Page 97 of Healing Souls

Is he a bad father?No.Am I an awful daughter? I don’t want to be, but I think I am right now.

“Stop,” I croak, pushing on Cade’s shoulders.

Cade stops walking, and I wiggle until he sets me down. Then I run around him and back through the club to the backyard where Gabriel and Colton no longer stand.

I look around frantically, trying to find them, when I spot lights on Gabriel’s house. Sprinting over to it, I open the door without knocking and walk into the living room to find Gabriel sitting on the couch. His elbows rest on his knees, with his head dropped low as he speaks to Colton, who stands across the room.

“How much more can I fuck this up? I’m failing her, Sugar. I’m failing Lilian.”

A gasp leaves me as I walk across the room and drop to my knees in front of him, cupping his cheeks in my hands.

“You have not failed my mom. My mom—” I clear my throat, “My mom would be so happy that I found you and that you are becoming a part of my life. I haven’t been easy to deal with from the second I got here, and that’s on me, not you.”

Tears track down my cheeks.

“You are not a bad father. You have been kind and patient with a teen who doesn’t understand any of the things she feels and has felt lost and helpless until she came here.”

Gabriel’s eyes meet mine. “You’re so strong and brave. I never want to put you through more pain. I gave you more pain tonight,” he says, despair clear in his voice.

I shake my head. “No, you didn’t. You opened my eyes, but I have to clear my head before we can talk about that,” I sigh.

Gabriel wraps his arms around me and pulls me in close for a hug. I tense, but then everything softens, and my mind quiets as I hug him back. He holds onto me like he might lose me at any second, and I can’t help but tighten my grip around him, feeling the love and peace I could only ever receive from my mom’s hugs.

“Go with the boys,” he whispers in my ear. “I trust them with you because they are as much my boys as you are my daughter. Let them help you in the ways I can’t.”

I nod against his shoulder and stand up, wiping the tears from my face. I turn and walk out of the house to find all three of my guys waiting for me.

I give them a small, forced smile, and Ryker wiggles a helmet in his hand. “So, you wanna ride, little flame?”

“What?” I ask, my eyes widening.

“I claimed dibs, so you're on the back of my bike.” Ryker winks at me.

“You guys have bikes?”

Grayson shakes his head. “Cade has one, but Ry and I are borrowing some extra ones the club has.”

“Let’s go.” I grin and take the helmet from Ryker as we walk around the main building to where the motorcycles are parked.

“Connor, one of the prospects, is going to be following us. But he will be like a shadow and stay back. It's just to be extra cautious,” Grayson explains.

I furrow my brows but nod, deciding I really don’t want to question it right now.

Cade swings his leg over a gorgeous bike that looks a lot like the one Colton has but it is a different color and I think is a newer model but I don’t know for sure. He settles on the seat, his jeans stretched perfectly over his ass in a way that I can’t help but glance at before letting my eyes slowly roam over the rest of him. He is wearing a leather jacket that sits snug over his broad shoulders.

Hearing movement next to me, I look over to see Grayson settled on his bike. He is also now wearing a leather jacket that fits him perfectly.

His shoulders aren’t as broad, but he still looks so fucking hot sitting on his bike. He adjusts his glasses before pushing his shaggy brown hair back and slipping on a helmet. I can’t help but smile and love the way he bites the corner of his lip when he’s concentrating.

A low whistle drags my attention next to Grayson, where Ryker is seated on another bike, leaning over the handlebars staring at me with a smirk on his face. “You got a little drool right here.” He taps his chin.

I flip him off, and he laughs loudly, gesturing me towards him. I walk over, and he hands me a leather jacket. “Is this yours?” I ask, noticing he only has on a hoodie now.

He nods. “Put it on.”

I shrug it on over my hoodie. It drowns me, falling to just above my knees, and the arms are longer than my own.

A groan drags my eyes back up to Ryker. He bites his lip, and his hot gaze sets my body on fire. “God damn, you are so fucking perfect.” He readjusts himself, and my face turns red. Chuckling, he says, “Put the helmet on and get on behind me.”

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