Chapter 6

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Fleur POV

He didn't know of my existence....

I'm still trying to process this while gaping at him with my mouth wide open. I am aware that I look like a fish out of water, but that's the least of my concern. My main concern here is that I've spent almost a month stressing and crying over someone that didn't even know I was in this world. I could have just not done this and he'd be living his best life...

I know, I know...some others have it much worse, but I can't help but feel sorry for myself right now.

He looks pained. His eyes are glossy and it's like the gears in his head are spinning a mile a minute. I guess I would be hurt too if you were left out of the loop on something big like bringing life into this world. That brings me to my next round of thoughts. Where is my biological mother? Is she near? Is she remarried? What happened between then? Why didn't she tell him about me?

I feel stupid for thinking this would go smoothly. Why would it? There was something broken in the first place if I was given away. The silence in the room is deafening. I'm too uncomfortable now too try to make any sort of conversation with this literal stranger in front of me. However, I do feel incredibly guilty for bringing this upon him. I had more of a heads up than him and was still a mess.

Fortunately for me, he takes another deep breath and turns to head back to the bottle he left on the counter. I hear him muttering underneath his breath but can't make anything out. I'm now standing there staring at the back of him like an idiot while he takes a few swigs of the liquid. Do I leave? Do I tell him it was nice meeting him? Was it actually nice?

For the love of all that is holy, Fleur...stop thinking!

Before I can scold myself more and try to remove all the excessive thoughts floating around, he turns back to me. And holds the bottle out to me. There's a second of confusion in my brain as to what he's doing before the light bulb goes off in my head and I shake my head and mutter a low 'no thank you'. He nods and takes another large swig before setting the bottle down again, this time rather lightly.

"Your real ma..." he says with a sought husk now. I think the alcohol and tension he's holding in is making him sound slightly off. "She left almost 19 years ago without a word." He must be a mind reader. Or someone with common sense who would have known I'd be asking about her next. It pretty much leaves me at square one since I don't know where to begin in finding her. I have to take this defeat and head out. Jasmine and Brandon will at least be excited for Justin and I to meet them sooner.

Wait a second....

"Justin," I say out loud and suddenly because my mind apparently can't keep thoughts inward anymore. He looks at me, waiting to finish my thoughts and with little judgment which I'm thankful for. "The guy I came with.... Justin... I need to, uh, get back to him." I don't know why I was hesitant in saying that I need to get back. Maybe because once I do, this is over and without resolve.

"He can wait a little longer. No one out there is gonna start anything with the kid," he says in quick response. I'm confused with his response. If anything I assumed he'd agree and send us on our way. It's as if he wants me to be in the same room? I don't know why, though. It's not as if he's learning much about me with the silence shared between us. In a way, it gives me some confidence to speak up again.

"It's okay. We've been driving all day and need to rest before heading out. I-I'm really sorry for bringing this news to you..." I say and hang my head at the end. As hurt as I am that this has pretty much been a dead end, I feel bad for him too. Had I accepted what was, we wouldn't be in this situation. I'm selfish for trying to see if this would fill that small void I always felt. Now I've wounded someone else in the mix. This is why being a trial and error person can be hazardous.

I look up at him and give a small smile and nod before I turn towards the door. As soon as I reach the door I hear him scramble towards me and grab my arm once again. "Please, don't go yet," he says in a whisper. I'm not sure how to handle that. I already feel shitty enough as it is. If I at least oblige him, maybe it will help take some of the guilt away. At the same time, I am starting to feel the exhaustion from driving as well as this whole ordeal taking over. The adrenaline that fueled me at the beginning has faded.

I turn back to him and sigh. "Um, we sort of have reservations at a hotel not too far for the night. We can talk tomorrow or something if you'd like," I say as firm as I can. I'm shifting my weight between both legs and rubbing my arm in a very shy and awkward manner which cancels out any confident tone I just tried to pull off. Dropping my eyes down to my feet everytime I speak doesn't help much either. I feel the guilt creeping up again for lying about being here for the night. We actually made reservations for a week.

"I don't have anything planned tomorrow, so that's okay with me." I hear the relief in his voice. Other than his strange accusation about me being some sort of spy, he's had a face full of sadness. I must have brought up a painful past for him. That brings the guilt back up to 100. After he sighs for the umpteenth time he speaks up again. "There's a restaurant near here called Lola's. Meet me there tomorrow at 10 in the morning....thank you, Fleur." It's the second time he's said my name and it still feels really odd, not in a bad way though. Like he's the one who thought of it. Too bad I know he didn't, seeing as he didn't know me and all....

I give a small smile and nod my head in acceptance of his plans. With the guilt eating away I say, "I'm sorry about all of this... I really didn't think this through so well." I, of course, say this to the ground and after I say it I bring my hand to my face and attempt to rub the shame off without luck. "I'll see you tomorrow. Bye, Mr. LeDeox."

I feel his hand latch on to my shoulder and I straighten up and look at him. "Please..." he says with slightly pleading eyes. "Call me Max." After he clears out his throat and steps back, trying to gain his composure back. Something tells me this isn't a mask and what I saw before is one of many he has to use in front of all those guys outside.

"Okay, Max. See you tomorrow. Lola's, 10am," I say to prove I was listening and to hopefully reassure him ill be there. With that, I turn back to the door and open, only to be met with the muscular back of one of his men.

"Uh....excuse me, I need to get by," I say and try to stay looking up. This is such a weird predicament because I'm so used to looking down, but in this case, if I do look down it will appear like I'm checking out his behind and while I'm pretty sure it's nice and all, I don't need to be making anymore situations for myself. With that stupid and childish though I keep my eyes trained to his shoulders which are still slightly above my eye line. He then turns around and to my luck it's the intriguing man that was standing next to Max. I almost forgot he asked one of his men to guard the door, but did it have to be the most attractive one.

