Shane

Something pokes me in the face and I swat it away with my hands. I roll over and try to get more comfortable. I pull up the too small for my body blanket and try to sleep, but another poke wakes me up followed by the shrill sound of a giggle.

I smile, knowing Adrianna is indeed up for the morning. I can see the gleam of the morning sun through the small slant in my eyes. Sleeping on the couch has given me the ability to be able to tell it's morning just by the way the house settles. Off in the distance coffee brews, Adrianna giggles and Lyla showers. It was what I always wanted to wake up to. What, for a moment anyways, I had but lost.

Lyla saying what she did to me last night comes rushing through my mind and the words she said are at a constant repeat. I shouldn't have gotten angry last night, I knew for a fact that she was just trying to tell me that Adrianna comes first, as she should. Today needs to be a different day and as I lay here, I make a promise that I won't be a dick to her for wanting to protect her daughter. It's why I'm here.

Opening my eyes, my smile grows wider when I spot Adrianna's deep green eyes barring into my brown soulless ones. Her hair is messy, resembling a little of Lyla's, and her pajamas are a little crinkled from her sleep. If I remember right, Adrianna sleeps like she is trying to fight a dozen ninjas, so it makes sense to see her clothes so dishevel.

"Mornin' darlin'." I say blinking a few times to get the sleep from my eyes. I didn't sleep well on the couch. As big as it is, it's still too small for my six foot four, two-hundred-and-fifty-pound frame.

"Morning Shane. Can I have pancakes?" I chuckle remembering her love for all things pancakes. I once told her that I enjoy them with cinnamon and bananas and she nearly lost her mind, aiming her narrowed gaze at Lyla as if she had kept Adrianna in the dark about a sweet breakfast.

"Gotta see what's in your kitchen darlin', but yeah, if I can find everything, I'd love to make you some." Her smile grows as I lean up and rub the sleep from my face. "Where's your mamma?"

"In the shower. She never takes too long but told me not to bother you. I wasn't going to bother you, but when I saw you sleeping, I wanted to be the first one to tell you good morning." Another chuckle comes out of me as I stand and walk over with her to the kitchen.

"Shane, can I sit on the countertop while you do it?" Smiling down at her, I realize that this little girl has indeed got me wrapped around her tiny little finger.

Lifting her up and placing her on the counter, I search through the pantry and cabinets for my ingredients. Ronnie. That's who used to go through my mind each time I made pancakes. She used to love my cooking. But now, the only thoughts I have when making breakfast is for the little girl that between her and her mother, have completely warped my mind and taken over.

"I like when you're here Shane."

"That right little one?"

"Yes. Do I have to go to preschool today? Can't I spend the day with you instead?" She asks in a small voice that makes my chest feel tight.

"Naw, you're spending the day with me darlin'." I state then look back over at her. "You don't like your school?" I already spoke with Lyla about not putting Adrianna back in that school until we go through their surveillance and get someone down there to keep an eye out, but I want to hear it from her if she feels uncomfortable at all, then I will bring it to Lyla's attention.

"I do, it's just that."

"You know you can tell me anything, right little one?" Adrianna nods her head but keeps her eyes on her dangling little feet swaying back and forth.

I wait for her to tell me what she is feeling. Adrianna's not a shy kid, so whatever it is that she feels even a little bit of hesitation for, needs to be handled with care. I don't want to scare her or demand she tell me what's wrong.

"I just don't like that guy." She shrugs, and something nearly snaps inside me. Guy? What guy? Is there someone there bothering her?

"There a guy there you don't like Adrianna?"

"He comes sometimes. Not every time, just sometimes. He comes when we are all outside and I meet him by the fence." Her voice is growing smaller as she tells me the details of their interaction.

"Do you know who he is?" She shrugs.

"Does he ask you questions?" Another shrug.

"Did you tell the teacher about him?"

"No, he told me not to tell anyone when he comes. He doesn't say anything, just looks a me." Adrianna flips her hair out of her face then leans down to hand me the cinnamon. "Don't forget this one." Her smile returns but mine turns into a grimace.

