Nothing Else Matters (Demons Disciples MC Book 2)

by Allana Walker

“Daria, it’s fine. You’re a grown woman. You don’t have to ask my permission. Just be careful.”

  “Bit late for that talk, Pop.” Nico laughs, coming in. He started calling Dad Pop not too long ago, and I think Dad loves it.

  “Shut up, asshole.”

  “Daria, language.” Dad shakes his head with a smile on his face.

  “Where’s Striker? Barron said he stayed here,” Nico asks me, stealing a slice of toast from my plate. I smack his hand before he reaches for my bacon.

  “Still in bed.”

  “Well, have you told him you’re pregnant yet?” He leans in to whisper to me.

  “Lauren and Dad know, Nico.” He looks at Lauren, who walked in and joined Dad at the table.

  “And Striker is still breathing?” He looks around at Dad, who shrugs.

  “I was going to telling him tonight.” Something changes in his face when he looks at his cell. “Tell him I’ll see him at the clubhouse later.” He kisses my cheek and walks over to join Lauren and Dad at the table with his coffee.

  I walk back up to my room with a cup of coffee in hand for Striker. Opening my door, I see him stretching, the sheet just covering his lower half, his top half on show. Biting my lip, I walk farther in.

  “Morning,” I bend down, kissing him while handing him his coffee.

  “Thanks.” Why did I say I wanted to take this slow? It’s been one night, and I'm frustrated already because I want to jump his bones, but I'm the one who said I wasn't ready—such an idiot. I sit on the bed, gazing at him, wondering how I'm going to tell him I'm pregnant. Maybe I could just hand him a sonogram picture?

  “Baby?” His voice pulls me out of my musings. I look at him, drinking him in. His tousled black hair, his ice-blue eyes and strong jaw. My eyes lower to his perfect cupids bow lips. “Did you hear what I said?” He grins.

  “Huh?”

  “You okay?” He places his hand on my cheek, and I lean into it. His touch is electric and calming all in one.

  “Yeah, I'm good. Better than good,” I say with a beaming smile. As I lean in to kiss him, his hand slides into my hair. My tongue traces the seam of his lips. He opens them, letting my tongue caress his. The kiss is slow. Sensual. He bites my lower lip, sucking it to ease the sting. He presses his forehead to mine, linking our fingers together.

  “I need to go on a run tonight.”

  “Run? You don't run.”

  He throws his head back, laughing. “No. The club. We need to do some business in Washington. Dad needs Nico and me to go with him and a few others.”

  I try to swallow the growing lump in my throat. “How… how long for?”

  “I'll be back Monday.”

  Seven days. Seven days without him here to protect us. While it’s perfectly safe here at Dad’s, with all the gates and security cameras, I still feel uneasy. The past week I've felt safer than ever having Striker back in my life, not that he really left.

  “Oh.” I sit back on my heels. My cell rings, and I reach for it to answer the call. “Hello?”

  “Miss Denver? It's Aubrey.” My realtor’s chipper voice comes through the receiver. “I'm pleased to tell you that your offer on the new house has been accepted. Everything is ready for you to sign. When is it convenient for you to come into the office?”

  “Great. That's great. Thank you.” I should be happy that I'm finally moving out of my dad's place. “I'll come by and sign everything this afternoon.” I hang up, standing to head to the shower.

  “Dee?” Striker is behind me, grabbing my wrist lightly.

  “The offer on the house got accepted.”

  “That's great.” His eyes glitter with excitement that soon turns to confusion. “You're happy, right?”

  “I am.” I force a smile. “I'm just… I'm just scared.”

  “About what?”

  “That you won’t come back to me.” A mist clouds my eyes.

  “Baby, nothing and no-one will stop me coming back to you.” He places both hands on either side of my face, lifting it to look into his eyes. “I lost you twice before. I'm not risking it again.”

  I gaze into his eyes. Now, I have to tell him.

  “I'm pregnant.”

  His hands slip from my face, falling to his sides. I lift my eyes, risking a look at him. His mouth opens, making an o shape, and his brow creases. He licks his bottom lip.

