I drop the cut like it's the forbidden fruit, my heart along with it. I should have known. Of course he wouldn't wait around for me like I secretly hoped he would. Even though I told myself I'd tell him to fuck off.
Tossing the diaper bag on his bed and scurrying out his room. I grab my purse off the bar stool and plant a chaste kiss on my daughters forehead before practically running to my car.
***************************
"Tanner! Visitor!" My sergeant calls as he walks into his office from a coffee run. I get up from behind my new desk to find Lynol with a wailing Sydney. Oh, God. "She won't stop crying. I'm sorry, but I didn't know what to do." He gently passes her to me. I bounce her a little but she doesn't stop.
I peek into my bosses door. "Excuse me, sergeant, I hate to do this on my first day but-" He cuts me off with the wave of his hand and motions for me to come forward.
"May I?" He asks for her. I hand her over to him.
I watch in wonder as my boss rocks with Sydney and she falls silent and goes right to sleep. "How?" Lynol asks from behind me. I scooch away, a little too close to him for comfort. But even I can't deny the electricity that spreads through me. Straight to my core. But that can't happen again. No more fables of a happy little family. Especially after what I found in his room this morning.
"I have the touch. After 3 kids." He shrugs.
"Take the rest of the night off. Nothing exciting here. I'll call if I need you." He hands her back.
The walk to Lynol's truck is silent as he follows closely behind me. A chill runs down my back as a unsettling gut feeling plants in my stomach. I rest my right hand on my gun, ready to fire, and grip Sydney's carseat tighter. I knew it was only a matter of time before he came. Once I got my job and went on record, he would waste no time. "What's wrong?" Lynol steps closer as I search around, my eyes landing on a lone black car on the other side of the police station.
"Nothing." I shake my head and start for my car.
"You sure?" He asks. Makes me think he got some dangerous shit going on with the club. If so, my daughter does not need to be there. But I also know Lynol would not intentionally put Sydney in danger.
"Yeah. Look, she has an appointment tomorrow and I have to work. Will you take her?" I shut my car door gently.
"Uh, yeah, sure." He answers awkardly.
"I can ask Panik." I rush to suggest.
"No!" Lynol almost shouts. I flinch back a little. "Sorry. I'll do it." He apologizes. I nod and bid good night before driving home.
The black car from the station follows me and I'd like to say it does a poor job of trynna hide but I also think its easier for me to spot becaus I was trained to do so. But just in case I call Pat as soon as I get home.
"Hello?" His voice is groggy.
"Hey, Pat. Uh...Will you ... Will you come spend the night here?" I ask.
"Is everything okay?" All traces of sleep replaced with alertness.
"I don't know. I might just be paranoid but I'm pretty sure John found me and I don't want him to do something with Sydney here." I answer.
I hear some ruffling and a grunt before Pat tells one of the others to let Lynol know he's at my house if he needs him. "Be there in 15." Pat promises before hanging up.
I recline into the stiff wooden rocking chair beside Sydney's white crib where she lies sound asleep with my gun held tightly in my hand, waiting for Pat to arrive. But I feel my eyes grow heavy and I fall asleep.
When I awake, I find Pat leaning over the crib, checking on the baby. "You should change and go to sleep. I got this." He offers. I nod and do so with one last glance at Sydney.
I awake during the night and check my phone for the time. Around 5. Pats voice sounds from my living room.
"I don't know. She just called and asked for me to come over... Maybe she didn't call you because she doesn't want you here, brother... Fine." He must be in the phone with Lynol. I sit up, deciding 5 is a good hour to get up.
"Morning." I go into the living room with Pat. He's sitting on the edge of the couch with his face in his hands. He looks up at me and his face tells me he's gotten no sleep and I smile at the thought. "Go lay down. I got this." I recite his words to him. He rolls his eyes at me before shrugging off his cut and laying back in the couch.
My door busts open while I'm in the kitchen making some eggs. Lynol bull dozes in past the kitchen straight to Sydney's room then into the kitchen, eyes searching until they settle in me. I see a flash of relief before it tranforms into anger.
"Why the hell didn't you call me? I asked you last night before we left if everything was okay and you lied right to my face!" He shouts.
"Our daughter is sleeping." Is all I say. He stares at me, annoyed.
"You're both staying at the clubhouse until we know where the fuck he is!" He orders. I laugh.
"I am not sleeping in a bed where you screw your whore. Or should I say old lady?" I mutter the last part as I walk past him. He grabs my arm and yanks me to his chest. I shove him off me. A few of the brothers walk in from the commotion.
"The hell are you talking about?" Lynol asks me.
"Nothing." I do not feel like fighting with everyone here.
"Margo." He warns.
"I found a property patch on your bed yesterday putting Sydney's diaper bag in there. Lil must be thrilled." I spit bitterly.