Could it be a Reject? Whoever the hell is messing with my girl will bleed by my hands if they have touched her in anyway. Anger begins clouding my vision, but I do my best at pushing it back. This feeling of helplessness is getting worse and worse and I am beginning to understand Austin's issue with wanting to play a little offense. I make a mental note to call him today and see if we can get a moment to discuss what Adrianna just told me.

I finish making pancakes, at Adrianna's instructions of course, then set her Disney princess plate down with her double stack full of cholate chips. I place Lyla's plate of cinnamon and bananas to the side. I heard the shower shutting down a few moments ago so I know she'll be out here soon. Just as I place my plate down and begin eating alongside Adrianna, Lyla comes waltzing into the room.

She's wearing her scrubs, her teal pants and white shirt with tons of cartoon characters on them. Her naturally curly hair is up in a messy bun and she has light make up on. She looks fuckin' phenomenal.

"Hey love bug, I told you not to wake up Shane." She says in an amusing tone. She knew damn well Adrianna would dash over and wake me up this morning.

"Breakfast is ready for you." Lyla looks shocked as she takes everything in but moves over to the counter and grabs her mug she had brewing. Lyla's always been predictable, having a three-year-old guaranteed her to have a set schedule. When I smelled coffee this morning, I knew she was in the shower.

I am still pissed about her talk with me last night, but I do understand her situation. I won't make her feel uncomfortable in her own home.

"Shane, you didn't have to do this. Thank you for breakfast." I nod my head in her direction then return to my meal. It's been a while since I've cooked for anyone and I'll be damned if it didn't feel good to do it again.

"Adrianna, did you tell Shane thank you?" She asks but smirks when Adrianna ignores the two of us and continues to stuff her face.

The two of us chuckle but a somber look crosses her face and she instantly straightens it and continues eating.

"Okay Adrianna, go and get dressed and I'll be right in to help you brush your teeth." Adrianna nods then rushes past us, singing some godly Disney song about building a snowman as loudly as she can.

"We need to talk Ly." I say watching as she grabs our now empty plates and walks over to the sink.

"What's up?" She begins rinsing the plate spotless, not satisfied until every speck is off each one. One thing I remember about Lyla is her impeccable ability to remain clean.

"Need your eyes babe." She stops what she is doing and holds my gaze. Noticing how serious I look, she straightens her stance. "Was talking to Adrianna this morning. Not tryin' to scare ya, but I think one of the rejects was talking to her prior to you bumpin' into him yesterday."

Lyla's eyes go blank and face pales. If she weren't breathing so heavily right now, I'd swear she was dead. I walk over and place my hands on her shoulders, squeezing a little to get her eyes back on me.

"Shane, please tell me this is some kind of sick joke?" She says collapsing into my shirt. I can already feel her wet tears on me as I hold her close to my form.

"Don't know if it was him or not babe, but she said some guy was visiting her across the fence when they took the kids outside. Makes sense if it were the rejects since you said he knew her name. Don't think it was the first time either. She said she didn't want to go there anymore since the guy started visiting her."

"Oh my god." Lyla's body begins shaking and I curse at myself for telling this before she went into work for twelve hours. I could have waited until tonight, but I knew she would want to know right away. It wouldn't be right not to tell her about her own daughter's obvious discomfort. "What are we going to do Shane? I can't protect her all by myself. I don't know how to handles this."

I hold her even closer to me as she lets everything go that she has been dealing with. Lyla's always made herself out to be a tough girl, but deep down I know she has insectaries of what she thinks a mother should be for her daughter. She's an amazing mother and I hate that I have ever made her feel like she wasn't.

"Gonna protect you both babe. Not gonna let anything happen to you or to her. She's going to be with me this week. After dropping you off at work, I'm going to head to the clubhouse with Adrianna. I'll talk to Austin about what she told me, and we'll go from there. I know he already has Torque and Slice heading over there tonight to install the surveillance Torque set up, so I don't want you to worry, got me?"

I feel her head bobbing up and down, but her face remains in my shirt. I tug on her hair until she looks up at me and I stare into her green eyes.

"I trust you Shane. But I don't know for sure if it's the rejects or not." I stiffen, and she must feel it because we slowly break apart.

"What aren't you telling me darlin'?"

