His mind was a whirlwind as he thought of the quickest route out of town . . . and how best to cut the fuckers off. His motorbike would be quickest, but wouldn’t fare well against a truck, or two. Fuck. He had to call in reinforcements, he couldn’t do this alone . . . and then he heard her. Giggling and chatting as if nothing in the world was wrong, and of course there wasn’t.
It was all in Cody’s mind.
He strode toward her, knowing exactly where she was and who she was with: Daisy, his cook who ran the kitchen. She was human and had worked for him for years. Cordy laughed again, a high tinkling sound that had his lips tugging up at the side and settling his stomach that had been in knots moments ago.
When he arrived, he paused at the door, taking in the scene of his daughter sitting on a counter, one of Rocky’s sweet delights in her hand as Daisy moved around getting everything in order for the day. Daisy was chatting away as if it were normal to arrive and find a complete stranger in the bar, and truth be told, it had happened before when he’d helped people out so it wasn’t the first time.
“Then there was the time Cody had to break up a fight between . . .”
Cody decided he should stop her before she gave away his entire history. “Hey, I wondered where you’d disappeared to.”
Cordy’s head swivelled around, her face changing immediately to one of expectation as she obviously wondered how things had gone with his call to Chad. “Hi, Daisy arrived and we brought Rocky’s delivery back . . . wow! These are amazing.”
She waggled the pastry in her hand and he had to agree. That’s why he had a standing order every dang day. “Yeah, he’s an amazing baker.”
“Sure is,” Daisy agreed. “Cordy was just saying she’s staying for a while.”
“She is . . . I’ll do the introductions if she hasn’t already?”
Cordy’s face blushed as she shook her head. “Hmm, no, I didn’t.”
“I told you, Cordy, there’s not a problem about it.” Cody went to join her, pointedly looking at Daisy. “This is my daughter and she’ll be staying for as long as she wants to. It’s a long story, kinda private, but I didn’t know about her and she didn’t know about me until recently and now she’s here.”
Daisy’s eyes crinkled at the sides even more as her face broke out into a huge smile. “Oh, jeez, I wondered when I saw you. Your eyes are just like Cody’s and well, I just wondered about that. I’m so happy you’ve found each other and whatever the story is, that’s your business, not mine. Welcome, Cordy, welcome.”
She came over, opened her arms and hugged Cordy around the waist while his daughter flushed bright red, mumbling, “Thanks.”
“I can’t believe you’re a father.” Daisy stepped toward him, slapping his arm.
“Me either.” Cody shrugged. “But I’m getting used to it . . . slowly.”
“Well, if you need any pointers on parenthood, you know where I am.” Daisy laughed. “Now, I’ve got to get on, lots to do, as usual.”
“See you later.” Cody motioned with his head for Cordy to follow him and she said a quick goodbye to Daisy, hopped off the counter and walked out behind him.
As soon as they were alone the questions started. “How did it go? Was your Alpha okay about me being here? Was he angry that there might be trouble? Did he say I had to go back? Or has mine been in touch yet? Shoot, my heart’s galloping a million beats a minute!”
“Calm down.” Cody shook his head as they arrived back at the bar, grabbing a couple of sodas and leading her to a table. “Here, sit so we can talk.”
He waited until she appeared comfortable, although he could still hear her heart thudding wildly in her chest so he thought he should put her out of her misery. “First thing Chad said to me when he answered was that he was expecting my call and when I asked why, he said he’d seen, and scented you. Said he knew who you were . . . he is Alpha after all. I hardly got a word in, Cordy. I didn’t need to say much of anything. Chad asked me how it was that he didn’t know about you and when I told him that I didn’t know about you and the circumstances, well, that was it. He said I was a member of the Pack so that meant you were too . . . and as such that if trouble came that you were under his protection.”
He paused, watching as his words hit home. Her eyes widening with shock, so he carried on, “Yeah, I know, it’s great news, isn’t it? He went so far as to say that if your old Alpha calls that he’ll tell him straight that a biological father has true rights over any child and he’ll stand by us. He knows him and he’s not impressed . . . shit, I hate the fucker so if he comes here he’s not getting anywhere near you. Don’t worry, Cordy, you’re going to be all right. You don’t have to go back there. Not if you don’t want to. You don’t want to . . . do you?”
