Beyond the Cut (Sinner's Tribe Motorcycle Club #2)(61)

*

“Mommy. Cade’s here.”

Dawn almost didn’t hear Tia’s whispered words above the chatter of monkeys in the Conundrum Valley Zoo. They’d been visiting the animals all afternoon, and although she’d sent a text to Cade telling them where they were, she didn’t expect him to show. But there he was, cut, chains, skull bandanna, Harley-Davidson buckle, and kickass biker boots, all ready for some clean family fun.

She registered the concerned looks of the parents around them, but the delight on Tia’s face more than made up for her slight embarrassment at being outed as an outlaw biker groupie.

“Babe.” Cade leaned down and kissed her cheek. Dawn could almost hear the gasps of disapproval.

He knelt down in front of Maia and Tia, all decked out in matching pink-and-purple T-shirts, purple sparkle skirts, and rainbow jelly shoes. “Ladies.” He shook hands with them one at a time. “You are looking lovely as always.”

Maia and Tia giggled, and Dawn smiled. So what if everyone disapproved. He might be a biker, but he had heart.

“What’s on your hand?” Maia pointed to the brown streaks on Cade’s knuckles, and he jerked his hand away.

“Just something I forgot to wash off.”

“It’s blood, isn’t it?” Dawn whispered when he stood. “Are you hurt?”

“Not my blood.” He headed for the washroom, and her stomach churned. Was it Stan’s blood? Did she want to know what he’d done? How could he switch off the violence to be so gentle with the girls?

“So, where are the animals?” He joined Maia and Tia in front of the monkey exhibit a few minutes later.

“Here.” Maia pointed to the cage. “We’ve got names for them all. Tia named the biggest, strongest one with the long hairy arms, Cade.”

He looked down at Tia and grinned. “My arms aren’t hairy.”

“She thinks they are,” Maia said. “But she doesn’t mind.”

His face softened and Dawn almost forgave him for coming to the zoo without washing up first, but the real-life reminder of what had happened at the restaurant sent a shiver down her spine. What had she done? What kind of role model was she for her girls if she had to resort to violence to solve her problems? She was no better than Jimmy.

“Monkeys are lame,” Cade said. “How about we go see some real animals. Predators. Lions, tigers…”

“And bears?”

Cade cracked a grin. “Saw that movie when I was a kid. Mom loved it. Me not so much. Dorothy put the damn lion to shame. Made me appreciate a strong woman, though. Damn, you made me proud this morning.”

“What happened to him?” she asked when the girls were out of earshot.

“We taught him a lesson, then handed him over. Benson called an ambulance and when the bastard is all fixed up, he’ll spend some time in jail. Probably get out on bail. Trial a coupla years away … Due process. Just like you wanted.” Cade stopped walking and pulled her into his arms, his hands smoothing down the back of her cut. “Having second thoughts?”

“Yes. I’ve never done anything like that in my life.”

“Did it feel good?”

Dawn bit her lip. “It felt … great.” So great she’d wished she’d been able to do that to her uncle and Jimmy. Maybe even Shelly-Ann. Although Shelly-Ann had been almost decent when she dropped the girls off. Not only had she bought Maia and Tia new clothes and toys, she took the money Dawn gave her without asking for more. If Dawn hadn’t been so shocked, she might have asked why. Shelly-Ann had acted almost as if she felt guilty, overcompensating the way Jimmy had the days after the nights he lost control.

Maia led them to the lion enclosure and they arrived just as the lion trainer began his presentation. Dawn’s nose wrinkled at the sharp scent of blood coming from the lions’ evening meal. She turned her focus to the talk as the girls settled on the bench between her and Cade.

When had she last seen them so relaxed and happy? She gave Tia’s hand a squeeze and her daughter looked up and beamed. Dawn’s eyes teared. Nothing warmed her heart more than her daughters’ smiles.

Turning her attention back to the talk, she learned that male lions did little but eat, sleep, and copulate multiple times a day. By contrast, the female lions did all the hunting and raising the young.

“What does copulate mean?” Maia asked.

“It means have fun.” Cade whispered. “And the lions have it right. Males need to conserve their energy to protect their females and cubs from predators, and for important nighttime activities.”

“You can be the male lion,” Maia said. “Tia and I will be your cubs. You can protect us from predators like you did at the park.”

Cade tucked one girl under each arm. “Good idea. And how about your mom pretends to be a lioness and gets us some burgers while I keep people away from her seat?”

“Male lions don’t get to partake of nighttime activities if the lioness is tired from running around hunting for food.” Dawn folded her arms. Seriously, sometimes she wondered if Cade belonged in the Stone Age.

Cade quickly detached himself from the girls. “So, what does everyone want on their burgers?”

“We all just want ketchup and Mom also wants candy floss,” Maia said as he turned to leave. “Pink.”