Page 17 of War

“What?” I ask, frowning.

“You cooked for them? Did you fuckers even leave any food for me?”

“VP—”

“Don’t,” War growls out. His hands clench to fists, and he looks like he wants to take out all three of them. “I haven’t even tasted what she’s made yet, and you assholes are all here eating her food!”

The vein in his neck pulses.

I turn behind me and pick up his plate. “War, I served you a plate first.”

Dark eyes soften, and the tension drains out of him. I place the full plate down at an empty seat, and he sits, pulling me onto his lap. He plants a soft kiss on my lips. I don’t miss just how much he gentles his voice when he speaks to me versus when he speaks to his club brothers. “Did you eat, baby? I want you to look after yourself first.”

“I ate a little while I was making it, but I usually don’t eat this early,” I admit, running my hands through his thick head of hair. With me sitting astride him, he picks up his fork with some eggson it and offers it to me. I take a small bite, then smile at him. He’s fucking cute.

“You eat, babe. I need to get home and get ready for work. My car is still there.”

“I’ll take you,” War says, chewing and swallowing. “These eggs are amazing.”

“Seriously, the best I’ve ever had,” Lore adds, scraping the last bit from his plate.

“Can you move in here?” Bones asks, just as two men step into the room.

The last two men I want to see.

Ghost and my father, Rome.

My mother never spoke about him when I was growing up. But one day, when I was in the second grade, I remember asking her why I didn’t have a father to attend events when the other kids did.

She told me my daddy wasn’t ready to be one.

Is he ready now?

My heart starts to race.

“Prez, this is Ora. Ora, this is our president, Rome,” War quickly introduces, then scowls in Ghost’s direction. Ghost, who has a black eye and a cut lip, shows no emotion. “And you know Ghost.”

“Nice to meet you,” I say to Rome, forcing a smile. For a moment, I wonder what it would be like if he knew I was his daughter. Would he want to get to know me? Would he try and make up for lost time? Or would he be angry and deny that he ever knocked anyone up? I hate that a small part of me is still that little girl just waiting for him to show up.

I completely ignore Ghost.

I have nothing to say to that asshole.

Rome stares down at me with familiar blue eyes, his brow furrowing. “Ora, I’ve heard a lot about you.”

And I’ve found out everything I can about you.

“All good things, I hope.” I grin.

Rome’s lip twitches, but he doesn’t comment further. “We have Church in an hour.”

War nods, swallowing his bite. “I’ll drop Ora at work and be right back.”

Rome keeps looking at me, almost as if he’s trying to place me. I look just like my mom. Does he remember her? Or have there been so many women since then that they all blur together?

I avoid his eyes.

I used to like to watch him from afar, but now that he’s right in front of me, I have the urge to escape.

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