Page 28 of Rebel

Where she got that energy from, I’d love to know, because after hours together, it seemed that Livvy hadn’t run out of questions to ask.

“Where’s your mommy and daddy?”

“My mom died about ten years ago and I never knew my dad.” I didn’t tell the kid that he’d never been around.

“I don’t know my daddy either.” Her voice was soft and sweet, almost wistful.

That made sense why Nikki didn’t mention him at all. “Well he’s missing out because I think you’re kind of great.”

“I think you are too!”

Damn this kid was sweet. And what kind of asshole would knock a woman up and then walk away? If I ever found the bastard, I would make him pay. Nikki and Livvy deserved more than what they had, more than the life they created out of necessity. They deserved fun and laughter and support, and everything that came with the good life.

***

My heart dropped when I pulled into the KTDH parking lot and saw chaos. Trouble. The front door was busted all to hell with glass lying everywhere, there were three private security vehicles in the parking lot and about half a dozen guards.

“What’s goin’ on, Rebel?” The worry in her voice was apparent.

“I’m not sure yet.” But I pulled out my phone and dialed Nikki immediately because I had no fucking doubt that this was the Blood Fangs. “Dammit,” I whispered when her call went directly to voicemail. My hands gripped the steering wheel, and I dialed her again.

“What’s going on?” Livvy asked.

“Not sure,” I groaned. I was about to ask Livvy to stay in the car, but if this was the Blood Fangs doing, then I didn’t want to leave her unattended. But I didn’t want to take her with me either and expose her to possible danger.

Rock and a hard place.

Finally deciding on action, I stepped out of the car and scooped her up, holding her on my left side, just in case I needed to reach for my gun.

“I can walk.”

“But your legs are tiny, and you walk slow.”

She giggled and held on tight to me.

“What’s going on?” I said as I approached a group of three security guards, all of them eyeing me like I was a piece of trash.

“And who the hell are you?”

A tough guy. There was at least one among the rent-a-cops. “I’m here to pick up Nikki. What the hell is going on?” I slid a gaze in Livvy’s direction, hoping the assholes would get the hint.

“Someone trying to send a message, I’d guess.”

Basically they didn’t know shit.

“You can’t go in yet.”

“Look, this little girl’s mom is in there, you saying I can’t take her in?” I asked, stepping forward.

The tough guy blocked my way, “No can do.”

I guess one of his colleagues took pity, either that or he wanted to diffuse the situation, he smiled and said, “Miss Nikki is okay, the police are in there now.”

I let out a sigh of relief I didn’t know I’d been holding, “Thanks. We’ll be by the car.”

So Livvy and I waited by the car. She asked more questions, which I answered as best I could while my gaze never left what remained of the front door. After what felt like thousands of minutes later, Nikki finally came out with Mia.

Even from this distance I could see her eyes were red-rimmed and her face was pink. She’d been crying.

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