"Just that the rejects may not be the only ones that would go over there. Rory may as well." And there it is. Her ex, the reason behind all the shit storm that was our relationship ending.

"Just fuckin' great." I say then walk over to the living room to gather the few belongings and clean it up. I suddenly feel like a fuckin' unwanted guest in her house.

"What the hell do you want me to say Shane? You want me to open up to you, then as soon as I do, you give me shit." Lyla walks over to me with her hands on her hips and it takes everything in me not to pin her to a goddamn wall and claim her as mine.

"Trying to figure out this shit with the club. Don't have time for your personal shit to mess with our plans. Adrianna made it seem like whoever the hell this guy is, was making her uncomfortable. If it is your ex, you need to speak with him. Handle that shit, or I will."

Before Lyla could say anything, Adrianna comes bouncing in the room wearing a long pink and white stripped dress and gold heels. Her face has what looks like Lyla's makeup all over it and she has about fifty different colorful bracelets around her two arms.

"Adrianna, what are you doing love bug? How many times has mommy told you not to wear my make up?"

"But mommy, I want to pretty on my date with Shane." I smirk as Lyla takes her straight back down the hall and into her bedroom. I can hear Adrianna complaining as she's dragged back to the bathroom. I take that time to straighten out the couch and pack up the blankets I grabbed from the closet last night.

Lyla's admission about her ex weights heavy on my mind as I walk around and observe what little has changed since the last time I slept here. Pictures are the same but the one's I was in are missing. There are a few more knickknacks that Lisa collects whenever she is needed outside the city, and lastly there are now some little awards and miscellaneous projects from Adrianna's school.

Knowing that her ex may be the one stalking Adrianna doesn't make me feel any better and I make yet another mental note to have this fucker looked into. He wants to see his daughter, I won't stand in his way, but stalking her, making her feel uncomfortable, ends now.

"Okay sweetheart, so mommy's going to work. I want you to be on your best behavior with Shane today, got it?"

"Yes mommy."

I turn around and snicker at the new and improved version of Adrianna. The makeup and bracelets are gone, as are the dress and shoes. She is now wearing a pair of shorts and white shirt and her hair is now brushed and straight.

Fuck she's beautiful.

"Please make sure she eats, she'll tell you she's not hungry but don't believe it for a second. She's not been eating well lately, so please no candy. If she starts doing the potty dance, make sure she goes, she's been trying to hide it lately." I can hear the slight panic in Lyla's voice. I won't point out that I have watched Adrianna plenty of times by myself. I know this is hard enough for her.

"She'll be safe with me Ly." Lyla nods her head then looks back over at her daughter whom is dancing to some cartoon on the television.

We pack everything up that Adrianna might need while out on the road and head to my car. I had a car seat in the back for Adrianna for the few times I had to drive her around when we were together and never got rid of it. Lyla must notice because she glances from it to me and over again. I ignore her questioning look, buckle Adrianna in, and hop into the driver's side, starting the car while waiting on Lyla to get in as well.

It doesn't take us long to get to the hospital and when I pull over to park, Lyla spins around, catching my eyes.

"Thank you again Shane. I don't know how to make this up to you all, but I promise I will."

"Just worry about callin' me if anything seems strange at your work today. Don't know who Austin has on you and Candy, but you keep your phone on, yeah?" I receive another nod as she gets out and heads over to kisses her daughter goodbye.

"Bye mommy." Adrianna yells out as Lyla closes the door behind her.

"So, what are we doing today Shane?" Adrianna calls out to me. I look back in the rear-view mirror to see her big green eyes locked onto mine.

"Thought we could go and see Max and Miss Shawna. Sound like a plan little one?"

"Oh yes! I miss Shawna, it's not fair that I didn't get to do more ballet just because she was growing a baby in her belly." She says with huff causing me to laugh.

"Well darlin' don't think it would right to make her do those dances when she was nice and big right?" I receive another of her famous shrugs.

We drive right past Lyla's house and I take in the entire neighborhood. I don't see anything out of the ordinary but that doesn't stop me from looking twice. I don't know who it was that came and saw Adrianna. Could be her biological father, or it could be whoever the hell these rejects are, but one thing is for sure, they both know where Lyla lives.