  “Is it mine?” What. The. Fuck? He closes his eyes after reading my expression, knowing what he just said. “Come on, Daria. You can't blame me for asking. We were apart for weeks. I saw you with Austin.” His eyes darken at the memory. It's true. Doesn't lessen the blow of the words he just spoke.

  “I told you nothing happened that night or any other night with anyone. Austin and I are ancient history. We slept together once, way before you and I ever met.” This is not how I pictured telling him I was pregnant. “Look, I need to take a shower, go see the realtor, and then I’m meeting Jess and Jake.” I sigh, folding my arms and stepping out of his touch.

  “Jake?”

  “Yes, Jake. He owned half of the house, so I need to meet him to give him the cheque for half the value..”

  “Can’t it wait? We need to talk about this, Daria.”

  “I know, and we will, but I want to meet up with my best friend and catch up with him. Don’t worry, I won’t fuck him. Jess will be there too!”

  “Daria, that’s not what I meant. I just…” His shoulders slump. “It doesn’t matter. I’ll see you later. I need to go see Dad.” He kisses my head and leaves.

  So much for a do over.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Striker

  You idiot. She tells you she’s pregnant, and you ask her if the baby is yours.

  “Hey.” Nico greets me at the bar with a shot and a bottle of beer.

  “Hey.” Sighing, I sit on the stool, taking a pull of my beer and throwing the shot back.

  “So, how does it feel to be back in the arms of the love of your life?” Nico teases me. I don't answer him. “Hello. Earth to Striker?” Nico waves his hand in front of me. “Call Daria, man.”

  I look around at him. “Call Daria? Why would I do that?”

  “Because you clearly had a disagreement this morning judging by the distant look you have on your face and the way Daria stormed out this morning.” He shakes his head.

  “It’s like we’re destined to fight all the time. Tell me it gets easier.”

  “I don’t think I’ve ever fought with Jess as much as you and Daria have in a year.” He laughs. “Just call her. Tell her you need to talk. That’s what you need to start doing. Use your mouths and communicate.”

  I pull out my cell and walk away toward my room in the clubhouse.

  “Hey.” Daria answers on the third ring.

  “I’m sorry about this morning.” I walk into my room, sitting on my bed.

  “It’s fine.” I hear a clatter in the background.

  “Where are you?”

  “At a café with Jess and Jake. I told you this morning.”

  “I know. Look, I’m sick of fighting, Daria. We’ve been back together a week and we’re already arguing. Can we meet and talk?”

  “I’m busy right now. I need to go to the realtor to sign the papers for the new house.”

  “After?”

  “I need to speak to Dad about something. I’ll call you when I finish up with him. Maybe we can go grab something to eat and talk before you leave?”

  “Sure, just call me and let me know. I love you.”

  “Love you too.” She hangs up. There was something about her tone that doesn’t sit well with me. For one, her tone was clipped and short with me. I know we had a little disagreement this morning when she told me she was pregnant, that’s why I want to see her and talk it over.

  I walk back out to where I was sitting, and Nico has a drink waiting for me.

  “I’m guessing it didn’t go too well.”

  “Something’s off.”

  “How do you mean?�
�� Nico questions.

  “I don’t know. It just feels like something isn’t quite right. Her voice was weird.”

  “Hey, babe.” Nico looks behind him. I twist a little and see Jess walking towards us.

  “Where’s Daria?” I frown. She just said she was with Jess and Jake at the café.

  “She left us after ten minutes, said something about not feeling great. She was going home to lie down.”

  “I’m going to check on her.” I finish my coffee.

  “How are you going to get in? I’m sure Nicholas hasn’t given you the security codes.” Jess lifts an eyebrow.

  I give her a toothy grin. “Because my favorite brother and sister in-law are going to give me them.”

  Jess rolls her eyes and grabs a piece of paper and a pen from behind the bar to write the codes down then hands me them. “Thank you.” I kiss her cheek.

  “Yeah, yeah. Just look after her.” She gives me a knowing look. I know she knows Daria is pregnant; they tell each other everything.

