“Sorry to keep you waiting Miss Mendez I’m Debbie McCall. Please take a seat”. I was currently sitting in the office of the preschool I was hoping Everleigh would get into. I was nervous so much my hands were sweating.
What if she didn’t get in?
“Thank you for taking the time to see me”. I smiled. “I’m sorry Everleigh couldn’t be here today she’s a little unwell”.
“Not to worry I’m sure I’ll get to meet her when she starts here”. Matching my smile, she pulled out a folder. “This is just a little brochure with everything that we do here”.
“She’s getting the space?”.
“Of course, and I think she’ll like it very much here. Do you mind if I ask you a few questions Miss Mendez?”.
“Questions?”. I asked not sure what else she would need to know. I had sent her everything that was required.
“Just a few routine questions Miss Mendez. Nothing to worry about. Now is she out of both diapers?”.
“Yes, the only thing I’m working on is her nap in the afternoon. My girl loves her sleep”. I smiled.
“And what about allergies?”.
“None although you would think she was allergic to broccoli”. I laughed. “She hates the stuff, takes it off her dad”.
“Ah kids and their vegetables”. She smiled. “I believe her dad is in the picture?”. Frowning I was a little taken aback by her question. I mean if Blaze wasn’t would it make a difference?
“He is but it’s complicated”. Sighing I dropped my gaze staring at my feet. “Everleigh is smart and kind and a sweet little girl. I have brought her up-….”
“Miss Mendez”. She interrupted causing me to lift my head. “I can’t wait to meet her and like I said I think she’ll be very happy here”.
“And nothing will stop her getting the space?”. I asked needing to know that the MC won’t affect it. Everyone was nice until they found out who my dad was. “My dad…”.
“Is Francis Mendez”. She smiled. “I know of your family Ava. The club donate money to the school every time they have a fundraiser or an event. I see no issues with Everleigh coming here”.
My body physically relaxed and I couldn’t stop smiling. My baby would finally get the independence and learning she needed, she would get to meet new friends and become her own little person.
“Thank you”. Getting to my feet I held out my hand for her to shake. I couldn’t wait to tell Blaze that she was going to preschool. Taking my hand, she squeezed it softly.
“No matter what anyone says about your family or the club that your dad runs. They are good people Ava. I’ll see you in a few weeks and I can’t wait to meet Everleigh”.
“Goodbye Mrs McCall and thanks again”.
No one was wiping the smile from my face today or so I thought.
..
Blaze’s POV
“Blaze, we go for ice cream now?”. She asked staring up at me with those big brown eyes. Her eyes so much like my own. I still couldn’t believe I had a daughter. Another chance at being a dad. I wasn’t going to fuck this up not again.
“You feeling better sweetheart?”.
“My tummy not sore anymore so can we go?”.
How could I say no to that little face? Fuck me she will be the death of me when she’s older. “Let’s get cleaned up first okay and say bye to papa”. Lifting her into my arms I walked back into the clubhouse.
“Right mini sweets you go see Uncle Jared till I speak with papa”. Placing her onto her feet I watched her run off to where Jared and Cage were sat.
“Got her trust back I see”. He was sat in his office a smoke hanging from his lips.
Taking a seat, I lit up my own smoke. “She my kid too”. Blowing out the smoke I watched as he smirked at me. Franko Mendez was a hard old bastard, but I respected him as my president, and I owed him my life.
“And she’s my granddaughter”. Slamming his hand off the table he pushed himself from his seat. The seat one day I’ll take, the gavel to his left will one day be for my hand.
“What you getting at Franko?”. Taking a long drag of my smoke my eyes never left his as he circled me his hand laying against my shoulder.
“This club will one day be yours. I’m getting old Blaze, too old to be running this shit”. Clasping his hand tighter against my shoulder he squeezed. “Gotta know you’ll be taking good care of my girls. No more club pussy”.
Shoving his hand off I got to my feet. “Ain’t touched club pussy in years”. I hissed my top lip pulling back into a snarl. I hated how the old bastard knew how to push my buttons. Always could get under my skin.
A hearty laugh fell from his lips, but I didn’t find it funny. I wouldn’t do anything to ruin what I finally have with Ava. Too lose her trust, to lose Everleigh.
“I know you haven’t kid but it’s just a warning”. He was back to being serious, his lips tight. “You need her more than she needs you. Don’t hurt her, don’t fuck her around and especially don’t do anything to upset Everleigh”.
“Got it prez”.
“Good wouldn’t want to shoot you for a third time”. Smirking he wrapped his arm around my shoulder. “Got you on a run in about an hour. You good with that?”.
“Can’t do prez”. By this time, we were out in the bar with the others.
“The fuck you mean you can’t?”.
“Got the kid”. I shrugged my eyes landing on her. She was sat in the corner booth playing with the toy motorcycle I bought her.
“Aubrey will take her. I need you on this”. Passing me a beer I grit my teeth. Ava will have my balls if I do this.
“Prez give it to Cage your daughter will have my balls if I leave”.
