Comp’s Chance (Reckless Omens MC)

Chapter 11

Eleven

SUNNY

I take a deep breath, pulling my shoulders back. Nix has locked himself away, ignoring me for almost a week now. To be fair, I’ve been avoiding him, too, but only because he started it.

Yes, I am fully aware I sound like a child.

Get over it.

I don’t know what happened after the night he held me until I fell asleep, but it's like he’s avoided me at all costs since then. Well, that shit ends today. I refuse to stay somewhere I’m not comfortable or wanted. If he’s so adamant about not wanting to be anywhere near me, I don’t need to stay here. I will just have to find somewhere else to go. I never want my daughter or me in a place where we are unwanted, and the last thing I want is for Nix to feel uncomfortable in his own home.

I head toward Swift's office as Paisley runs away with Rae and Rome. The hardest part of this is going to be splitting them up. The kids have become attached at the hip. They do everything together, and Paisley has thrived being a part of their little group. I love it so much.

Paisley asked me to teach her to braid yesterday. She and Rae want to braid each other's hair. Halle was sweet enough to show Paisley how to do Rae’s hair while I taught Rae how Paisley likes hers. The girls have been coming up with some cute, sometimes messy, new hairdos for each other. Seeing my baby girl so happy nearly causes me to fall to my knees when I think about taking her away. I also watched Rome sit with us while doing the girl's hair. He even asked if he could learn in case no one was around. He wanted to be able to do it. Loki looked down at Rome with such a proud expression. Loki ended up joining us, explaining, “I should be able to do my baby girl's hair if she wants me to. Teach me.”

He said it with a determined expression, and I watched as Halle swooned a bit before throwing herself at Loki. It got a little carried away, which seems to happen if those two are together in the same room for longer than five minutes. So, I took the kids and got them something to eat until the other two were done. All in all, it was a fun day.

As I get closer to the office, I see Piper walking toward me, Swift behind her, holding their son and smiling down at him. The soft look in his eyes has me nearly crying. I've always wanted that for Paisley. I always wanted more kids. I was made to be a mother; I know I just need someone to step up, like the men of this club.

“Hey, Sunny!” Piper says, waving at me. She's another Ol’ lady, and she’s been nothing but welcoming ever since we arrived. She had a girls' night with Halle, Izzy, Rae, and Paisley the other night. They asked me to go, but I had a deadline and had to finish some edits. Being able to send Paisley along while having a few hours of uninterrupted work let me get ahead of schedule for once. This club has been a godsend.

“Hey, Piper, Swift,” I say, nodding to them both. I stop and drop my head, fiddling with my hands nervously. I don’t want them to think I'm ungrateful for their help or that Nix has made me feel like this.

“What did you need?” Swift asks. I take a deep breath before just blurting it out.

“I think Paisley and I should stay at a hotel for now. I…” I start, but he cuts me off.

“No,” he says simply. I raise a brow at him. He may talk to his club brothers that way, but I am not part of his club. I open my mouth, but he raises a brow and looks like he's about to smirk but doesn’t.

“What he means is…” Piper says, glaring at her husband, “It's safer for you and Paisley here. Please, just stay. I might not know what's going on with you, but I have a feeling I know who this is about. He rode out about five days ago to take care of some business. He will be gone for a few more days. Just give us time,” Piper pleads with me.

He left? He just left and didn’t say anything to me a whole five days ago? Well, I guess he doesn’t really have to. I have no claim to him, but damn, that stings a bit. I nod my head at her, and they both sigh in relief. I will give it a few more days, but I need to get the fuck out of here before he comes back. I can take a hint. He wants nothing to do with me. He’s got it. I beg no man. Fuck that. I just can't believe I've been pouting around here, hoping to get even a glance at him, and he hasn’t been here at all. I'm pathetic. Didn’t I learn my lesson the first time?