He waited. Not realizing until this moment that he wanted her to stay. He’d been a father for less than a day and in that time Cordy had wormed her way into his heart and soul. Was it genetics? Was it her scent that had called to his Wolf? Was it . . . hell, it didn’t matter what the heck it was. All that did was that she was here now and he’d lost so many damn years and he didn’t want to lose another second. Not now that she’d found him, not now that he knew about her, not now that he was aware that another being with his DNA walked on the Goddess’ green earth.
He wasn’t sure what it would do to him if she left him . . . like her mother had all those years ago. He thought it may well destroy him once and for all.
Cordy’s head moved, a slight shake, a tiny movement, barely noticeable before she whispered, “I never want to go back there. I’m going to miss my mom and my grandparents . . . but I can’t live there anymore. I can’t take it. The way he treats her, and me, and how nothing is done about it.”
Cody’s heart slammed against his chest, his breath caught in his throat, and his eyes lost focus momentarily as her words crashed home. “Then you stay here,” he told her firmly. “I’ll make sure you’re taken care of and if you want to study . . . what was it? Anthro something or other? Well, that’s what you will do. I’ll make it happen, Cordy.”
Head canting to the side, she let out a long sigh, as if she’d been expecting him to say something else entirely. “I can’t expect that from you. You’ve only just met me. I’ll work for you, earn my keep and save for college.”
Cody chuckled, liking her moxie. “You can help out, if you want, but you’ll be going to college. So get looking for somewhere that does what it is you’re looking for.” He paused, the thought of losing her so soon after finding her hitting him squarely in the guts. “But maybe try and find something nearby . . . huh?”
Cordy smiled, a full on shining bright one that had her eyes twinkling. “I can do that. I’d rather do that.”
“Good, it’s settled.” Cody clapped his hands together. “Now we’ve got to hustle, I’ve a business to run.”
“Okay, where do you want me?”
“Right now, I want you to just follow me around and familiarise yourself with everything, get to know the place and where things are. You won’t get to work anywhere until you know the place backwards and even then, you’ll shadow people until you know their jobs. You’ll be what I call a floater. That’s someone that I can put anywhere there’s a need, from the kitchen to waitressing, to helping me with stock, and even helping behind the bar. The bar will be the very last thing you’ll learn though, it can get hectic and rowdy when we’re busy.”
“Sounds good,” she replied, not looking fazed as he rattled everything off.
“Okay, let’s get started.”
And they did, Cordy following him and even finding a notepad and pen to jot things down as she went. His staff arrived, Patty was first and she took the time to make sure everything was all right before she got ready for the start of her shift. As the others strode in, he introduced Cordy, to her embarrassment and some raised eyebrows, but he made sure to make it be known that people weren’t to quiz her so she’d be left in peace. If she wanted to talk about things, that was up
to her and it wasn’t long until they were open for the lunch crowd.
“I didn’t expect this,” she admitted. “I thought it’d just be busy at night.”
“Lunch is always busy then we have a lull and then we’re busy from dinner again. Not as bad as last night because we had the band, but yeah, the business is doing well.”
She stopped, looking around then back to him with a worried look. “I’m not looking for your money.” She lowered her voice. “I’ve been thinking about this all morning and, well, I’m not comfortable with just turning up and you paying to put me through school. I’d prefer to work and earn my keep.”
Cordy had a stubborn look in her eyes and her jaw was clenched firmly when she finished, arms crossed and she reminded him so much of his younger self it hurt. He saw her looking around, specifically at his staff, then back to him, and knew what she was thinking: that they’d believe she was only after his cash.
It was a reasonable assumption after all, but one he wouldn’t allow.
