“Too late to change now, father. What’s wrong? Scared we might make us more cash than you lot?”
“Of course you will, you’re half naked.”
I blow him a kiss and we get to work.
Reagan and I launch into full stunt mode: sponging windshields, sliding across car hoods, little dances that have the crowd hooting. Chief glares at me the entire time; Travis too... until I corner him with a soaked sponge, wiping suds across his bare chest. He groans, leans me against the hood, kisses me so fiercely it stops time. Girls around us gasp. The bikers cheer and clap. And I know, oh, I know, that Chief is about to murder us.
He straightens, murmuring into my ear, “You drive me insane.”
I slip away, sprinting back to Chief with a wad of cash. “See? We help.”
He snatches it, face hard. “Half an hour more and you’re getting changed. No more stunts on the cars with Travis, either. Don’t need any more bullshit.”
I grin and dash away.
By afternoon, we’ve scrubbed every car and made a ton of cash. We pack up to head inside for burgers. Laughter floats around the table and it feels good to have achieved something, but of course, that feeling never lasts long around here. Because a little over half an hour in, Bill approaches Chief, his eyes weirdly concerned. “Chief, you’ve got a visitor.”
Chief frowns. “So send them in.”
Bill hesitates. “Don’t think you want me to do that.”
Chief looks at him, confused. “Just send them in, Bill. Fuck.”
“You asked for it.”
Bill leaves, and a moment later comes back with a young woman—eighteen, maybe nineteen, pale blonde hair catching the sun, eyes like slate, lips full and determined.
Chief freezes.
She breaks into a run, arms outstretched. “Daddy!” she cries, flinging herself at him.
My entire body goes still.
Travis clamps a hand on my arm. “We should go.”
It’s as if he knows, even before everything erupts.
Chief’s gaze snaps to me, locked.
“Get me out,” I croak to Travis. “Get me out.”
He moves swiftly, helping me up and turning me toward the door. The entire room is silent, an emptiness that goes on and on. Everyone is too afraid to speak. Maybe half of them are in shock. Just like me.
Chief’s voice stops us. “Violet, hold up.”
I spin around. “Is she your daughter?” My voice cracks.
He swallows hard. “Fuck. This... this wasn’t how I wanted you to find out.”
I inhale sharply, my chest feeling like it might just burst. “How long have you known?”
The girl looks triumphant, as if she’s won something. There is a smirk on her face that tells me she is bad news.
“It’s a long story, but I didn’t know about her until recently.”
My chest tightens. I force out a strangled laugh. “How could you? This is why Mom left, isn’t it? Because you cheated on her and knocked another woman up.”
“It’s more complicated than that,” Chief growls. “Just let me talk to you.”