  After putting in the security code to open the front gates that Jess gave me, I park my bike and walk up to the door, which is open. Another conversation to have. The whole place is quiet when I walk in. I’m about to walk up to Daria’s room when I hear voices in the kitchen. Walking in, I see Daria and Blair hugging one another.

  “Striker?” Daria looks at me, eyes wide like a deer caught in headlights. They both pull apart. The closer I walk toward them, the more nervous they look. “Striker, what are you doing here?”

  “Jess said you weren’t feeling good and left the café after ten minutes.” Walking slowly towards them, I look between her and Blair, who swallows, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down. “I came to see if you were okay, or needed anything.”

  “Striker...” She begins walking towards me. “Let’s go in the living room.”

  “Why? What are you hiding?” I refuse to move.

  “Hiding? What would I have to hide?” She avoids my eyes. “Come on, I need to show you something.”

  “No, what are you two hiding?” I look over to Blair who’s still in the same spot, then to the worktop and see empty plates.

  “What exactly are you getting at, Striker?” Daria looks up at me, as if reading what I thought. She nods slowly and brings her hand to her chest. “Wow,” She rounds me and walks off, slamming the door.

  Blair moves slightly when the oven timer beeps, alerting us that something is ready.

  “She was making you a home-cooked family lunch and a cake for you all before you leave tonight.” He moves the cake into my eye line more. “She wanted to surprise you. She baked the cake while I cooked. My dad was a chef, so I offered to help her.”

  You fucking idiot!

  “Fuck! Why am I such a fuck up when it comes to Daria?” I slam my hand on the counter.

  “Because you love that girl too damn much.” Dad places his hands on my shoulders, walking up behind me. He must have gotten a text from Daria earlier, asking to come over for lunch. “Go find her and treat her the way I raised you to treat a woman.”

  When I open the front door, I see Daria sitting on my bike, feet crossed at the ankles, arms folded.

  “I'm sorry, baby.” I stand in front of her. “I just saw you and Blair hugging and...”

  “And got a scenario that didn’t happen. I know, I’ve been there Striker. I know how that looked. I just wanted to surprise you, your dad, and Nico with a meal and cake as an apology for this morning and the past few weeks. That’s why I was making up excuses to delay our talk and why I said I would call you when I was done.”

  I sit next to her, take her hand in mine, and link our fingers together. She looks up at me with shiny hazels, the streetlight hitting them, making them glitter. “Blair's like a little brother to me. He's a kid. He's a good-looking guy, but he's too young.”

  “You think he's good-looking, huh?”

  “Stop it, Striker. I like men, not boys.”

  “Thank you for the cake.” I sigh, shoulder bumping her.

  “You’re welcome.” She mirrors my action.

  “No-one’s ever made an effort to make me a cake before. No-one has made an effort to make me feel this special.”

  “Never? Not even for your birthday? Your mom?”

  I shake my head as I look down at our linked hands. “She was too interested in her drugs, and Dad stayed at the clubhouse most nights so he couldn't see what she had become. I was left to just deal with it.”

  “I never had a homemade cake either until Emily came along. Jess, Jake, and Emily used to make me one. They always burned it, but it was the effort I loved. They made something out of love for me. It was from the heart.”

  “Didn’t your stepmom make you a cake?”

  “No. Denise didn’t care. If she wasn’t the center of attention then she didn’t give a shit about anything. So we didn't really celebrate my birthday either. Jess and her family were the only ones to really make a big deal about it.”

  “Not even your dad?” I ask. Nicholas doesn't seem like the type of dad to forget his baby girl’s birthday.

  “Dad had to sneak my gifts. Under my pillow, in my closet. My car.” She shakes her head, letting out a humorless laugh. “I swore I would never make Emily feel the way I felt growing up. I will show her every day how much I love her.” A tear slips down her face. “You deserve that type of love too, Striker. I just hope I'm strong enough to give it to you.”

  “You are, baby. You’re like a phoenix to me. You rise from the ashes, stronger and more determined to keep going than before, no matter what you’ve been through.” I place my hand on her cheek, my thumb lightly brushing across her cheekbone.