“We’ll talk later,” he said instead. “Nothing needs to be decided right now, so don’t worry about it, and definitely don’t think twice about what anyone else thinks, Cordy. Because I sure as hell don’t, I never have and never will. I see your mind working overtime and you can just stop right there, because these folks here know me and they won’t blink an eye about me helping you. Shit, I’ve helped tons of people, some I’ve known but others I’ve not known from Adam, so it’s not gonna be a surprise to anybody if I help you, honey. Trust me.”
“You really help strangers? With cash of your own?” she leaned in, whispering.
“I do,” he whispered back. “I’ve no family, and I’ve a good-going business, what else would I do with my money? Fritter it away on nonsense and shit? I’ve always thought back to that time when I was forced out of the Pack and wondered if there was someone to help me, us, if that would’ve made a difference and if we’d still have been together. So, when I can I help out. It’s not a big deal, I just do what I can, when I can. At times it’s not even a lot that can help someone, just a place to stay for a while, or a few hundred dollars to get somewhere safe, but yeah, at other times it can be more.”
She looked at him as if he were some kind of saint, his feet shuffling uncomfortably. He wasn’t. He just helped folks out when he could.
“When I do the remodelling and expansion, I’m planning on adding a place to the back, a self-contained unit that can be used for folks, and that would mean they don’t have to actually stay in my place. It’ll be easy enough to add into the plans and won’t add much to the cost.”
“That’s cool.” She grinned. “I’m not sure what to say, but it’s great that you’re even thinking about doing that.”
“It’s not just me.” He shrugged. “When I’ve got a high risk person staying, like a woman running from a bad relationship or something, the guys help out. If I’m not around to keep watch, then Ricky . . . you met him last night, or Spencer, he’s Patty’s boyfriend and one of my other security guys, well, they’ll step in and help. Shoot, if they’re not available then Jonesy, the barman will come, or some of the Pack. I don’t just do this alone.”
“But mostly you do,” Cordy shot back. “You’re just trying to make it sound like you don’t. I’m not stupid.”
“I didn’t say you were stupid, I can see you’re anything but.” He looked off to the side, uncomfortable with the conversation. “But I just do what I do, I tend not to think about it very much.”
“I can see that but it doesn’t change the fact that it’s you that’s doing what you do.” She gave him a smile. “You shouldn’t feel embarrassed about it.”
“I don’t like talking about it,” he admitted. “I do it and move on.”
“That’s because . . .” She paused, nibbling her lip for a moment. “Well, it’s because you’ve got a good heart and you obviously think of others more than yourself.”
Cody felt his face growing hot, his cheeks flushing with her compliment. “Come on, there’s still a lot to do . . . I’ve a business to run.”
“Sure.” Cordy pushed her chair back. “I’m good to go but just so you know, you look super cute when you blush.”
Cody got up, laughing. “Now that’s not something I’ve ever been told. I think I’ll have to work you hard today to punish you for that.”
“Yeah, yeah, you do that.” Cordy laughed back at him.
The sound of her laughter filled him with a joy he’d never felt before and he decided right then and there, he’d do whatever he could to hear it again. Hell, he’d go to any lengths, even cracking poor ass jokes, to hear it again as he led her away to start the day.
~ Chapter Ten ~
The next few days flew by with Cordy slipping into his life as if she had been there for much longer. In fact, Cody felt as if a piece of him that had been missing had suddenly been discovered and he found himself smiling more and more. The only fly in the ointment was Cordy’s refusal to contact her mother.
She point-blank refused to call her, saying over and over that it would put her in grave danger. But she did relent and text her grandparents, telling them that she was safe and had found her father. She told them that he had given her a safe place to stay and she wasn’t going back. Her grandmother called her and they chatted for over an hour with Cordy crying at one point which had Cody’s guts in a mess because he was sure she was going to change her mind and go back home.
But when she ended the call she’d assured him she wasn’t and that it had just been emotional talking to the woman she loved. Cody had asked if she wanted him to go up and try and get her mother but Cordy almost had a fit when he mentioned that, telling him that it would result in her mother being punished and him not getting past the guards at the gate.
