AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Great. Let’s go.” He tugged on her hand, leading her down the hallway. The Rusty Cantina smelled the same as it had when she was with Granite. The musty scent of sex and cigarettes could never be cleaned out of the carpet.
They made it to the back exit, and he nodded to the dollhouse in the distance. “After you meet Daddy, you and I are gonna shake the walls over there.” He wiggled his brows up and down. “Don’t worry. I remember how you like it.”
“If you even try, you’ll regret it.” She struggled at his hold, but he simply laughed.
“I don’t think so.” He opened a door to the left of the exit and shoved her in first. The door slammed behind him, closing off whatever hopes of an escape she could think up.
It took Delphi’s eyes a moment to adjust to the murky lighting and smoke-filled room. “So, you’re Delphi Windsor?”
She blinked several times. “Who’s asking?”
A light flipped on overhead, and she finally could see the desk in the corner. A large man was sitting behind it. A cigarette hung in his left hand, his face obscured by the smoke swirling around him.
Delphi waved her hand, hoping to cut through it. It barely helped. The air itself hurt to breathe.
“I believe I’m your father.” The man stood up and zipped his pants. Delphi rolled her eyes at the flash of brown hair from a doll beneath the desk. He took a step closer, his face finally cutting through the haze. He wasn’t horrible looking. His hair was dark brown, almost black, and his eyes were the same hue. He wasn’t short or tall, but of average height. He didn’t look familiar, but then again, she didn’t know all the Cutthroat members.
Delphi narrowed her eyes. “Why do you say that?”
“I’m Sully, by the way. The club treasurer.” He walked closer but didn’t extend his hand. Sitting on the edge of the desk, he continued. “I spent a lot of time with your mom back in the day.” He took a hit from the cigarette. “I remember when she told me she was pregnant.”
“And you thought I wasn’t yours?”
Sully shook his head. “No, I knew you were mine. Your mom was more careful than most the club hoppers. She and I had a relationship of sorts. There was only one time we didn’t use protection.”
Delphi looked the man over and couldn’t help but find a few similarities. She had the same curl to her hair, albeit a different color, and they shared the same nose. “Are you sure?”
“We did a paternity test back when you were born.” He crushed the cigarette into an ashtray. “You’re my daughter.”
A swirl of emotions flooded through her. “You knew I was your daughter and you abandoned me?” She stepped forward and slapped him across the face.
“I didn’t have a choice.” He rubbed his chin but didn’t seem put off by her reaction. “Your mom wanted a good man to be your father, and I wouldn’t leave the club.”
“Then you chose the club over your daughter.”
He sighed. “I guess I did.”
Delphi’s hands shook, and she fought back the urge to cry and smack him again. “Why now? Why’d you wait until now to tell me the truth?”
Sully’s head drooped, and he crossed his arms over his chest. “Because I’m dying. Lung cancer.” He chuckled. “Can’t say I’m surprised. Years of smoking will do that to a man. The doctors say I have a few months left.”
She didn’t know how to process this information. Her biological dad decided to make himself known, and within the year he’d be gone once again. “Why did you even bother to tell me? I could’ve lived my whole life and never met you.” She snorted. “It probably would’ve been better too.”
“I’m sorry. I know it’s selfish, but….” He stopped and coughed. The sickening sound vibrated through Delphi’s body. “I wanted to know you.”
Straightening her shoulders, she thought over her options. This man may have aided in bringing her to life, but she didn’t owe him anything other than gratitude for being a sperm donor.
“I don’t think I want to know you.” She watched Sully’s face, but he didn’t react. “You chose the club over me. You’ve had almost thirty-five years to meet me and get to know me. I’m sorry you’re dying. If we had more time, maybe I could forgive you, but as things stand, I can’t.”
Delphi turned on her heels, but Granite stopped her hasty exit.
“I understand,” Sully said from behind her. “I don’t blame you either. I’m a shitty dad, but I got to meet you. If that’s all I get, then I’ll die with that memory. Your mom raised you right. I’m glad you didn’t know me when you were a kid. You had a real dad, and he treated you much better than I ever would’ve.”
The door opened, and she found herself scowling at a group of Cutthroats with guns in their hands.
“Granite, we got trouble,” a man with stringy hair clinging to his face said. “Bikers headed this way.”
“Is it who I think?”
