Sacred Vow (Angels Halo MC Next Gen #5) - Terri Anne Browning Page 0,23
life.”
“Not while you live under my roof!” His voice boomed off the walls, causing Ian to jump and the other babies to start crying.
She tipped her head back, meeting his gaze without flinching. “Then I guess I’m moving out.”
“I forbid it.”
A humorless laugh left her. “Forbid all you want. That doesn’t mean shit to me now.” She shook her head at him. “You know, I’ve always respected you. You’ve worked so hard and given me so much. Yet right now, I see you have no respect for me in return, Dad.”
His jaw clenched shut, and I saw him gritting his teeth. Long moments passed with father and daughter staring each other down, but then River’s shoulders slumped and she turned to me with a sad smile. “Let’s go,” she murmured softly.
I took her hand and tugged her close. She melted against me as her side brushed mine, and we started for the door.
“River, get your ass back here!” Colt roared behind us.
She glared at him over her shoulder. “I’ll get my things from the house later.”
He took a step forward, but Aunt Kelli got in his way. “Let her go.”
“She’s not moving out. Where’s Ben? Have him arrest Maverick.” River stumbled, and she looked up at me with a ghostly white face as fear filled her eyes.
“What for?” Aunt Kelli demanded. “She’s eighteen and leaving willingly with him.”
My hand tightened around River. Ben probably could arrest me if they knew I’d gotten River pregnant before she turned eighteen. But no one knew she was carrying my baby.
Still, if Colt found out, he would have Ben tossing my ass in jail in a heartbeat.
That wasn’t something I was going to worry about at the moment, however. For now, I just wanted to get my girl home.
Eight
River
My relief that there hadn’t been any bloodshed was so strong that I sagged against Maverick as soon as we were outside.
His arm tightened, and he pulled me closer into him as we walked to his motorcycle. Taking his helmet, he offered it to me and then climbed on. I put it on and got on behind him. As I pressed my front into his back, my arms going around his waist, everything felt right in the world.
That feeling was short-lived as Dad stormed out of the bar with half the party guests right behind him. “Let’s go,” I told Maverick, and he started his bike.
“River!” Dad bellowed behind me, and I tightened my arms around Mav.
Before Dad could reach us, the growl of the engine vibrated between my thighs and we were moving.
As we rode to Maverick’s apartment, I kept replaying everything from the moment he’d walked into the bar. My heart was still pounding from the fear of what could have happened. Uncle Spider’s reaction had been so surprising that I wanted to hug him. But while my dad’s reaction wasn’t exactly as I’d expected since he hadn’t started throwing punches, I had no doubt that if Mom hadn’t gotten between him and Mav, he would have.
My wish hadn’t come true. Dad might not have physically hurt Maverick, but he’d broken my heart, nonetheless. No one would ever be good enough for me in his eyes. Part of me understood that on some level. A father’s daughter was the light of his life.
But if I was so special to him, why hadn’t he ever taken the time to get to know me?
Maybe I was being overly sensitive from all the pregnancy hormones, but I was beginning to realize there was a difference in his physically being there for all the special events in my life growing up and his being present. He might have been there, but it didn’t seem like he’d actually learned anything about who I was as a person.
Within ten minutes, we were pulling into the parking lot of Maverick’s apartment building. After he turned off the bike, he reached back and helped me off. Slowly, I got to my feet, not wanting to scare him if I moved too quickly and had another dizzy spell. As soon as his legs swung off the powerful motorcycle, he scooped me up into his arms.
“Happy birthday,” he murmured, pressing his lips to my temple as he carried me up the steps to the second floor where his apartment was. “Sorry I was late. I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”
I laid my head on his shoulder. “You’re here now, and that’s all that matters.”