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“He’s also kind of hot,” Rachel said. “Sorry, but it’s true.”
“You would go there, wouldn’t you?” Joni said with a laugh. “What did you guys talk about?”
“Everything. My mom. How they met.” I frowned.
“What’s that face for?” Darcy asked.
“I just—I feel like he knows me, a little bit anyway. I told him about my childhood and growing up with Grammie. But I don’t feel like, I don’t—knowhim. He wasn’t really forthcoming about his life and what it looks like.”
“Do you want to know all those things?” Joni’s gaze was curious. “I mean, it’s one thing for your long lost dad to show up. Here, of all places. And a Blue Angel, too. Which, wow, coincidence much? But it’s another thing for you to actually want to get to know him.”
“And you won’t get to know him in one night, you know?” Darcy added. “That takes time.”
“Yeah.” I nodded. “That’s true.”
“He’s still a stranger,” Allison said, swallowing the rest of her cracker. “Just because you share blood doesn’t mean you automatically have trust and a relationship.”
“And this adds a whole new layer of family ties to the Blue Angels,” Darcy remarked. “Think about it. The Coeur d’Alene chapter was willing to help the Waco chapter because they consider each other family. But now Knight’s daughter is the Old Lady of the president of the Waco Blue Angels. It’s all meshed and intertwined.”
“Blood allies,” Rachel added with a nod. “Yeah.”
The shed door opened and the Blue Angels poured out. They all looked alert and ready for the unknown despite the fact that we’d all gone to bed late and woken up early.
Darcy immediately hopped up from her seat and went to Gray, wrapping her arms around him. I loved seeing them show each other affection. Torque came to Allison’s side immediately and whispered something in her ear. She sidled up to him and pressed her head to his chest and closed her eyes.
Reap sauntered up behind Rachel, set a hand on her shoulder, and stole her coffee. She didn’t even bother fighting him over it.
I pretended not to see Zip giving Joni a long, lingering look.
“What’s for breakfast?” Boxer asked, breaking the tension filled silence.
“Whatever you’re cooking,” Darcy said.
“Ah, come on,” Boxer whined. “I’m hungry.”
The back door to the clubhouse opened and Lily ran out, clutching her blanket, her eyes sleepy. She encircled Darcy’s legs with her spindly arms before looking to her father. Gray scooped her up, causing her to giggle.
A gesture so simple it reminded me that I’d never had that growing up. I caught Knight looking at me, his face schooled into a blank expression.
I placed my hands on the table and stood up. “I’ll make pancakes. But I need help.” I looked at Lily. “You want to help?”
She nodded eagerly, scrambling to get down from Gray’s arms.
By day three of the lockdown, everyone in the clubhouse was at each other’s throats. Kids squabbled, couples bickered, and I had to pretend that I didn’t see Joni and Zip sneaking off to be with one another. The inactivity had everyone on edge.
Colt and I hadn’t spent a lot of time together since he was constantly talking to Knight, Mateo Sanchez, or Flynn Campbell.
The fourth morning of the lockdown, I finally broke my silence. “You have to let everyone out of here.” I pulled on a pair of jeans and went to the dresser and grabbed a Blue Angels tank top they sold in the garage. It was soft, faded cotton and it felt like wearing pajamas.
Colt lounged from his spot in the bed, one arm underneath his head, eyes heavy-lidded as he watched me get dressed. “Why?”
“I don’t know if you’re aware of this,” I said with a wry grin, “but I’m pretty sure there’s going to be a death or two—gladiator style—and soon. The tension in this place is at an all-time high.”
“Huh. I haven’t noticed.”
“Liar. What’s been happening with the Iron Horsemen?” I asked, changing the subject.
“Nothing. Dev has been silent. No blood on the streets. That doesn’t mean it won’t happen,” he said.
