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“Stone, look at you. You’re covered in blood. This isn’t a place for Poppy—”
“I don’t know you, Livvy, but I know your daughter. Poppy is stronger than you think she is. The little girl you knew before she was taken to The Nest is not the girl who is standing here today, begging to stay at the club. I can assure you, Poppy can handle herself,” Haven defends.
Livvy scowls, her eyes darkening with the rage of a thousand suns burning deeply in her eyes as she glares at Haven. “You must be the woman who brought her back. I thank you for that, but if you are also an assassin, you’re not a great example to be aroundmydaughter. I don’t want you teaching her things she shouldn’t be learning at such a young and impressionable age. She should be drawing and playing with toys, not learning how quickly people can bleed out, depending on where you stab them. You know, that’s one of the first things she told me when I first saw her. What the fuck is this place you held her at?”
I go to step forward to defend Haven, but she beats me to it.
“I wasn’t the one holding Poppy. Sure, I was a high rank there, but I certainly wasn’t in charge. But just so you know, we took care of those who were still there and got Poppy and the rest of the kids out safely. You’re welcome, by the way.”
I fight back my smile, but Livvy notices. “This isn’t funny, Alpha. Our daughter’s safety should be of utmost importance to you. She was gone fortwodamn years.”
“I fucking know, Livvy. I was dead for those two years. I am sure you remember because you were constantly on my damn back. And I will do everything for Poppy. I will put my life beforePoppy’s every damn time before I let anything happen to her again. But I can’t do that if you take her away from me.”
“Alpha, if she is here with you, sheisin danger. Thisclubis the reason sheisin danger. Iwon’tallow her to stay here, and if you make it to where I can’t take her with me right now, Iamgoing to file for full custody, and you know fordamnsure that a court won’t give you access to her. And if you push me, Stone,so help me God,Iwillmove interstate so she’s far away from any kind of trouble you might put her in. I mean it. Don’tyoufucking push me right now!”
Poppy clings tighter to me as my heart feels like it is being ripped from my chest and thrown into the pigsty to be eaten alongside Swift and Gates. “You can’t do this, Livvy. She’smyfucking daughter too.”
Livvy reaches out, grabs Poppy, and starts pulling her from me, but Poppy doesn’t want to let go. “Mom, no. I want to stay here with Dad and Haven.”
“Poppy, let’s go.” Livvy grits her teeth, yanking harder.
My entire world shatters around me when I glance down at Poppy, tears streaming from her eyes, but I know I have no choice. I will fight this, but right this minute, Livvy has the trump card, and she’s playing it masterfully. Slowly, my heart tears open like a nuke is exploding inside me while I gently pry Poppy’s fingers from around me.
“No, Daddy, I want to stay with you.”
I kneel to her level, pulling my little sweetheart into a tight embrace. “I love you, baby girl. I love you with every ounce of my being. I’m gonna see you real fucking soon, you hear me?”
She sniffles, pulling back, and I swipe the hair from her face before she nods. I gently wipe the tears from her cheeks before leaning in and kissing her forehead. “You go be with your mama now.”
Poppy whimpers, her eyes shifting up to Haven as if she isasking permission. Haven exhales and nods, and Poppy rushes for Haven, giving her a giant embrace. Haven holds Poppy tightly. Leaning in, she whispers something into her ear, but neither Livvy nor I can hear what she says. Then Poppy nods and pulls back, wiping the tears from her face like she has found new strength inside her.
I smile, liking that whatever Haven said to my little princess has made her feel stronger in the moment.
Livvy pulls Poppy to her, Livvy’s eyes meeting mine as they start to walk out of the clubhouse. “I’ll be in touch.”
“I want to see Poppy soon, Liv,” I call out to her, but she doesn’t respond. She hurries out the door with my daughter in tow, taking my whole world with her. My heart races a million miles a minute, and my breathing hastens while I watch them leave. The second they’re out the door, I lean over and place my hands on my knees as I let out a long breath, simply trying to gather my emotions. “Fuuuck!” I scream.
Haven places her hand on my back, rubbing up and down. “We’ll fight this. We’ll get Poppy back,” Haven states calmly against my ear. Slowly standing, I reach out, pulling Haven to me. I need her damn comfort.
“I am so sorry, Alpha,” she whispers against my ear.
Slowing my breathing, I pull back, my eyes meeting hers as she stares at me. “Thanks for trying to help.”
She shrugs. “We’re a team. Whether you like it or not, you’re stuck with me. Whatever hurts you, hurts me.”
My entire body shakes. “Livvy’s gonna come around, right?”
A slow smile crosses her face, and she nods. “Oh, I have a feeling she will. Give it a few days, and she will bring Poppy back.”
Furrowing my brows, I tilt my head. “What did you say to Poppy before she left?”
She grins, letting out a small sigh. “I merely reminded Poppythat I named her Hummingbird for a reason. She is strong and needs to show her mother that she is not as weak and fragile as Livvy thinks she is.”
I let out a slow laugh, catching on to what Haven has done. She’s told Poppy to show Livvy that she is more biker than a civilian.
Fucking smart.
“I knew there was a reason I fell in love with you,” I tell her.
