tell him, smirking because I can tell everything I tell him is another blow.
Maybe it will make him get his head out of his ass.
I’m not holding my breath, but one can hope at least. Daphne sure as hell could use Sabre in her corner.
“Why the fuck didn’t Drew tell me? Or you, for that matter, asshole.”
“You don’t think we tried? We even bring up Daphne, and you start spouting bullshit or just leave. Besides, Daphne didn’t really want you to know. In fact, she’s going to try to keep it hidden from you today. You let her have that, Sabre.”
“The fuck I will. She needs help. I can tell that just by looking at this place,” he growls.
“She does, but you will not ruin Cammie’s birthday.”
He curses under his breath, but somehow manages to get control of himself. “Shit, this is a clusterfuck.”
“It has been for a while. Daphne could have used her dad, old man.” He looks at me with haunted eyes. I know, because I see the same look often—every time I stare into a mirror.
“Some things can’t be changed. Some things are beyond our control, Pez,” he whispers brokenly.
“Bullshit. You just give that woman and her daughter your love. That’s all she needs. You need to find a way to do that, Sabre.”
“It’s too late. There’s too much water under the bridge.”
“Papaw!” Cammie yells, coming out the front door and running straight for Sabre. “Mama said you weren’t coming, but I told her you would!” she squeals with the innocence only a five-year-old can manage.
Sabre picks her up in his arms and holds her tightly.
His head goes down to breathe her in. I’m more than a little jealous.
I usually get those hugs, breathing in the baby lotion and shampoo that Daphne uses for her.
I already miss her little hands holding me tightly as if she’s trying to hold me together—which she does most of the time.
“Pez!” she says when her gaze locks with mine. “You came, too!”
“Did you think I’d miss your birthday, Pixie?”
She keeps one arm wrapped around Sabre’s neck and then puts her other hand on her sweet little chin, tapping a finger on her lip. “Did you bring me a present?”
I laugh. “That depends.”
“On what?” she huffs, clearly not liking that answer.
“On if I get a hug, or if you are going to let stinky Sabre get all your love.”
“That’s Papaw! He’s not stinky.”
Sabre squeezes her but lets her down. She immediately runs to me, and I scoop her up.
Holding Cammie is about the only time I feel even half alive.
It’s a feeling that is addicting to a man like me.
“There’s my girl,” I murmur, feeling as if I’m choking on the emotion that she always brings out of me.
“Did ya miss me, Pez?” she asks innocently.
“Every second of every minute, Pixie.”
“Where’s my present?”
I laugh, opening my back passenger door and getting out the two bags I have on the floorboard.
“I get two?” she asks, her beautiful green eyes sparkling in surprise.
“One from me and one from your Papaw Sabre.”
I notice the way Sabre’s body jerks. I knew he wouldn’t remember to get Cammie anything. I’m actually surprised he climbed his way out of a bottle enough to be here today. The bastard better make sure he doesn’t hurt Daphne. She’s going through enough bullshit.
“Dad?”
I look at the front door and see Daphne standing there, staring at Sabre with so much pain in her eyes that it nearly guts me.
Daphne should never have that much pain inside her.
I’d take it all away if she’d let me—but she won’t.
Daphne’s not mine. To her, I’m her brother’s best friend.
To me? To me, she is everything I’ve ever wanted … and will never have.
“Hello, Daphne. You look good,” Sabre says, his voice gruff sounding, as if he can’t catch his breath. Daphne walks toward him slowly. She’s wringing her hands together. I wish I could calm her and give her comfort. I shake my head. I’m an idiot.
“I’m glad you came, Daddy,” she whispers, stepping into him.
Her arms go around him. For a minute Sabre stands completely still, his arms at his sides.
I close my eyes, wanting to scream at him to hug his daughter.
I hear Daphne gasp and give out a small cry.
I open my eyes immediately. Sabre has his arms around her.
His body is trembling as he holds her. Then, I hear him crying.
I look down at Cammie. “What do you say we go inside and let Papaw and Mommy talk? I’ll play dolls with you. ”
“Is Mama okay?” Cammie asks, worrying as only a five-year-old can.
“Yeah, they just miss each other.”
“Like how I miss you when you take forever to see me,” she says, full of innocence.
I kiss her forehead and then we walk to the house. Leaving Sabre and Daphne to hug and hopefully heal some of the wounds that are slowly killing them both.
Cammie and I are almost in the house when the sound of another vehicle makes me stop.
I turn to watch that fucking asshole Dane pull up in his BMW with his whore in the passenger seat.
How the fuck could someone leave Daphne, with her curves for days, gorgeous green eyes, and rich, copper hair that falls in waves around her gorgeous face?
That bitch in the BMW is like a fake Barbie.
Hell, she probably has just as much plastic in her as the doll does.
He gets out of the car as his whore does the same and struggles to keep her tits in her tight dress as she shuffles her feet to stand beside Dane. “Sabre, good to see you,” Dane says, eyeing Daphne and Sabre closely.
“I wish I could say the same,” Sabre responds, looking at the worthless piece of shit in front of him.
“Do you want to say hello to your daddy before we go play, Pixie?”
“No. Daddy makes Mommy cry,” she whispers softly. Her entire body tense.
“Then let’s go play.”
Sabre looks at me and nods, but it’s Daphne’s eyes that gut me. They’re eyes that no longer sparkle. Her eyes just look dead. She mouths the words, thank you. I give her a grim smile and turn to go into the house with my second favorite girl in the world.