Free A Rebel In The Roses (Black Rebel Riders' MC Book 8) by Glenna Maynard Page A

ya around old man is all I can muster the courage to say when he says, “I love you Baby.”
    I gather the kids kicking and screaming, begging to swim longer. 
    “’If you come easily, I’ll order you some ice cream later.”
    That shuts them up. 
    Tread gives me a chin lift as I pass by him. “Take care of my old man,” I tell him stepping into the elevator.
    “I’ll do my best.” He flashes his dimples. Swoon . He’s still got it. I hope him and Liberty are happy together.
    “Don’t let Nash kill Romeo today.”
    He laughs at that and the elevator door closes.
    “Who’s Romeo?” Cole asks me when we are getting off on our floor.
    “Some guy your dad works with,” I lie.
    Cole accepts my explanation and gets into the shower without argument while Sara and me order room service.
    I order a salad and fries for myself although I doubt I’ll eat it. Nash didn’t tell me what today will involve, but I know it isn’t anything good.
    The harder we try to move forward, the past sucks us back in that much harder.
    I think we may have to move again.
    As much as I love the life we have right now, I just don’t know if it would be wise to stay. Too many people know where we are—who we are.
    This life is no longer safe.
    As much as I hate to leave the place my father knows to find me, I know I’ll be packing up soon.
    He found his way to me yesterday, he’ll find me again if he ever needs to.
    Romeo
    Seeing Baby with her husband I realize Baby is dead. The woman before me today, Karly, isn’t the girl I loved. That girl doesn’t exist anymore. It’s time to let that go. I listen to her as she tells Nash and me to let go of the past. To make peace with whatever hate lies between us.
    I don’t want to, and the look on his face tells me he doesn’t want too either. But for her I will. I owe her that much and so much more.
    “Look son…” I pause waiting for him to correct me but he doesn’t.  “We need to let sleeping dogs lay. Baby and Striker, they’re dead. I realize that today. Karly isn’t Baby. She never will be. She loves ye, she loves ye more than I could’ve ever wanted for ye. I know I was never a father to ye and I never will be. You have every right to hate me. I’m not asking you not to. I’m just asking for you to shake my hand and part ways on decent terms. So that when the reaper comes for us both someday we don’t leave anything unsaid and have regrets.”
    “Isn’t that a fucking Hallmark sentiment. Aye no regrets ye say. The only regret I will ever have is not putting a bullet between your eyes. But I’ll shake your hand. I’ll do it only for her. I won’t ever give ye the satisfaction of accepting your sorry ass attempt to be a father for once.”
    Grim’s hand comes down hard clamping his shoulder. “That’s enough son. I only brought your old man along for the ride so you both could get your head’s out of ye asses. Seems I’m gonna have to pull’em out for the two of ye, huh. Nash this sorry piece of shit is your blood. He gave ye life and he can take it, but he won’t. I’ve known ye your whole life boy. I know you ain’t no damn coward so stop pussy footing and be a man. He fucked your wife and ye can’t forget it. Until you let it go it will stand between the two of ye until the day you die. Let it go. Make your peace or one day you will lose what ye got. Maybe not to him, but to your hate for him.”
    Nash shrugs out of Grim’s hold knowing he speaks the truth. His hand extends and he says, “It’s buried. Now we ride.”
    I take his offered hand and grip it hard. I’d be a liar if I said it doesn’t bring me comfort even if it’s all for show. I have a feeling that one day I’ll be looking at the barrel of his gun. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, or hell even five years from now. But some day…my son will make me pay .
    Tread
    When I get to the bar by the pool, Romeo, Nash, and Grim are in the middle of an intense conversation. I hang back and