“Aw is the big bad biker afraid of little Ava”. Cage laughed as he joined us at the bar.
“Fuck you”. I glared slamming my beer off the bar top. “I just got her back I ain’t fucking it up because he needs me on a run. She trusts me to look after Everleigh and that’s exactly what I’ll be doing”. Catching a glimpse of Franko, he smirked at me followed by a nod of his head. Those fuckers are glad they’re my brothers.
Bastards always know what to say to make me lose it.
“Cage you’re on the run and don’t fuck it up. Check in when you get there”. Franko grunted before he stormed off back to his office the door slamming behind him.
Feeling the tug on my jean leg I looked down. She didn’t look happy in fact she looked scared. “Hey sweetheart you, okay?”. Her thumb was in her mouth, and I knew straight away that she was indeed scared.
“I want my mommy. I don’t like when you shout. I scared Blaze”. Her little eyes watered up and the pain I felt in my chest was something I had never experienced before.
Lifting her into my arms I held her against me. I knew there and then I would die before anyone, or anything dared to hurt her. “I’m sorry sweetheart it won’t happen again”. Brushing her hair away from her face I pulled her thumb from her mouth. “You don’t have to be scared of me Everleigh; I promise you that much darling. Now you still want ice cream?”.
Shaking her head yes, she held onto me tight. “We go to the place mommy took me to?”. I had no idea what one she went to but I’m sure it won’t matter when she’s eating it. “And I get a slushy too?”. Giving Jared a nod as I passed him, I headed outside to the car.
“You can get anything you like darling”. Strapping her into her car seat I made sure it was secure before I jumped in the driver’s seat and pulled out of the lot.
As I pulled up outside the third sweet shop I sighed with relief when she squealed and clapped her little hands together. I wasn’t prepared for another meltdown by a three-year-old.
“You found it”. Already pulling at her straps I checked my mirrors before getting out. Lifting her onto the sidewalk I took hold of her hand. “Mommy met her friend here. Oops”. Slapping a hand over her mouth I stopped walking. I bet I had a fucking good idea who her friend was.
“Blaze”. She groaned pulling on my hand. “Let’s go”. As we entered the shop, I tried my hardest not to lose my shit. I knew deep down it was fucking Nate.
“Okay sweetheart what flavour you want?”. She already had her face placed up against the glass. I couldn’t help but smile. You know what fuck Nate I wasn’t letting him ruin everything I had.
“Up”. Lifting her arms in the air I lifted her up sitting her on my shoulders. “I get chocolate with sprinkles?”.
“And what flavour of slush?”.
“Red”. She cheered.
After placing the order, I stood off to the side and waited for it to be ready. I was stuck in my own thoughts until the little shits hand smacked off the side of my head.
Yeah, she was definitely her mother’s daughter.
“Everleigh”. My tone dropped a little lower, so she’d know I was serious. I could never be angry at her, but she still needed to know right from wrong.
“But you didn’t answer”.
“Answer what sweetheart?”.
“You be my daddy?”.
It was like the air had been sucked out of my lungs. How do I answer that? More importantly how do I answer that without Ava present?
“Y-you not want to be my daddy?”. The minute her voice quivered I was a goner. I didn’t want her to think I didn’t want her. Lifting her off my shoulder I placed her on her feet and crouched down to her level.
“Don’t cry sweetheart”. I whispered as I wiped at both her eyes. I never thought how hard this was going to be. This little human in front of me had no idea how much hold she had over me. She had no idea how much I loved her and would protect and keep her safe.
Her mother was going to be pissed but right now I couldn’t bear to see her sad. Thinking that I didn’t want to be her dad, it was the only thing I wanted. Just as I was about to let the cat out of the bag my phone started to ring.
Ava
“Hey baby”.
“What’s wrong?”.
Dammit, I hated that she knew me so well. Well enough to know by the tone of my voice that something was up.
“And don’t lie to me. Is Everleigh, okay?”.
“She’s fine we’re out getting ice cream”. Should I tell her what she said. I wanted her to finally know the truth. The longer we left it the harder it was going to be.
“She’s well and truly got you wrapped around her finger”. She was laughing but what came out of my mouth next brought her to silence.
“She asked me to be her dad”.
“It’s not that I don’t want to tell her I’m just scared”.
“Scared I’ll fuck it up yeah I get it. Listen gotta go ice creams melting”. Hanging the phone up I slipped it back into my cut pocket. Grabbing our order, I took a hold of her hand and walked back to the car.
“Okay princess lets go home”. Securing her in her seat I jumped in the driver’s seat. Watching her through my rear view mirror my eyes fell into slips when I saw him. I never did forgive him for the shit he pulled on me.
How could your own blood leave you to rot in jail? I was young and stupid I took the fall, but never once did he visit.
“Fucking fuck”. I growled thumping my hand off the steering wheel. Every time I thought about him, I saw red and now was no different. Before I could even think about it, I jumped out of the driver’s seat slamming the door shut behind me.