Page 37 of Cyber
“Fang is going to cut off your balls.” Monster hissed the moment we stepped back into the street. “He’s going to cut off your balls and fucking feed them to you.”
I shot him a look. “Stop swearing in front of her.”
“Look at you, protective daddy already.”
He was joking, I knew that, but I glanced down at the beaming child in my arms anyway. Sensing my eyes on her, she looked up. “Are we going to see my mommy now?”
“Sure are, sweetheart. I've just got to phone someone for a ride. You're much too little to go on my bike.”
“I have a bike.” She clapped her hands. “It doesn't even have training wheels anymore.”
“Jesus, she’s fucking adorable.”
I threw Monster a scowl, shaking my head. Not that I disagreed with him, Violet was adorable.
“That's because you are a big girl.” I pressed my lips to her hair which was parted in the middle in braids. “But you are still too little to ride my bike. When you are big though, I will teach you to ride.”
“Do you promise? And mom too, promise?”
I nodded sombrely as she held up her tiny hand, her even tinier finger outstretched,
Frowning, I glanced at Monster.
“She wants you to pinkie swear,” he said with a chuckle.
Well, fuck, I had never pinkie sworn to a thing in my life. “Promise. Now Uncle Monster is going to get us a lift out of here.”
“Monster.” She giggled happily. “That's a funny name.”
He winked at her, and she erupted into more giggles.
“He’s a funny man.”
19
Iris
The rumbleof an engine caught my attention. A bike, coming up the lane at an easy pace. My heart leapt in my chest.
Cyber was home.
Home. The thought made me pause. I didn’t know why I had thought of it that way. It wasn’t my home. Not really, and it sure as hell wasn't Cyber’s. We were both guests there. He had his own house somewhere, at least I was pretty sure he did. He had mentioned something about it when we had first met, but I was yet to see it.
It just went to prove how much I didn't know about him.
Sure as hell didn’t stop me missing him though. The day had started to drag the moment he roared away on the black and chrome monstrosity he rode.
Making my way from the kitchen to the front door, I paused to peek through the little window before swinging it open. I had to be careful. They probably wouldn't come after me. I was there to do a job, but I could never be sure. The Family was unpredictable. If they thought I was changing sides, then they wouldn't hesitate in taking me out, or making me suffer in other ways. Like hurting my daughter.
The attack, when Maggie had been shot, had been a warning. A not so subtle one to tell me that I was taking too long. I got the message.
I wasn't there to make friends and restart my life, and I definitely wasn't there to jump into bed with an old flame. Still, I couldn't help the way my stomach was suddenly full of butterflies as I opened that door. Stepping out into the low afternoon sunlight, I held a hand to my eyes as it glared down at me. A smile played over my lips.
A bike was turning on to the drive, followed closely behind by a white panel van. Frowning, I took a step forward. That wasn't Cyber’s bike. The man on it was smaller in the shoulders.
Monster, not Cyber.
Why had he sent Monster back when he had promised to come himself? My eyes lifted to the van behind it. Fang was behind the wheel, Cyber next to him. He had his face turned to the side but I knew his profile anywhere. My frown deepened.
