Lyla

The black liquid quietly pours into the small white ceramic mug. I lift the mug up and walk over to the dining room table, placing it just before Chance.

"Thanks Lyla."

"Sure thing."

Walking over to the sofa, I begin picking up all the toys Adrianna had scattered in the living room when she was showing them to Chance.

"I can help with that. Kinda my fault she brought them all out here." I look up from grabbing the ones that fell and went under the couch and look at Chance whom has moved into the living room like a ninja.

"Yeah, it's not always the wisest decision to have a three-year-old show you her favorite toy. That's like an invitation to her entire room."

Chance chuckles, joining me on the floor to help clean and I join him. It's comfortable being around him. He's always been the laid-back person with me, never judging, never giving me shit for being who I am. I can tell Chance carries around a lot of baggage and as soon as Lisa told me about him, I knew he was the kind of man whose heart was now made of steal. She was working near the school when the incident happened. Back then Chance was a simple man with an amazing goal. Now though, I feel like he is one tenth the man he used to be.

I haven't told anyone about his secret. It's not my story to tell, but I've seen the way he and Abby are together, and I for one hope he eventually realizes what he is doing to that poor girl. My phone dings from my pocket and I quickly pull it out, and glance at it. A message from my sister pops up as I stare at my screen.

Lisa: You sure you guys are alright?

I smile and reply back to my little sister, glad she decided not to return home from her trip early. I had called and told her everything that went down today, putting her into a state of panic. I hated doing that to her when her focus should be on work but knew she would kill me if she came home to not only Shane being in our home, but a bundle of news about a mystery MC threatening our lives.

"Where do these go?" I snap out of my thoughts and look back over at Chance who has about ten different board games in his massive hands.

"Just place them in the closet in the middle of the hallway." I smile and watch as he walks quietly over.

I had just put Adrianna down for a nap when Shane and Austin left. It's been almost an hour and neither has returned. She doesn't normally nap anymore, but I can tell the way she was asking Chance a million question about where Shane was and when he was coming back, that she was getting tired. She was out within minutes when I laid her on the bed.

Having Shane in my personal space again was something I wasn't expecting. Now knowing he will be staying here, with me and my daughter, until everything blows over, is frightening.

"Anything else?" Chance asks walking back out to the living room. I am just about to hand him some more toys that go in that same closet but place them down on the coffee table instead, narrowing my eyes on him. There is something I've been dying to ask him but never got the chance.

"Can I ask you something?" I say placing my hands on my hips.

"I should never answer a woman when they have that stance but shoot." He points at my posture then plops down on the couch.

"What's up with you and Abby? You seem smart, it's hard to believe your too daft to see the way that girl looks at you. And before you tell me it's because she's young, spare me the bullshit."

Chance runs his hands through his hair a few times before his eyes meet mine. I can see the turmoil rumbling around in his mind and it's clear that there is something that deeply troubles Chance. More than the incident from a few years ago. He's got a darker story to tell than that of a school shooting.

"I can't be what she deserves. I have more ugly than I have good, and she deserves someone with all good within them."

"Shouldn't that be her choice?" I ask quietly. Adrianna isn't a long napper and I wouldn't be surprised if she comes running out of her room any minute now.

"I have to make that choice for her. She's not only young but she's innocent. Abby chooses not to see the world in black or white, she doesn't even see gray. She sees all colors. Different shapes and sizes, different ways for people to love and respect each other. Me? I've learned a long time ago that the world is nothing but an ugly doormat for cruelty."

I look back over at Chance and bring my hand to his that is placed in a tight grip on his knee. "Chance, Abby has been through a rough life. She's had to be a grown up at a young age and just because she chooses to look at life with a glass half full, doesn't mean she is naive. She's a smart girl and sweet as hell. Besides, could you really live with someone else being her everything, knowing it damn well should, be you?"

With those last words I stand up and bring the toys into the hall closet. Before I make it back out to the living room, I hear a subtle knock at the door causing Chance to immediately jump up and check the peephole. I don't miss the fact that his hand was on his gun in his back pocket. Chance opens the door and I watch as Shane makes his way inside carrying what looks like a duffle bag.

"You can head out now brother. Austin expects you at the clubhouse to go over everything." I hear Shane say to him followed by a few chuckles that go back and forth when what sounds like Chance telling Shane to play nice.

The door closes, and I turn the corner to see that only Shane is left in my house with me and my daughter.

"You want some coffee?" I ask in a sad attempt of trying to be cordial with the man I'm more used to seeing naked then clothed.

"Nah babe, I'm good. C'mere." I automatically walk towards him and right into his awaiting arms. "Not gonna let anything happen to you or Adrianna. Hearin' me?"

I nod my head but keep my eyes closed and head resting along his thick muscular chest. I feel his arm come up and push my head deeper into him as I let out all my frustrations and fears from the day wrap me in a cocoon of cologne, leather and sex.

Damn this man smells good.

"Need to know your plans for the rest of the week darlin'." I push back a little and am surprised when he doesn't let me go entirely but walks me over to the couch. Once seated, I wipe at my eyes and focus on the conversation.

"Lisa is in Boston for the next week or so. They've been pretty busy since their company expanded, but that means having her not home as much."

"What else babe. You and Adrianna."

"I work all week and Adrianna has school all week. I was going to take her to the zoo because she's been doing great in school and adjusting well, but I'm not so sure anymore."