Part of me wants to keep them over at my house but with all the remodeling shit everywhere and holes are all over the place, it wouldn't be safe for Adrianna. I'll make sure I protect them.

Even if it kills me.

ùùù

"And then I go like this." Adrianna twirls around as she shows a very pregnant Shawna her dance moves she learned from the new ballet teacher Shawna had hired after she began showing.

"That's great Adrianna." Shawna says smiling and clapping.

"Are you ever coming back to ballet?"

"Course honey. I've always loved teaching you guys, I just can't really bend like I used to." Adrianna narrows her eyes at Shawna's large belly then points her little finger at Max.

"My mommy says you're the one that's done that to her, so you have to do everything she asks. Why would you do that to Miss Shawna, Uncle Max?"

The three of us laugh, much to Adrianna's dislike, and I take the time to bend down and speak to my little one. We've been here about twenty minutes and I need to go over to the clubhouse to speak with Austin, but I want to make sure Adrianna's comfortable enough here on her own.

"Hey little one. Think you could hang out here for a bit? Need to go check on some things."

"Are you coming back for me?" She asks, and it breaks my heart that she assumes I'm leaving like I did before. Lyla's right, she is a little confused on what happened between us and I don't want her shutting down on me or her mother.

"Can we get a minute?" I ask, and Shawna and Max nod their heads and head out of the room.

"Am I in trouble?" I lift her up and walk over to the oversized armchair. I can see a triangle shaped wooden box with glass. I know it's a flag inside and the inscription of what Max's mother wrote to his father is engrained on the outside.

Julia thought it would be a good idea to hand it over to him after he was considered stable from his therapy sessions ending three months ago. We're all proud of where Max is and how he made it through his journey. It wasn't easy watching him bury himself, but he's back to his goofy self and I couldn't be happier for him.

"Not in trouble little one. But we need to talk about me and your mamma." Adrianna nods her head but looks down at her hands intertwined with each other. It's a nervous habit of hers, playing with her fingers, so I place my hand on hers. "Me and your mamma aren't together anymore, don't know if we ever will be, but I want you know a secret."

"What?" She whispers leaning her ears in to me slowly.

"I love you. I love you and your mamma so much. You two are the most important things in the world to me, so if you ever want to talk to me, or me to come and get you, and your mom is okay with it, I want you to call me. Got it?" Adrianna nods her head and I wipe the lone tear that escapes her eye. I hate this feeling, but I know she needed to hear that. "And if I ever leave again, I promise I will come back."

"Promise?" She holds up her pinky finger and I almost lose it.

"Promise."

"Hey Adrianna, want to come and help me put the baby's things way?" Shawna asks coming back into the room wiping a tear as well. Adrianna looks over to me for permission and after I nod my head, scurries off my lap and heads over to the side door with Shawna.

I stand and walk over to Max, whom is standing here with his arms crossed near the front door. He glances from where Shawna and Adrianna had just left, then back over to me. I match his stance and wait for what I know if bound to be a joke at my expense.

"Ya know, if you would just get your head out of your ass, you would realize that you and Lyla still care about each other."

"Didn't know this was a fuckin' talk show."

"Just sayin brother. Don't do what I did and waste those years hating something that turns out you didn't understand to begin with." He says looking back over to where we can hear Shawna and Adrianna giggling.

Max and Shawna were practically enemies. Shawna had hidden a secret from him, and in turn Max thought he hated her. It was an uneasy situation that ended in a death of someone sworn to extract revenge on him. I'm glad they are where they are supposed be, but it took a long time for them to get here. I don't know if Lyla and I are in the same boat, but she has so much going on right now that she won't let me within three feet of her. Not that I can blame her with the way I've been acting towards her.

"Go man. We've got her. Come by once you speak with Austin and let me know how it goes. Hate that he took me off the Alberts duty. Hate feelin' helpless."

"Know what you mean brother, but it was a unanimous decision. You've got too much going for you right now. You're right where you're supposed to be." And he was. Max has a baby due in the next couple of months and the last thing he needs is to be fuckin' arrested by this Alberts clown for no damn reason.

