Dice (A Righteous Outlaws Novel #3) (2 page)

S
aturday morning
, I pulled up to Kade and Sienna’s house. I always stopped over on the weekend to visit with my godson. It was a dry morning but overcast, so it was only a matter of time before the rain blew in. Guess the park would be out of the question, but that was okay. I could have a good time with the kid just lying on the floor and letting him beat me in the head with blocks.

I let myself in and called out a hello. Kade leaned against the new kitchen counter in nothing but a pair of jeans while eating a bowl of cereal. When Sienna moved in, they upgraded the kitchen and bought new furniture for both the living room and bedroom.

“Don’t you ever fucking knock?” Kade asked.

“Bad habit.” For so long, before Nick died and when Sienna lived at home, I came and went as I pleased. Knocking wasn’t something I did. Even now that she lived at Kade’s, and I moved into her old house, it was still hard to get used to.

“What if I was standing here naked?”

“Then he would know what a real man looked like,” Sienna said as she came down the hallway in a pair of jeans and a Harley Davidson tank top. Dominic Cash, or DC as we all called him, rested on her hip. She gave me a pat on my cheek with a smug smile.

DC bounced in her arms and reached for me. The gesture warmed my heart, and had me making stupid faces like a cartoon character.

I took him from Sienna, his mouth covered in drool, and his pudgy cheeks getting bigger with his smile. “Can you believe these two?” I said to DC. “You don’t get more man than the two of us.”

DC took that moment to let out a loud, squeaky laugh.

“That’s my boy.”

Sienna walked over to Kade, and gave him a kiss that lingered for one too many uncomfortable moments.

“DC, your parents are gross and should get a room.”

Kade scooped Sienna up in his arms, and she smacked his chest. “If you’re offering,” Kade said with a huge fucking smile on his face.

“I haven’t even had my coffee yet, and I have interviews scheduled this morning. Put me down.”

“Interviews for what?” I asked.

Sienna slid out of Kade’s arms, and she grabbed the pot of coffee. “For a nanny. I have too much work at the shop and I can’t keep pawning DC onto Barbara.”

Our VP’s old lady volunteered to babysit, but refused any compensation, which drove Sienna crazy. The girl didn’t take handouts, but she was desperate.

“Why? Barbs doesn’t mind. She stays home all day with her million dogs anyway.”

“I’ve been having to put in extra hours because I’m having an issue with the numbers again, and it’s not fair to her. It would just be easier to have someone that can take DC during the day, maybe do the laundry and grocery shopping.”

I looked to Kade, and pointed at Sienna. “You mean to tell me this one is going to relinquish control?”

Kade laughed. “My words exactly. Hiring a nanny won’t be the problem. Keeping one will be.”

DC slapped his chubby, drooled covered fingers against my face, and I swiped my sleeve across my cheek. “Thanks, kid.”

“I don’t know what you two are talking about. I have no problem letting someone help out around here.”

Kade and I both laughed this time. Sienna hit Kade upside the head, and then reached for me, but I hid behind the baby shield. “Protect me, little man.”

Sienna flashed me a dirty look. “I’ll get you later.”

“Have you done background checks on these people?” I asked.

“Fucking A,” Kade answered. “Everyone who has replied so far. Nobody is allowed near my fucking kid without one.”

In our world, we had to be careful with who we let in and out of our lives. We were weary of everyone, and had to be sure not to let certain information out in front of people. The last thing we needed was to put DC or ourselves in danger.

Kade put his bowl in the dishwasher, but Sienna plucked it out and rearranged it. Kade raised an eyebrow in her direction. “Yup, no problem letting people help out at all.”

Sienna slammed the dishwasher door, and attempted to cover up a smile. “It’s not my fault you don’t know how to load a dishwasher.”

“Or how to fold a towel, or vacuum, or…” Kade’s phone rang, and he slipped it out of his pocket. Good timing since Sienna looked like she was going to wring his neck with the dishtowel.

“Dice is here. We can do it. I’ll keep an eye on him. No problem. Talk to you later, brother.”

“What’s going on?” I asked.

“Have to make a run. Cash said to bring you as long as you promise there won’t be another incident.”

None of the guys had said anything, so I assumed Cash let it go. I should have known he would have told his best friend.

“A Mac truck? Seriously?”

“It was Miles, not me.”

“Do I even want to know?” Sienna asked.

I shook my head. “Just another day in the world of Dice and Miles.”

Sienna reached out to her son. “Give him to me.”

“Afraid I’ll rub off on him?”

“That’s part of it. But, also, you two need to leave before people start showing up for interviews. I had one poor girl here yesterday, and Kade made her cry.”

I looked over at Kade and he smirked. “If she can’t handle a few questions, then she can’t handle taking care of my son.”

“Sorry, S, I have to agree with Kade on this one.”

“Out!”

“Don’t forget a shirt,” I said to Kade. He disappeared down the hallway, and came back a few seconds later with both a shirt and his cut on.

I tried to get DC to give me high-five, but it was something we were still working on, so I assisted him with it. “See you later, little man.”

Kade snaked his arm around Sienna’s waist, pulling his family to him.

“I’ll wait for you outside.”

It was nice to see Sienna finally happy. She resisted it for so long and, in the process, made herself miserable. After Nick died, I was scared for her. More scared than I had ever been. Her father was her life. She did everything for him and, then, one day he was just gone. I didn’t think she’d ever be able to move on, but after Gordita, the head of the Gordita army, was murdered, Sienna bounced back.