  “Come on. Let’s not let Blair’s hard work go to waste.” She stands, but I remain sitting. I pull her to me and kiss her stomach where our baby is growing.

  “I love you.”

  “Come on.” She pulls my hand, tugging me to where most of our friends and family are waiting.

  ***

  “Thank you for making this one of the best day of my life.” I pull her closer to me as she washes up. “You really do love me,” I say softly, resting my chin on her shoulder. She takes her hands out of the sink and turns around in my arms. “Even after all the shit I put you through, what I told you, you still love me and allow me to see our daughter grow up.”

  “Of course I love you. Striker, I would never stop you from seeing Emily, even if we weren’t together. You have the right to see your child.” She cradles my face in her hands. “I know what it feels like to not know where you truly come from. I didn't want that for her.”

  “God, I love you. So fucking much.”

  “You better. Besides, no-one else would put up with your stalker ass!” She turns to continue doing the dishes.

  “My stalker ass?” I kiss her neck. “You love my butt.”

  She snorts out a laugh. “I do love your ass. Now, get that butt next door and socialize with your family.” Her behind pushes me off her, pressing against my dick.

  “Do that again and I’ll have to take you right now.” She does it again. “Fuck.” I groan, my dick hardening.

  “Keep it in your pants. We’re taking it slow, remember?”

  “Then quit teasing me, woman.” I lower my head to her neck and graze my teeth over the sensitive spot that I know drives her wild.

  “Daddy, can you help Grandpa? He's getting his blood pressure up trying to hook up the games console.” Emily walks into the kitchen, breaking the growing sexual tension that’s happening in here. Blair had picked her up from school not too long ago.

  I glance around. She looks so much like me it's scary. Her bright blue eyes and thick dark hair. The only thing different is her height; she’s small like her mom. She’s going to break a few hearts, and I’ll be breaking the hands of whoever touches my baby girl.

  “Okay. Let's save Grandpa from certain death.” I walk to Emily, slinging my arm around her shoulder.

  I glance down at h
er and kiss her head. My ten-year-old daughter, my light, and my reason for being.

  “I love you, Ems. You know that, right?”

  “Who are you and what have you done with my Dad?” She looks up at me.

  “What?” I chuckle.

  “You're too happy.” She giggles.

  “Cheeky. You and your mom make me happy.” I look back at Daria, who’s stretching to put something up high, giving me a nice view of her ass.

  Fuck.

  ***

  “Be careful, Dad.” Emily squeezes me tightly, saying goodbye as I’m about to leave for the run.

  “I’ll be back before you know it, princess.” I hold her in my arms for a little longer. “Maybe when I get back we can go bowling, and I can finally beat your mom?”

  Daria snorts out a laugh.

  “You’ve been trying for over a year. Give up already. Just accept the fact that Mom is better than you.”

  “I would listen to her, she knows.”

  “Baby, I will beat you.” I smirk confidently at her.

  “I’ll see you after school Monday, Daddy.” Emily kisses my cheek and runs off up to her room.

  “We okay?”

  She wraps her arms around my waist, tilting her head quizzically. “Why wouldn’t we be?”

  “Just this morning when you told me about the baby, then when I walked in here and practically accused you and Blair of screwing. Though, you have to admit, it did look a bit suspicious the way you two were acting,”

  “I know. We’ve been over this and I get it, Striker. Like I said before, I’ve been there.”

  “Can we make up?”

  “There’s nothing to make up.”

  I bend to kiss her lips, and groan when I need to pull away. “You coming to the clubhouse later to say goodbye there?” I’m secretly hoping she says yes.

  “I’m going to tidy up and have a nap. I’m wiped. Keeping secrets is exhausting.” She gives me a flirtatious wink. I narrow my eyes on her, giving her a warning look. “I’m kidding. I’ll see how I feel.”

  “Well, if you aren’t up to it, I’ll see you Monday.” I kiss her deeply.

  “You better go before your dad comes and hauls you away.” She giggles against my lips when I refuse to let her go. “Striker.”