Page 43 of Cyber
Monster frowned. “I could eat some pancakes.”
“No, you couldn't.” Cyber pushed him back out of the door, jealousy rolling off him in waves. “You girls enjoy your breakfast. When you’re ready, get dressed and come down. Everyone will be here by then with their presents.”
“Presents for me?” Violet squealed excitedly, clapping her syrup covered hands together.
“Of course presents for you, Little Legs. You're the only girl I’d buy presents for.”
22
cyber
The differencein Iris was mind boggling. I thought I knew her, but I had no fucking clue. Iris was not the party girl of five years ago.
She was a woman. A mom.
And it made her even more beautiful to me.
I couldn't keep my eyes away from her. I didn't even try to. She was everything I didn't know I wanted. And everything a man like me didn't deserve.
“Having second thoughts?” Fang settled his bulk next to me, following my gaze. I couldn't read the look on his face. It was softer than I expected it to be. Fang wasn't exactly known for being warm and fuzzy. He hadn't got to the position of president by holding people's hands and telling them it would be ok. It made me wonder why he was doing it now.
“No.” I continued to stare at Iris. She was clapping her hands wildly as Violet rode circles on the lawn on her little bike. The sight of my daughter in her little denim cut, with its tiny Little Legs badge should have made me smile, but I couldn't bring myself to feel anything at all. If I did, I would back down from what needed doing.
“You care for her.” Fang jutted his chin towards the happy pair. “For them.”
The corners of my mouth quirked upwards for just a second. If only it was that simple. If only I just cared for them. “I think I'm in love with her.” I shrugged my shoulders.
“You don't have to do this, Cyber. No one expects you to give them up. We will find another way.”
I turned my head slowly. “There is no other way, Fang, and we both know it. We don't have enough time to sort anything else out.” Sighing, I went back to watching what should have been my little family.
Iris should have been wearing my property patch. She should have been wearing it for years. I should have never walked out that night. If I had stayed around, kept in contact, things could have been different. I could have watched my child come into the world, helped raise her.
Now all I was going to get was a few hours, a few days at most, until I had to let them go again. And this time it would be for good.
It had to be for good. For their own safety.
It was the right thing to do, but, God, it was hard. I had never thought about settling down and having a family of my own. I had the club, my brothers and my bike. I didn't ever think there was room for anything else in my life. Women would come and go. A steady stream of them.
Until her. Iris being back in my life had changed all of that. It had always been her for me. I measured all women against her, and none of them even came close. She made me want to be a different man. A better man. The kind of man she could love and depend on.
I wanted to be a family with her, maybe have a few more kids in the future. I wouldn't get it, but I wanted it.
“Violet’s yours, doesn't she deserve her dad in her life?”
“She will probably get one. I doubt Iris will be single forever.” The words tore out of my lips, leaving my throat feeling raw. “I hope she finds someone who treats her like a queen.”
“No, you don't.”
“No, I don't.” I admitted ruefully. “I hope she never sleeps with another person in her life. Fuck.” Swiping my hand across my head, my fingers came away beaded with sweat. “I'm a selfish son of a bitch, right?”
Fang shook his head. “No, I don't think so. None of the club think that. I lost the woman I loved, Cyber.”
He was talking about his wife. I knew of her, but I hadn't met her. I had barely started prospecting when Fang had lost control of his bike. He had spent several weeks in the hospital, but his wife hadn't been so lucky. Fang had lost the love of his life that day. His wife and the child they hadn’t known they were expecting.
“I didn't get a choice, but you do. She's right there, brother. Iris and your little girl.”
“I know, fuck, if there was any other way. If I could…” The words died on my lips as Iris turned in my direction, her eyebrows raised quizzically.
