“You can’t help her now. It’s too fucking late.” Sex Piston’s voice grew tight. Cade had a feeling he wasn’t going to like what came out of her mouth next. “You’ve never been a father to her. You left her behind then flaunted that blond bitch in front of her as the daughter you loved and cared about more. When she was a teenager, you let her stepmother and Bailey both torment her about her looks until she started calling herself the name they would call her when you weren’t around. Only when Bailey took off did you remember you have another daughter.
“When Bailey disappeared, you made sure to let Jane know how upset you were that she was in danger, leaving no doubt in Jane’s mind that you wished it was her instead of Bailey. She even knows that, when Cade asked you who to save if it came down to the two of them, he was to leave Jane to die and save Bailey!” Sex Piston’s voice rose until she was yelling at the ashen man.
“How does she know that?”
“Because you told your wife, and she relayed it to Bailey, who threw it up to Jane, you fucking asshole! If someone asked me that fucking question, I would have shot them then found someone else to do the job. Get out of my face before I beat the shit out of you.”
Montgomery grabbed onto the back of a chair. Cade wasn’t sure if it was more to hold himself up or to use in self-defense if Sex Piston decided to attack.
“I have to go see her to make things right.”
“You’re never going to make things right for her. Right now, dealing with you is the last thing she needs or wants. She had a miscarriage and needs peace right now, and I’m going to see she gets it. Go back to New York and wait a few months. Maybe then she’ll be more able to deal with your guilty conscience.”
“She was pregnant? Who…?”
“It doesn’t matter who the father was. He didn’t care about her any more than you do. Get out!” Sex Piston lunged to her feet, and both Killyama and Crazy Bitch held her back as Montgomery fled the club.
Cade stood as still as if someone had punched him in the gut. “It was mine, wasn’t it?” he asked Stud hoarsely.
“Yeah, brother, it was your kid.”
Chapter 22
Jane filled the large cup with soda then snapped on the lid. Looking at her watch, she saw she had thirty minutes left on her shift. She had already finished her clean up, so she would only have to clock out when her shift was over.
Carrying the drink to the counter, she handed it to the man waiting.
“Thanks.” Rock took the drink, giving her a smile.
“You’re welcome.” He always stopped by at the end of each night to give her a ride home. Jane appreciated him offering. She had hated to call Killyama when he was already here, so she had accepted the rides. “I won’t be much longer.”
“Take your time. I’ll sit at a table until you’re ready.”
“Okay.” Jane gave him a smile as he moved away.
“Jane, can you box up the rest of the chicken?” Corra, the manager, asked.
“Sure.” Jane turned her back to the counter and started boxing up the fried chicken that hadn’t been sold.
Corra let the workers take home what they wanted, and Jane could now say she was sick of her favorite meal. She couldn’t choke down another piece of chicken if someone put a gun to her head.
She was almost done when she heard the bell ring over the door.
“Hold off on boxing the chicken. We may need to drop some more.” Jane turned around at Corra’s order, seeing the mass of large bikers entering the restaurant.
“Call the cops and tell them to do a swing by,” Corra muttered under her breath.
“It’s okay. I know them.” Jane’s words didn’t take the frown off her manager’s face.
Dozer was the first in line to place his order, but Jane’s attention was on Cade who stepped to the counter in front of her.
“We need to talk.”
“No, we don’t.” Jane ignored him, going to stand beside Corra.
Looking at the screen, she began filling Dozer’s order. She boxed his chicken and sides, placing them on a tray to hand to Corra. She continued to avoid Cade who was standing grimly in place when she went to fix Dozer’s soda. Her hand shook as she snapped on the lid. Carrying it carefully, she placed it down on the counter, afraid she would make a fool of herself and drop it. Cade merely stood with his arms crossed over his chest as he waited while she filled the orders.
The small restaurant was practically filled with the bikers. Jane was sure no other customers could come inside with the parking lot filled with motorcycles.
She went back and forth behind the counter, noticing that Corra was becoming more agitated with Cade watching her.