"Take care of her and call me if she needs me." I give Max a fist bump and head out to my car to drive to the clubhouse.

Love my mustang. Always been a car guy, but there is nothing like being on my bike with the wind beating my face in half. The open road as I drive out to the clubhouse has my body begging to be over an engine, but I push down the urge knowing I'm keeping the girls safe by riding my second pride and joy.

I reach the clubhouse in record time and when I walk inside I see most of the brothers are out. With everything Alberts has been giving us lately, it's like he wants us to stay far away from the club. Trouble with permits and licenses for alcohol at our club, tickets for unregistered guns when he has one of his goons pull one of us over. Even the shittiest things like a parking ticket on Candice's car the other day. I don't get the petty shit, but if he thinks it will intimidate us, he's got another thing coming.

"Hey man. Got Torque here. Let's get started." Austin says as I walk into his office. Torque sits on the other side of the room with three laptops in front of him and as I lean in closer, I can see one of them has footage of the preschool Adrianna goes to.

"How we lookin' Torque?" It takes him a few thousand keystrokes to answer me but after all this time, I'm used to it.

"Not bad. I think I'm able to get into their camera footage, but one of us must go down there and set everything I need up. We also need to attach one of these to their main computer." He says holding up what looks like a flash drive.

"Good. Bout' time we get a little bit of good luck. I'll send Miles and Dipp. He's been meaning to get a little revenge on the assholes that framed him." Austin says turning to me. I nod my head in return.

"Need one more thing from you Torque." I catch Austin's bewildered glance but ignore it as I center my attention on Torque. I could have waited until I was alone with Torque, but I figured my request would have made it to Austin's lap anyways.

"What's up?" Torque asks not bothering to turn towards me. His hands still typing up a million miles per hour as ten different pop ups appear on each of the three screens he is perched in front of.

"Need you to look into Lyla's past." I ignore Austin's glare and watch as Torque swivels his black office chair around and narrows his at me.

"For what Shane?" Austin says, and I look over to my president to explain.

"Need to know if her family is behind any of this."

"The fuck are you talking about? Thought Lyla said it was a Reject?"

I take a seat and look down at my hands. I didn't want to explain everything, but to protect Adrianna and Lyla, I will.

"It was a Reject. Lyla never retracted what she said. It's Adrianna I'm worried about." Austin moves to sit beside me and when I meet his eyes they have what I can't stand the most, sympathy.

"What's goin' on Shane?"

"Adrianna told me this morning that she wasn't liking school because of the guy that visits her." I can feel Austin tense up beside me and Torque stands from his chair.

Torque has never been one for fighting, he does what he must for his club, but much like Miles, we have tested him in the field often enough to know he can handle himself. He's young, only twenty-three but has been on his own since he was fifteen. Max found him a few years ago on the streets. He was popular because of his ability to hack into any surveillance or computer, but never used what he could do to hurt anyone. To us, that's all we needed to know to make him one of us. I've never heard his story, but I'm guessing by the way his face is becoming enraged, he may have been a child that had wrong done to him.

"You ask her what she meant?" Austin asks calmly, causing me to snap out of my thoughts.

"Yeah. She just said that he doesn't talk much but visits her enough to make her uncomfortable. I asked if she has said anything to the preschool teachers, told me no. Lyla has some demons in her past, and I don't know if this is the Rejects, or that." I shrug hating that it could very well be Adrianna's biological father.

"Demons?" Austin asks.

I give him another shrug and look back over to Torque. I hate this emotional feeling shit. Never been the kind of person to talk about my feelings, especially with my brothers. But I need to get my head out my ass long enough to try and make sense of all this. Lyla has secrets for a reason. Shawna's words keep coming back to me about giving her a chance to explain.

"Me and Ly broke up because her ex fianc¨¦ cornered us one day. Was pretty upset that she was here living her life to the fullest, meanwhile, he had no idea he even had a kid." The silence in the room is like a knife to my gut. I hate reliving the moment Lyla reminded me of my ex-wife, but this needs to come out. Torque needs to know every detail, so he can do his job correctly. There are missing pieces to her story and I intend on filing them.

