Page 45 of Vandal Unbound

Daisy reaches for Elsie and helps her clamber off the back. I miss my little biker buddy already. She helped me find something that had been missing. The joy of the ride.

“Well, that’s a relief.” She steps close enough to whisper so Elsie doesn’t hear. “Please tell me you’re sober?”

“Of course, I am. What do you take me for?” And I hate myself because I know why she’s asking and feel ashamed that she even has to.

Her shoulders drop at that. “Sorry. I just needed to hear it. Thank you for getting her for me.”

“Yeah. Right,” I say, some of the luster of it tarnished by her reaction.

“Momma. I had the best day ever,” Elsie says, tugging at her hand.

“Must be the fiftieth time you’ve said that, kid,” I say, trying to not let my soured mood taint what was otherwise a wholesome experience. “Don’t forget to give Connie that helmet back.”

Sunny comes over to join us. “Good to see you on your bike, brother,” he says.

I acknowledge him with a nod.

“Do you want a turn on the back of Vandal’s bike?” Elsie asks him, but she buries herself against my leg, staying close. “He’s a good rider.”

“That’s a glowing recommendation,” Sunny says, “but I have my own bike.” He turns to me. “What are we doing about her car? In the mess yesterday, I think her radiator got nicked by a…” He glances at Elsie, which means what he needs to say isn’t likely suitable for her ears. “You know. Flying thing. It caused a slow leak.”

“How much do I owe you for the tow?” Daisy asks. “I’ll have to pay you in installments. You can just leave it there while I save up to get it fixed.”

I tip my chin to the truck. “Take it back to the garage and let’s get Ridge to replace it. I’ll pay for it.”

Sunny nods and turns back to the truck.

“No, wait. I can take care of it. I don’t need you to?—”

“I got it, Daisy. Technically it happened because of the club, so let us make it right.”

I can see the mental argument she’s having with herself. She needs her car, but she wants to be independent.

“It’ll be hard to get Elsie to and from camp without it,” I say to encourage her to accept my help.

She sighs and looks at her daughter for a moment before returning her gaze to mine. She has such pretty eyes, but I doubt she’d appreciate me telling her that right now.

“Okay. For now, I need it fixed. But youwillgive me the bill, and Iwillmake it right.”

“Whatever you say,” I say with absolutely no intention of ever taking her money. I run my fingers through Elsie’s hair. “Thank you for being so good on my bike, sweetheart.”

She looks up at me and smiles. “You guessed she’d be mad.”

The corner of Daisy’s lips twitch.

“Nah. She’s not as mad as I thought she’d be,” I say.

Daisy gives in and smiles. “I’m grateful. Thank you. For all of it.”

I shrug. “You’re welcome. See you around.”

Daisy looks at me as if waiting for me to say something else. I secretly hope she asks me to stay, to hang out, but she doesn’t.

I raise my hand to Daisy, brush a knuckle gently over her cheek, and then I’m gone.

14

DAISY