I feel his hand go under my chin as he forces me to look up into his deep brown eyes. "Don't worry about Adrianna's schedule. You said that you all had a family emergency, right?" I nod my head that is still connected to his hand. "Then we'll stick with that. I'll take Adrianna this week and drop you off at work each day. We can still take Adrianna to the zoo babe, just need to be careful. No one expects you to confine her to this house. Wouldn't be right, but we just need to be cautious."

"You don't have to take her all day Shane. I'm sure you have work and Adrianna can be a handful all day long."

"Know that babe, but between me and the club, she'll be fine for a week. Besides, if she gets all hyped up with sugar, I'll just blame it on Max."

I giggle thinking of all the times Max has snuck candy to her. "Are you sure? Adrianna probably shouldn't miss much school."

"Positive. It will be nice. Plus, I wouldn't be comfortable sending her back the very spot she was practically threatened." I can feel the anger radiating off his body in waves but he's quick to change the conversation. "Torque is going to head over there tonight after they close to see if he can access their cameras. Once he gives us the okay that there is no threat, she can go back. Me or another brother will keep an eye out though."

I close my eyes and lean back against the back of the couch. Knowing these guys are handling the situation and seeing for myself the deadly force they can be, I know me and my daughter are safe. It's relieving knowing I won't have to protect her all on my own. I open my eyes and see Shane just inches away from me. I lick my lips automatically and hear him groan in response. Just before his lips could capture mine, I hear tiny footsteps followed by a loud squeal.

"Shane, your back. Are you going to sleep over again?" I push away from the couch, rubbing my lips with one finger. They never made contact but the electricity in the room was sufficient enough to make them feel numb.

"Yeah princess. Going to be around for a few days if that's okay with you." I hear a few whispers and hums as I make my way to the kitchen to start on dinner. Adrianna has always had a thing with whispering to Shane. I used to be jealous of it, worried my daughter couldn't talk to me about certain things, but Shane always assured me it was anything too important she would tell him. Just things like she was glad he was there.

"I want to show you my newest stuffed animal. Come on." I hear them retreat to her room and I take the opportunity to blow out a breath.

This week is going to be challenging.

ùùù

There is nothing sexier than a man doing pushups while the gleam of the sun setting behind him, as he moves up and down, reflects across his naked back.

Nothing.

I watch in fascination, and maybe hold my phone up a few times to take pictures, as Shane's body does what seems like his two hundredth push up in a row.

"And so, they lay eggs. Sometimes a lot of eggs at the same time." Adrianna says as she continues to talk about her newest book of animals.

She is sitting on his back as he does his pushups and I smile at the fact that I have taken at least fifteen photos of them. A beeping noise stops me from continuing to ogle at the image in front of me and I make my way to the kitchen to retrieve the roast for dinner.

"Adrianna, dinner is ready honey, why don't you go get washed up." At my words, Adrianna scurries off Shane's back and runs to the guest bathroom located in the middle of the hallway.

Shane finishes his set and sadly puts his shirt back on to walk over to me. He glances around the kitchen as I bring the mashed potatoes over to the table then go back to get the chicken. I have always enjoyed cooking and now that I have Adrianna, getting her to try new things has made my cooking adventures more enjoyable.

"Smells fuckin' good babe."

"Thanks, why don't you have a seat. I'm going to go check on Adrianna, knowing her the bathroom is a huge mess by now."

Shane sits while I run and check on Adrianna. She is currently in the middle of washing her hands and telling her new stuffed rabbit, Mr. Wigglesworth, that Shane is going to stay here forever. A sad smile graces my lips and I head back up to the kitchen to speak to Shane. With him staying here I need to make sure we are on the same page. Adrianna thinks the world of him and I don't want to confuse her even more when he has to leave again.

"She good?" Shane asks when I walk back in.

"Yeah, almost done. I thought we could talk before little ears reach us." Shane nods his head and looks dead at me. He's always been a caring person, both with me and with Adrianna, but after the fallout we've had, I don't know if he's the same person. I need to protect my heart and my daughter's sanity.

"Whatever happened between us in the past, needs to stay in the past. It isn't going to be easy to have you here, and don't get me wrong, I'm glad you are, but it can't turn into anything more than you doing your job. I appreciate everything you and your club has done, but I have to think about Adrianna and where her head will be at when you leave again."

"You think I'm bad for her?"

"No, don't put words in my mouth. I'm saying I want us to be friends, but I don't want my daughter to hear you calling me babe or holding me close."

No matter how much I want it.

"Yeah, keep my distance, I got ya." Shane says then stands up heading towards the back yard.

"Shane please don't be angry, I have to protect my daughter."

"From me?" He says turning around. I can see the anger growing in his features and pray he doesn't say anything that will have me kicking him out. "Tryin' to protect her from me?"

"No. I know you care about my daughter and would never intentionally hurt her, but that doesn't mean she won't be confused. You were the one that said the other day meant nothing to you."

"That's because you acted like you couldn't get further away from me. Well you got your fuckin' wish." He says, then storms out to the back deck.

I turn around when I hear Adrianna coming out of the bathroom and run over to get her fed. I won't let Shane dictate me being a mother. Adrianna comes first, and that means no time for men in my life that aren't there to make commitments.

The rest of the night goes by quickly as Adrianna and I finish dinner, bath time, and put her down for bed. It wasn't easy getting her to go to sleep with her million question about Shane and why he didn't join us for dinner, but after a long night, I managed to get her to bed and slowly walk out to the living room.

Shane is asleep on the couch; his features look haggard and tortured as he breaths evenly. I run my palm against his gruff and it takes everything in me not to lean in and kiss him.

"This is not going to be easy" I say then walk to my bedroom for a restless night of sleep.