"So, Adrianna's father." Torque says while sliding his glasses off his face. He rubs his eyes with his thumbs then places them back on.

"Never knew."

Images from that day come roaring back to me one at a time.

Being confronted by her ex

Him claiming Lyla had never told him about the baby

The look of shame in her eyes when I asked her if it were true

The words I called her that night

Every piece of detail from the night that ruined everything hits me like a ton of fuckin' bricks and it burns to know I may have been in the wrong.

Her words to me that night was simple. She wasn't hurt or ashamed that her ex found out the way he did, she was angry. What would cause such a sweet woman, to do something so terrible to someone she once thought she would marry?

"You think this guy claiming to be Adrianna's father is who Adrianna said she saw?" Austin asks getting us back to the present.

"Don't know, but I need to know if it's a possibility."

"I can check her out, but don't you think she should know?"

Austin and I share a look, then he turns to Torque and shakes his head. It's not right, but if Lyla was willing to lose us over this, it may not be something she is willing to admit. I also don't want to worry her. If it is her ex, we have a whole slew of other problems.

"Shane." I look over to my president and await what I assume will be a lecture. "You know, if it is her ex and he ain't doin' anything wrong, we stand back. No if's and's or butts about it."

"Yeah, I got ya'. But that's after I'll be havin' a fuckin' talk to him about him how to approach his kid."

Austin nods his head and I stand up to head out. We didn't get much accomplished today but after they tie into the surveillance cameras at the preschool tonight, we should have a better understanding of who we are dealing with. Never heard of the Rejects MC, but they threatened my girls, and that's all the proof I need to understand that they need to go down.

I make it to Max and Shawna's in no time and have Adrianna asleep on the ride back home. She wore herself out hanging out with Max and Shawna and judging by the three new toys she's got her grasp on, she had a good time.

When we get home, Adrianna asks if we can make dinner for Lyla. I smirk then head to the kitchen with her clinging on my back like a monkey. We make spaghetti and meatballs and save the rest of it for Lyla. Adrianna is cuddled on me half asleep when I hear the jingle of keys in the door, followed by the squeak of Lyla's' shoes. I had asked for Chance to pick her up and drop her off since he was there at the hospital to get Candice anyways.

"Hey, she wore herself out huh?" She says while she sits down next to me and bends down to kiss her daughter. I look down and see Adrianna fast asleep.

"Yeah, guess so. I can take her in her room." I make a move to lift her up, but Lyla stops me.

"No, I've missed her all day, I'll go ahead and take her." I nod my head, giving her some privacy with her daughter. Lyla goes to move Adrianna but notices her pajamas and looks up to me with a smirk on her delectable lips.

"What?"

"Big badass biker putting little mermaid pajamas on a three-year-old girl." She giggles.

"Damn straight babe." I'm man enough to admit I found it cute as hell when Adrianna asked me to ger her dressed for bedtime.

Lyla lifts her daughter up and takes her into her room. I hear the sound of a shower starting not ten minutes later and try not to imagine her naked body with water and soap cascading down it. I adjust myself and am just about to go in there when I hear my phone ringing from the bar in the kitchen.

Seeing Mile's name, I answer it with a hushed tone.

"Got something?"

"No." He says on a sigh. "Torque has everything set up, so we have the ability to see if from now on, but he said Lyla's car is blocking everything. We got the guy and he was wearing a cut, but unfortunately, they're too far to get a good look at him. Torque is going to look a little further into it, see if he can see if the Rejects may have come before then. He also told me that he was going to look into your other problem. I want you to know I went and looked around the fence, found some prints and burned out cigarettes. Seems like someone was standing there a while. Had Chance stand in those very prints, I was on the inside where their playground is, couldn't see him. So, it makes sense for the teachers not to say anything, they most likely never even saw him."

"Shit. Thanks man keep me updated." I say then hang up. I don't get a chance to think about what this all means before Lyla comes back out in some giant oversized shirt and her normally big curly hair, in a messy wet bun.

"Hey, thought we could watch a movie or something. You want to?"

I nod my head, unable to keep my eyes off her ass as she bends down to retrieve the remote. Whatever all of this shit means for us, I can't forget what the end game is. I need to protect these girls. I won't fail them.