I disgust myself with how immature I can be.

While I'm not looking at his face in fear of seeing him judge the little girl before him, I can feel his eyes on my face. That alone is making the heat rise from my neck slowly up to my face. If I don't get out of here soon, he and the man known as my real dad behind me are going to see what a real human tomato looks like. With the small amount of luck I have, I see him turning to face us made a little room on one end of the doorway. I quickly murmur an apology and slip past him. I cannot lie and say I didn't feel his side brush against mine and for some reason it made my stomach feel weird. Here I go being a weird, hormonal teen again.

I quickly make my way back to the front and try to ignore the heads turning to take another look at the girl who started a ruckus. The blood was pumping in my ears too much to hear if any of them were saying anything about me and I'm grateful for it. The last thing I need is people thinking ill of me. Especially ones who don't know me.

As soon as I make my way to the front I'm surprised to see Justin still there talking to the young boy who was the big man's messenger. They seem to be making small talk of some sort, but Justin quickly notices me getting closer. He quickly pushes away from the wall he was leaning against and says something to the guy before making his way towards me. I have never felt relief as much as I do right now as soon as his arms wrap around me and hold me for a few seconds before he guides me outside so we can leave.

I tell him everything that happened as soon as we check in and are in the room sitting on the bed. The whole time I tell him of what happened I can't help the tears sliding down at a steady pace. While I talk, all Justin does is hold my hand and rub circles with his thumb. By the time I'm done I'm more exhausted than anything and decide to call it a night.

I only hope I can be more prepared tomorrow. 

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Tank POV

As I stand out here in front of the door, my mind is wandering. Ghost supposedly has a daughter. That supposed daughter is in there with him right now...I'm still conflicted with how I feel about this. What if it's all a ploy by those piece of shit Renegades or some other rising club trying to get to us. This is coming at a convenient time as well.

She doesn't look the part, though. I really don't know what it is about her, but one look and her image is stuck in my head. Maybe I'm just not used to seeing such innocence. She seems pure. Untainted by the darkness of the real world. Imagining her losing that innocence makes me angry. If she is Ghost's daughter I sure as hell am going to make sure we keep her safe from the world around her.

I look around the bar area and see that everyone has gotten back to their own shit and peer to the front again. I see the kid that was next to her hanging with a prospect. 'What is that little asshole to her?'I wonder. Another wave of anger passes through me imagining them together as an item. That boy doesn't deserve something like her. Hell, no one probably does.

I should probably stop thinking about a girl I've only seen briefly and never spoken to.

Not a few minutes later I hear the door opening behind me. I may have purposely stood in the way in case she was the one leaving first. Then she'd have to say something and I'd love to hear that voice again. So much for not thinking about her.

Someone out there must be looking out for me because soon after I hear her speak. " ...excuse me, I need to get by," is all I hear from behind me, but fuck does it send my heart into overdrive. The only time I feel this kind of thrill is when I have a successful interrogation or when I get to deliver justice to someone who's wronged us. God, this little thing can set me off without trying. I'd probably fucking die if she touched me at this rate.

I turn around slowly to face her and put all my effort into keeping a straight face. I'm relieved to see she's not looking at my face. I'd probably cave if she did and end up blushing or some stupid shit like that. I'm a fucking man, I shouldn't be feeling like this over some small girl, but at the same time it feels incredible. I glance behind her and see Ghost facing away from us and holding a bottle of Jack. His shoulders are slumped and that has me worried.

Suddenly I feel the little angel brush against my side to escape the room and feeling her against me really did almost kill me. It felt exhilarating....almost euphoric. Right now my mind wants me to chase that feeling that is making its way out the door, but I have to get my shit sorted. I have a prez who looks defeated and war threatening our whole club and their families. I turn my head to watch her walk away for a brief second before I head in to check on Ghost.

I walk right next to him and lean against the counter to take a look at his profile. His head is hung low and eyes are shut tight like he's trying to hold everything in and opening his eyes will let it out. I haven't seen him like this and it makes me feel weird. I don't know how to comfort people and he would probably be just as uncomfortable to see me trying something like that. The only way I know how to be there for him is to keep him company and hope that whatever is going on passes or that he talks.

A few minutes go by before he raises his head and let's out a heavy sigh. "She's definitely mine...she shares some key features with me but most with her....mother," he let's out. I can hear the strain at the end and don't know much about the woman he was married to before Denise. I know he was with someone but everyone that's been here long enough knows not to mention it. I'm guessing that's who would be the girl's mom. I know Ghost wasn't one for sleeping around. Maybe that's why I'm the same.

"What's going to happen then, prez?" I ask. I don't know if she should be part of this world, but at the same time she will become a target if word gets out.

"I don't know...." he sighs again. "We're meeting up tomorrow morning at Lola's. I think I'm gonna crash in a room upstairs tonight. I can't go home to Nise tonight." He takes a sip from the bottle before standing up straight and heading to the door. Before he reaches he turns around again and says, "I'd like for you to come with....if she brings that boy she was with I'll need you to keep him in check if I want to ask her some things in private, alright?" My mind is quick to nod at him before he leaves and then I realize he's put me on babysitting duty.

I guess I can't complain. I'll get to see her again and even be near. I feel like a giddy little kid on Christmas morning. Jesus, I'm feeling whipped by someone I don't know. I'll find out what that little shit she came with is to her and if they're more than friends I'll make sure that comes to a stop. She needs someone to treat her like the treasure she is.

And what better person to do that than me? 

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I want to thank you once again for reading this lil old thing.

Stay safe out there ❤️

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