That wasn’t what stopped him though. He would’ve gone and fought tooth and nail to get inside, going so far as throwing down a challenge to the despicable Alpha, but it was the look in his daughter’s eyes. The fear and downright horror as her hand shot out, holding onto him for dear life, while she pleaded with him not to leave her alone. That was what stopped him . . . for now.
Cody wasn’t sure how long he could stay away though. There would come a point when he would have to go and confront Morton and his old Alpha. He had to, if only to get Cordy’s mother out of the appalling life she was living and reunite them. But, for now, he would stay with her until she was more settled and realized that he was more than capable of taking care of her and those that had done wrong to her and her mom.
“Cody,” Cordy shouted, they’d decided it was what she’d call him . . . for now. She wasn’t quite comfortable with calling him dad yet, and he didn’t blame her. “What’s this?”
He was re-stocking the bar when she appeared from upstairs, her hands full of the packages that Connie had dropped off earlier. “They’re for you. I got Connie to go shopping, ‘cause well, I didn’t think I’d get you anything you’d like and I knew if I gave you money you’d just refuse. So, Connie did it for me.”
“What the hell? There’s tons here! This must’ve cost a fortune.” Cordy’s arms were full. Maybe he had gone a little overboard but he had a lifetime to make up for.
“You’ve barely got anything, Cordy, and I’ve got your entire life to catch up on . . . all those birthdays and Christmases that I missed out on. Besides, you’ve got your first full shift in the bar tonight, you needed something nice to wear.”
He’d been so impressed with how fast she’d learned everything that he was giving her a trial run this evening, and he had no doubt she’d pass with flying colors. Even though it was a Friday he was giving her only a small station area to start and Patty agreed to keep an eye on her, though she’d said she doubted she’d need it. High praise indeed coming from her.
“But . . . but . . . this is just too much!” Cordy placed her things onto a table, some slipping to fall to the floor and she hurried to pick them up. “There’s jeans . . . plural, like three or
four pairs, Cody! And boots, sneakers, tops galore and jeez, how does Connie know what size underwear to get me? I don’t remember telling her and if you say you’ve been sneaking into my room to check it, well, that’s just too damn weird!”
Cody’s hands shot up, his cheeks flaming. “What? No! Absolutely not and I didn’t even know she was going to get you that stuff! Damn it, Cordy, of course I wouldn’t do that. I’ll kill her! What was she thinking? How would she know that?”
Cordy looked over at him, a smile breaking out a moment before she started to laugh. A great big one that had her arms around her belly as she leaned over, giggling and snorting for long minutes before she got hold of herself. “Oh my god! You should’ve seen your face! It was priceless . . . and you blushed again! Well, I don’t know how she did it but she did, and I’m kinda grateful that she did. She even got me some make up, just a few things but she got me stuff that’s perfect for my coloring. I’ll need to go thank her and you. Thank you so much, but this is way too much.”
Her voice hitched at the end, her head dropping as she turned away to pick everything up. “Too much,” she whispered again.
“Not enough,” Cody fired back. “Not nearly enough to make up for not being there but I’m not going to get all mushy, so just take them and pick out what you’ll wear tonight. One thing to think about though.” He paused, waiting for her to look at him, and she did, with a cocked eyebrow. “Be careful how you dress, ‘cause things can get rowdy on a Friday night and I don’t want to have to crack heads.”
Cordy’s hip jutted out, her head tilting to the side as she glared over at him. “I beg your pardon? Are you telling me what I can wear?”
“No, not at all.” Cody shrugged. “Just saying that the guys on a Friday have been working hard all week and come looking for some fun, so, just be aware of that. And before you get all high and mighty . . . is it wrong that I’m having to say this? Of course it is, but this is a bar where there’s a mix of Shifters and humans and a lot of alcohol is consumed. Sometimes things can get out of hand, wires can get crossed, and if a simple thing like showing too much cleavage can set that off . . . do the math and make up your own mind. It’s not just from a business standpoint, Cordy, you’re my daughter and I know this is all new to us, but I feel protective of you. It’s built in me and I won’t apologize for knowing that I’ll want to rip the head off some drunk ass that’s ogling you. That’s all I ask.”
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