Page 18 of Kiwi

"Sure, I'd like that." I turn to Tai. "Will you stay close by?"

Tai places his finger under my chin, "I'll be right here."

Madison leads me down the hall and into Crow's office. We both take a seat on the sofa. I can't get over how much I look like my mom. She is tall and has long wavy brown hair, much like mine was before I changed it.

"You look beautiful, Piper. The blonde is gorgeous, and it suits you."

I run a hand through my long locks. "Thank you."

The two of us fall silent again, both unsure of where to start. I rub my palms up and down the tops of my thighs.

"Piper, I want you to know you can ask me anything and I will answer as honestly as possible. I've made so many mistakes in my life, and I want to own up to them. You'll get no excuses from me. I will accept whatever today's outcome will be. Today is not about me; it's about you."

"I guess I want to know why. Why did you abandon me, and why did you stay away for so long?"

Madison lets out a heavy sigh. "When I found out I was pregnant with you, I knew I had to protect the precious gift given to me. Darkness surrounded me my entire life, Piper. I won't tell you the details of my childhood because it's the stuff of nightmares, but I will say I lived in the kind of dark that swallows you whole with no chance of clawing your way out. Your father and I didn't know each other that well. I was good at hiding my drug and alcohol addiction, and he was so busy with his path in life that he wouldn't have noticed. But when I found out about you, I knew that bringing you into this world would be my only chance at seeing the light. The day you were born was the only time I had ever felt what it was like to fall in love and be kissed by the sun. It didn't take long for the darkness to seep back in, and when it did, I did the only thing I knew to do. Had I not left you with your father, I would have dragged you down into the abyss with me, and there was no way I could let that happen. There was not a day that went by I didn't think about you, that I didn't long to hold you in my arms, to rock you to sleep at night, to watch you take your first steps, to wipe away your tears when you had a bad dream, to hold your hand on your first day of school, to comfort you through your first broken heart." Silent tears stream down my face as Madison continues. "I walked away because I love you, Piper. I stayed away because even when I got better, I knew I would never be worthy of your light. Until one day, I met a man who saved me. Crow saved me, and not only did he love me, but he taught me how to love myself. He made me realize that if I didn't at least try to mend things with you, I would regret it for the rest of my life. I hope that one day you can forgive me, Piper. There is nothing I want more than to have you in my life."

Wiping the tears from my face with the back of my hand, I croak, "I think I would like that too."

Scooting closer to me on the sofa, Madison puts her arms around me, and for the first time in nineteen years, my mother hugs me, and it feels incredible.

Over the nextcouple of hours, Madison and I talk about anything and everything. She tells me about when she met Crow, and I tell her about school. She asks me how my dad is doing and seems genuinely happy when I tell her about Promise and Jaxson. Soon, I look down at my watch and note the time. "Wow, I should probably get going."

"Do you and Kiwi want to stay for dinner?" Madison asks.

"I'd love to, but it's getting late, and we have a long drive. If it's okay with you, I'd like to call you and plan a day for me to come back, or you can come to New Orleans."

Madison beams at my suggestion. "Absolutely. I'll come to you next time."

"Great. Can I call you in a few days?" I ask.

"You can call me anytime, Piper. Even if it's just to say hi."

The two of us leave Crow's office and make our way out to the main room. I come to a dead stop when I see Tai sitting in one of the leather chairs talking to Crow and perched on the arm of the chair with her tits practically pressed up against his shoulder is one of Hell's Punishers club girls. I get a sickening feeling in the pit of my stomach at the image in front of me and the smile I have on my face vanishes.

"What's wrong, Piper?" Madison places her hand on my shoulder. She looks at me then to where my eyes fixate. Without a word, she marches over to where the guys are hanging and addresses the woman. "Sherrie, dinner is not going to cook itself. I suggest you hop to it."

At the sound of Madison barking order, Tai twists in his seat to find me standing behind him. Not wanting to let on that what I just witnessed bothered me, I keep my features neutral and turn on my heels, walk across the room and out of the clubhouse.