Divided (Unguarded #2) - Ivy Stone Page 0,88
cut him off.
“You sure you got this, Cannon?”
“Yeah. I am.”
I stare at Mase as his unspoken question hangs between us.
Do I trust Cannon?
A few drunken idiots pass us, laughing and I swallow the unease rising inside. Over the past two months, Cannon and I have seen each other a few times. We’ve only talked about Mom because really, it’s one of the only things we have in common. Or it was until I saw him with his boys, the kids, and the old ladies at a cookout last week. Saw how they respected him and watched how he treated them. They were all family. They could have been my mine if I grew up in the club. But if that had happened I wouldn’t the family I have now and I wouldn’t swap them for anything. We’re trying to find some ground, where this can work, where our lives can intertwine, but it’s not easy. His club haven’t accepted me with open arms and the squad is finding it hard to understand how I can separate myself from the job to be around him. A month ago I would have agreed with them. I didn’t think it would be possible to have any kind of relationship with the man who is my father. But then we talked. I listened and I learned about a way of life I never understood before. We both have our reasons for doing what we do, it doesn’t always make them right or wrong, but when it’s all you’ve ever known, when we live in a world as corrupt as this one, right and wrong become an ever changing perception. I’ll never agree with the life he lives, I’ve seen too many innocent people caught in the crossfire of crimes they had nothing to do with. But now, I understand it.
I nod at Mason. My jaw tightens. “All right. Keep us in the loop. We’ll be back in the city within twenty-four hours anyway.”
“You got it, kid,” Cannon replies and we both ring off.
“You sure about this? ‘Cause we can leave now.”
I shake the nerves to reassure him and pat him on the shoulder. “I’m sure. Come on let’s go back in and enjoy what’s left of the night. We’ll tell the others later.”
We wander back into the bar and do exactly that. Forty-five minutes later I’m glad we decided to not say anything because Cannon calls back, pissed off and furious. Another dead end lead.
I do up the last button on Lindsey’s backless wedding dress. The top button sits just above the base of her spine, exposing the rest of her back.
She turns around. Her hands flatten over her bodice and she peers down at her appearance. “So what do you think?”
I beam at her unable to contain my happiness even if I wanted to. She’s in the most beautiful white lace gown I’ve ever seen. Lace bodice. Lace sleeves. Buttons trailing the length of the dress. It curves perfectly around her neck, fits her snug around the chest, her waist, down over her curves, until it flares out at her knees. It’s Classic. Beautiful. It’s Lindsey.
“You look amazing.”
She tucks a long loose curl behind her hair and pulls me in for a hug. My small baby bump rubs against her. “Thank you for being here with me today. I wouldn’t want to do this without you.”
I step back and my heart swells. I smile. “There’s no place I’d rather be.”
A knock comes at the door of our hotel room and we both look over to see Oliver and Charlotte poke their heads in. Charlotte squeals and Oliver’s eyes pop when he sees Lindsey. He breaks into a smirk. Charlotte runs ahead of him and wraps her arms around Lindsey.
She sighs and squeezes her tight. “You look beautiful, Mom.”
Love steals my breath and it squeezes my heart. Goosebumps bring happiness. A lone tear rolls down Lindsey’s cheek. My sister is a mom. A mom to a girl who lost hers too soon. Just like she was to me.
Charlotte breaks away and goes in search of her lip gloss. Oliver takes her place. He cups her cheeks and a look passes between them and it’s one I’ve always envied. Their bond, it’s special. It’s lasted nearly two decades. Through the worst and best times of our lives. It makes me think of Adriana and my heart hurts with how much I miss her.
Oliver’s voice brings me back into the moment. “You always look gorgeous, Linds.