Chapter 14
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
MAVERICK
Standing on the balcony facing the beach, I lean forward, resting my elbows on the railing and watching Nevaeh walk along the sand with her mom.
The two of them are the same height and look similar in every way except the eyes.
One look at her dad, and you can tell she took after him in that department.
It’s not lost on me that I’m not the only one watching them.
Not far from them are Wrath and Pirate. After the shit Nevaeh disclosed to me, there’s no way I’m letting her be anywhere without me or one of my brothers watching after her.
Especially now with her family here. The whole thing is a shitshow and pisses me off.
More so considering everything I’ve learned.
How the fuck did we miss the fact that Romeo Cohen’s real name was Gavin Kennedy?
It makes sense he’d have changed his name to keep the media and all that shit off his scent.
I completely get that, but he should have damn well come to us about the fact my woman was his family.
How fucking ironic is this shit. But she didn’t recognize him as family, so I’m guessing they’re not close.
“When did you find her?” Daghda asks, breaking the silence.
“Two years ago,” I answer and glance in his direction for a brief moment before turning my attention back to my woman. “She and two other women were in a cell locked in a basement of a house we stormed into to rescue my Prez’s woman, who had been kidnapped.”
“Still wish I’d gutted the bastard myself.” Sabotage growls and explains. “Viking’s ol’ lady is my daughter.”
“So, you know what it feels like to have your daughter taken from you.” This catches my attention, and I cock my head in his direction.
“In a way, but the fucker only had Fawn for several hours at most,” Sabotage mutters. “Not nearly as long as Peyton, Ryann, or Nevaeh.”
“The motherfucker was using the women as breeders, keeping boys and selling the girls,” I add in, sneering.
“The fuck?” Banshee growls.
“Did he . . . does Nevaeh have . . . “
“No.” Thank fuck Nevaeh’s not within earshot of this. “Nevaeh was raped and toyed with, but he hadn’t knocked her up yet.”
“Right,” Daghda says, fury radiating off him.
“And how do you all fit into this now?” Druid asks.
“After saving the girls, we gave them options. We’d help them get to their families or we’d help them get on their feet, take care of them.
They all chose to stay close to the club.
Let us help them. We put them in a rental, got them jobs at some of our businesses.
Peyton is now married to my VP, Ice. I’m with Nevaeh and her and I share the rental with Ryann,” I explain and turn my attention back to watching after Nevaeh.
“You’re with our sister?” Banshee growls.
“That’s what I said, and for the record, no, I didn’t fuckin’ rush her, but I’m also telling you now, you try to take her from me, from her home, I’ll stop at nothing to keep her here. I’ll be sure you regret ever fuckin’ with us.”
“Nevaeh’s home is with us. It’s where she belongs,” Kelpie declares.
“It used to be where she belongs, but not anymore,” I reiterate to them without looking away from Nevaeh and her mom.
They stop close to the water and embrace each other, and it guts me that she’s missed out on having her mom with her for so many years.
Fuck, if I could turn back time, I’d do anything to have my mom back in my life.
For that matter, I’d love to have all of my family back.
I don’t care about the differences we all had. They still loved me.
“She’ll always belong with her family,” Banshee remarks.
“No offense,” Sabotage speaks up. “You all are her family, her blood, but we’re also her family.”
“Get that, but we’ve lost time with our little sister,” Druid says. “We want her back where she belongs.”
“My daughter, I thought we lost her,” Daghda speaks up, stepping closer to me and nodding toward the women on the beach. “That girl out there. She’s still my little girl, but I can see it in her eyes. She’s been through hell and back.”
“You’ve no idea.” I grunt.
“No, I don’t,” Daghda says. “But you see, she’s still my daughter, and I want to be there for her. However, I also can see that you’re in love with my girl.”
“Yeah, I am.” There’s no denying it, and I wouldn’t even try. “I’d do anything for Nevaeh.”
“Good, then you can find who took her from us,” Daghda states, nodding.
“I already know who took her from you,” I retort, meeting his gaze head-on.
“Who?” Nevaeh’s brothers all ask systematically.
I ignore them and hold Daghda’s attention. “Your brother,” I inform him. The moment I do, I swear, Daghda changes. His features morph into something I’d never seen before, one full of fury and rage. Of betrayal and vengeance.
“Did my daughter say this?”
“Yes, she did,” I confirm.
Daghda looks to his sons and commands, “Call Dearg, tell him to find Dermont. I want him put in a cell and kept there until we get back.”
“Already on it,” Druid remarks, turning away with his phone in hand.
“I want in on killing the bastard,” I state, straightening.
Daghda nods without speaking. Tension radiates off him as he wordlessly agrees.
“You all are welcome to stay here tonight. Tomorrow, we’ve got to conclude business with Romeo before heading back home,” I inform them, though I wish I could send them all away. But knowing they’re my way to the man I want most, I’m not about to bite my nose off.
“Appreciate it,” Banshee grunts as Druid turns back to us.
“Dermont hasn’t been seen. Dearg is going to send a few guys to look for him, but after we left, he took off.”
I stiffen, not liking what I’m hearing. Instead of waiting around, I leave the men standing on the balcony and head for my woman.
Knowing this bastard is MIA, I’m not about to let her be out of my reach.
There’s been enough shit with women taken at the clubhouse.
Nevaeh won’t be going through what they’ve dealt with.
I intend to stick to my promise I made her, and that means I’m going to have to fill her in on this bit of news.
I’m sure when I tell her, she’s going to flip the fuck out.