Captured (Devil's Blaze MC #1)(49)

“I’m fine,” I insist. “Just worried about Beast. The surgery seems to be taking a while.”

“That’s why I’m late. The doctor tracked me down at the nurse’s desk. Beast pulled through and the surgeon was encouraged by the results.”

“That’s great,” I tell him, genuinely relieved.

“Yeah, it is. I’m going back to report to Skull and do a few things. Pistol here will be taking over for me. K-Rex is going to stand guard over our vehicles because one of Cade’s men got sick. If you need me, all you have to do is call.”

“Sounds good. I’m actually getting a little hungry now that I know Beast is going to be okay. Could you take me down to the cafeteria, Pistol?”

He clears his throat and his disgusting voice has a tinge of joy in it. I want to hit him in the balls. “Sure thing. Getting a little hungry myself.”

“Great. I’ll ride down the elevator with you two, then,” Briar adds.

We all go out and I’m doing my best to walk and keep my shaky legs from giving out on me. I manage to laugh or respond where it’s needed as Briar talks. We part ways when the elevator stops on the first floor, then Pistol puts his hand to my back and leads me to the cafeteria. When we get there, right away I recognize one of Cade’s men. Skull made sure he introduced me to every one of them so I’d know who they were if I needed help. Ironically, I think it’s these men who may be helping to hurt me. Well, them and Pistol, obviously.

“I need to go to the restroom,” I announce, loud enough so Cade’s man can hear me. He starts to come forward, but Pistol waves him off.

“I got this. Come on Beth, I’ll escort you.”

Asshole.

I follow him. As soon as we’re out of the other’s vision, I jerk away from him. “Skull will have your head,” I hiss.

“He won’t ever know.”

“You’re disgusting. Skull thinks of you as his brother. Don’t you have any ethics?”

“I’m not dying over some f*cking whore of a woman. Now hurry up. Daddy waits,” he says. I really seriously hate him. If I survive this, I need to make sure Skull knows he can’t trust him.

We walk from the hall into the kitchen and there, surrounded by the silver counters and lunchroom equipment, is the one person I never thought I would see again in my life.

“Hello, sunshine.”

My f*cking father.





I look at my daughter, and she’s beautiful. I’ve missed both her and Katie. They might be twins, but they’re as different as night and day. Beth was always the one who had the more innocent personality. That only grew stronger as they aged. I know she hates me. Why wouldn’t she? I’ve done everything wrong with them from the beginning, including their mother. How I ever got ensnared by that bitch Isabel is beyond me. She cost me everything. I can’t let emotion get involved here, though. I have to protect my daughter, even if she hates me. That’s the only thing that’s important. I lost my chance at being a father a long time ago.

“I’m here. What do you want?” she asks me, and I doubt she realizes how much like Katie she actually sounds in this moment.

“I know you’re upset with me, sunshine, but I really am trying to save you here.”

“I didn’t ask for your help. The way I see it, you gave up all rights to even be involved in my life years ago. Now, I don’t know how you got these men to help you, but I would suggest that you—”

“They work for me,” I tell her, interrupting before she can continue. The hate in her voice is slowly killing me. My words, at least, stop her.

“What? … How?”

“There are things you don’t know about me, Elizabeth.”

“Imagine that,” she says harshly.

“Are you going to listen or not? Our time is limited here and I thought you’d be interested in saving your boyfriend.”

“Why would you save Skull?”

She’s suspicious of me, and she has a right to be. Hell, I don’t give two shits about that damned biker. However, thanks to the moves that Colin has made, I’m left with little choice.

“My name isn’t Roger Bailey.”

Beth tenses up with my announcement. I hate to tell her like this, but I have no choice.

“What’s your name?” she whispers, her face pale.

“Redmond Donahue.”

“Donahue?” she asks, even paler than before.

“I’m the leader of the family, Elizabeth.” I tell her. Shock comes over her entire face, her body swaying, and I know she’s going to faint. I see it coming. I lean over and catch my daughter right before she hits the floor.





I come to slowly. I don’t think I’ve been out long because I’m lying in Roger’s… Redmond’s… whoever-he-is’s lap. We’re still in the kitchen. His face is laced with concern and I try to block that out. He doesn’t have a right to be concerned about me. Not now. Not ever again. He gave away that right. I jerk up fast and instantly regret it because the world swims.

“Easy, sunshine,” he says.

“Stop calling me that!” I scream, and I don’t care if it does sound like a temper tantrum. He left me! He gave me away and now I find out he’s not even the man I thought he was all this time! I jerk out of his arms and stand up without his help. I back away to put distance between us. His face briefly twists with pain. He doesn’t deserve that either. He should try being a little girl and finding out her father, the only person she thought ever really loved her, gave her away. Then he’d understand pain.