"It wasn't for her." He says through clenched teeth.
"Oh, then who?" I scoff. He clenched his jaw and sets his hard glare on me, his eyes fire and not saying a thing.
"Thought so." I turn away once more.
"You." He spits back. Air leaves my lungs and my heart sinks to my stomach. I swallow before answering.
"Well, good thing we never made it to that level of deception." And walk to the bathroom to shower.
Lynol and Pat are the only ones left when I go back into the living room, holstering my gun and swinging on my jackets. Sydney is dressed and in Lynol arms. I pick her up and bounce her.
"You're gonna stay with daddy a few days, ok?" I pat some of her hair down. She smiles and I laugh. "I love you." I kiss her and hand her to a thankful looking Lynol.
Looking at my watch, I see I'm late. "Shit. Oops." I glance at myself again in my floor long mirror. In wearing jeans and a nice flowing white shirt tucked in with a plain Brown belt and low heeled boots. Because a classy bitch can run in heels.
"Call if you need anything." Pat calls as I hustle to my car. The black car from last night isn't outside when I peer Around.
°·°·°·°·°·°·°·°·°·°·°·°·°·°·°·°·°·°·°·°·°·
I collapse in my rolling chair behind my desk in exhaustion. Been running around all damn day over a false claim. I should have arrested that damn girl. Seems to be the answer to every girl who thinks more to a one night stand.
"Go home. Spend time with your daughter." My sergeant orders lightly.
"Shes with her dad tonight." I laugh.
"Pritchard?" He asks. His voice is innocent but his eyes are curious. I nod.
"But y'all aren't together?" He asks.
"We ... Were. At one point." I shrug.
"Obviously." He jokes.
"Yeah." I'm sure the question of Lynol actually being the father is a common mystery in this dime sized town.
"Wanna get some food?" He asks. I look over at him and scan him from head to toe. He's not ugly. He's actually kinda cute. But he's also my boss and that can't happen for so many reasons.
"Nope. Might go check on her after all." I turn him down. No more cops. I gather my bag and coat before bidding him a good night and leaving.
I drive to the club house and start searching around for Lynol or Pat. But they must me in a meeting because there's not a single member in sight. So Sydney's with an old lady.
A prospect gives me a startled look as I make my way to the kitchen. Standing by the counter with my baby in her arms, Lil is getting something from the fridge. "Get your fucking hands off my daughter." I growl through clenched teeth. Lil turns around, clearly startled. But then smirks.
Nothing but a whore, he says. But, oh, here, hold my kid, I trust you. Stupid fucker. "Lynol told me to watch her. Prez's orders." She says, smug. I just glare at her as I snatch up Sydney in her carseat and angrily trot to the front door.
Office door creak open behind me and I'm grabbed by the arm. "You said I could have her!" Lynol shouts. I push him off.
"Yeah, YOU! Not your old lady, The Whore." I yell.
"She's not my old lady. I told you already." He runs his fingers through his hair, clearly frustrated.
"But more than a whore because you hand out our kid to her." I scoff.
"I couldn't take her to the meeting with me!" He reasons. I shake my head and walk out the door.
He follows me out and I hear him inhale to reason with me. A wave of my hand instantly stops him. "Everything always comes back to her." I blurt. Lynol gently grabs my hand to face him.
"Who?" He asks.
"Lillian. Your ... whatever she is. You... Cheated on me with her. You let her babysit my daughter. Just..." I take a deep breath to fight back tears. He exhaled but doesn't say anything.
"Margo, about that-" He starts with a soft voice. I shake my head quickly and pull away from him.
"I am a cop, Lynol. That means I UPHOLD the law. But I want to an illegal arms meeting for you. I made rape allegations disapear for you. I chanced our daughter and being found for you. A rat you still haven't fucking found. And for what. You just... Threw it all away. And for what? Because it was all becoming too real? Because you made me believe I was truly fucking happy with you and your club and this town. You were done playing house with me?" I yell out of nowhere. I don't want to face how naive I was to fall for the first guy that was nice to me so hard I tricked myself into feigning house. "I'll talk to you tomorrow, alright. Good night." Despite my best efforts, tears escape. I watch His face drop before my eyes as I turn to my car to head home.
Only God isn't letting me escape Lynol that easily. As soon as I get home I see my door is all the way open. Which means I'll have to call Lynol. I grab my gun from my purse and lock Sydney in the car before stealthily and cautiously entering my own fucking home.
Nothing is extremely out of place. Just a few papers disheveled and drawers ransacked. I sigh in frustration before I call Pat. Sure, I should call Lynol. But after tonight, even telling him my house was broken into would feel awkward.
"Margo, you just left is everything ok. Do you need me to stay again?" Pat rushes out his anxiety.
"I think so. I think he broke in." I inform him. He curses words to make a sailor blush before assuring me they'd be right there. Great.