“Come on, let's get you and the kids ready for the BBQ today. Cutter is finally here, so Halle and Loki are a bit impatient and ready to get the ball rolling,” she says, smiling, then leading me down the hall.

Fuck, I forgot about the party. I helped the ladies make some desserts and side dishes yesterday, but I planned to grab some popcorn and have a movie night with Paisley. I'm not sure how these parties go, and I definitely don’t want Paisley seeing a bunch of rowdiness. She's never been around things like that.

“Actually, I'm going to find Paisley and head back to the room. I was going to do a movie night with her,” I tell them. Piper looks back at me with a sad expression.

“We would love for you both to be there, but I understand if you’re uncomfortable. Just know, we don’t do anything inappropriate in front of the kids. Halle and Loki can get carried away, but we always distract the kids, and they make sure to keep a lookout,” she tells me.

“After the last time.” I hear muttered so low I'm not even sure I heard it right.

“I don’t want to crash your club party,” I tell them nervously.

“You and Paisley will both have fun, I promise. If not, I’ll sneak you out myself,” Swift says, tickling Bronx’s belly and making him giggle. Without another good excuse, I give in and follow them outside.

There are way more people here than I'm used to seeing around when we walk into the yard, and it’s a little nerve-wracking. Paisley is over at the bouncy house playing with Rome and Rae, so I keep an eye on them. Piper leads me past a picnic table, but I hear Loki and Halle having a conversation.

“Come on, Cutter. It doesn’t have to be big. Just “Property of Halle” across his forehead,” Halle says with a pout. The guy sitting across the bench with a tattoo machine looks at her like she's batshit crazy before turning to Loki.

“Please, please tell me she's fucking joking,” he says, looking at Loki, who is grinning widely.

“Nope, she ain't.” The smile on his face is a little unsettling. Is he not going to fight her on this at all?

“No, I will not tattoo his forehead. Second choice?” Cutter tells them both, looking between them and folding his arms over his chest.

“Ugh… fine. I want it on the side of the neck, but I want you to make sure his shirt doesn’t cover it. I want every bitch in heat to see that shit. Loud and proud,” she tells him.

“Neck I can do,” Cutter says, picking back up his machine.

“Baby, where should I get mine? Tits or neck?” Halle asks, pulling her shirt a little lower to look at the top of her boobs. Where the hell am I, and what is with these crazy people?

“Neck, any man touches your tits, and I’ll be using them as a new knife holder,” Loki says, glowering at Cutter. Cutter rolls his eyes and sighs before starting on the tattoo.

After that, the party seems to be in full effect. I stick close to the Ol’ Ladies, taking me under their wing and keeping me close. I get approached by two men I haven't seen around, but I make the excuse I need to check on my daughter before bolting. The women giggle but follow after me.

“Good thing Comp isn’t here. He probably would have kicked Volt and Drift's asses for looking your way,” Piper says.

“Yeah, right, he wouldn’t have blinked. He probably would still be locked in his room,” I say bitterly. Halle’s finished her property tattoo, which Izzy explained to me. She and Piper showed me theirs, and they are actually pretty badass.

Maybe… nope, not going there.

“Whatever, girl. That man has it bad; he's just…” Halle is cut off by Piper's quick intake of breath.

“Dad! What are you doing here?” she yells toward the side entrance to the backyard. We follow behind as Piper rushes to the man who must be her father. Swift makes it there first, shaking the man's hand.

“Devin, good to see you again,” he tells him.

“I wish it was under better circumstances. Right now, we don’t have time,” the older, very handsome man says, looking around the party. Loki, Grease, Hitter, and Grim crowd behind us as we wait for Devin to elaborate.

“Why does this shit always have to happen when we're partying? Can't we just have one fucking get-together that isn’t traumatic?” Grease grumbles behind me.

I’m not sure if I should be here or not. This seems like club business. Maybe I should get Paisley and head back inside… but the next words have my knees buckling.

“Comp’s been taken. His bike was found on the side of a deserted road… there was blood.”