The murder was still under investigation. A lot of speculation as to who slit the bitch’s throat, but for me, it didn’t matter. I could care less about who actually killed her. She was dead, and that’s all I fucking cared about.

I opened the door to head out and stopped at the sight of beautiful red head, hand hovering in a fist like she was just about to knock. She blinked wide cobalt eyes up at me, and her pink lips parted.

Freckles dusted her nose and, while she looked sweet and innocent, there was a sexiness to her that had my cock twitching. Her patchwork dress dipped low, revealing sun kissed skin and two perfect tits. Just about a handful each. She was a bohemian goddess that I wanted to worship.

I smiled and held out my hand. “I’m Dice, and I must have just walked into heaven.”

She laughed, and the gorgeous sound shot right to my dick.

“Allison,” she said, taking my hand in hers.

Her skin was so fucking soft, and her hand so small within mine. I took her knuckles to my lips and pressed a kiss.

“It’s a pleasure.”

Pain radiated through my head, and I turned to find Sienna smiling in victory. She kept her promise to get me later. “This is not the clubhouse,” she said.

She didn’t have to tell me. Girls that looked and dressed like Allison didn’t hang around the clubhouse.

Sienna pushed me out of the way. “You must be here for an interview. I’m Sienna. You’re early, but that’s okay I’m ready for you.”

“I don’t have an interview.”

“You must have seen the ad. I like a girl who takes charge and shows up ready to go. Don’t worry about it. I can squeeze you in. I’ll run the background checks after. Come on in.”

Allison went to talk, and then stopped when Kade came into the doorway.

“This is Kade, but you don’t need to speak with him yet. I’m in charge of finding the nanny, not him.”

Sienna kissed Kade on the cheek, and shoved him out the door. “Love you, baby.” She took Allison’s hand in hers, and pulled her inside, shutting the door in Kade’s and my faces.

“I like her,” I said, nodding toward the door.

Kade laughed. “Your dick likes her, but that’s not enough to convince me my son is safe with her. Now, let’s go.”

We headed toward our bikes, but my mind was still on the doorstep.

S
ienna pulled
me into the house before I could say anything else, and shut the door in the face of one gorgeous man who stared at me with heat in his eyes. And, also, in the face of another man who I’d been searching for high and low since my mother died.

A man that had no idea he was staring into the eyes of his sister.

I had gone over the conversation in my head a thousand times. What I would say and how I would say it. How he would react. Sometimes, in my mind, he scooped me up in his arms, so overcome with emotion to know that I existed. Other times he dismissed me and wanted nothing to do with the woman who shared the same father as him. However, I never imagined what just transpired.

Inside, a woman’s touch was evident by the decorative pillows on the couch and the custom framed family photographs that hung on the walls. Sienna, baby and Kade made a beautiful family.

My gaze lingered on Kade as I searched for similarities. We only shared a father, a man whom I had never met, but I could see a bit of me in Kade’s smile and in the shape of his eyes.

Above the couch was a beautiful black and white portrait of an older gentleman with a long beard and a face hardened by age. He wore a leather vest similar to the two men who just left, and, from his place on the wall, it was as if he was watching over the entire room.

“That’s a gorgeous photo,” I said to Sienna as she placed the baby on the floor and handed him a big red building block. He waved his chubby little arms with excitement.

“Thank you. It’s my father. He was a good man.” Tears built in her eyes, but she blinked and they were gone.

“Was it recent?” I asked.

She let out a rush of air and turned away from the picture. “A little over a year ago. I was four months pregnant.”

I understood her grief and, even though she seemed to be a pro at keeping the emotions beneath the surface, it was obvious she still hurt. “I’m so sorry. My mother just recently passed, too. Losing a parent is like losing a part of you.”

“I lost my mother when I was eight. You’d think, going through it a second time, I’d be prepared.”

I rested my hand on her shoulder and she glanced down at it. “You can never be prepared for something like that.”

She smiled and stepped out of my touch. “So, the position.”

I had no idea what she was talking about. Honestly, I was just there to find my brother. But, now that I was in his house, I couldn’t seem to find the words. This was a mistake. I never should’ve come here.

“What does the position entail exactly?” I asked. I could go through the motions then leave. I got to see Kade. I knew he existed. I could see that he’s happy, and I didn’t want to throw a monkey wrench into that happiness.

“Please sit,” Sienna said, motioning to the couch. Just as Sienna sat down, the phone rang. “Oh, for Christ sake.” She stood back up. “Excuse me for a minute.”

She hurried out of the room, blonde hair trailing behind her. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. Maybe it was best if I just took off now. Slip out the door and pretend like I never found that box of my father’s things. Never found the note from my mother, telling me that even though she was gone, I wasn’t alone in the world.

Tears came to my eyes, as the words popped into my mind. I read that letter a hundred times. At first I cried my eyes out since it was the last words Mom would ever to say to me. Then, I got angry. For twenty-five years, she knew that I had a brother, yet she never cared to tell me. How could she keep something like that to herself? How could she look me in the eyes every day and never once bring it up? She was more than my mom. She was my very best friend, and she lied to me.

A cry snapped me out of my musings, and I looked down to see a crying baby at my legs. He tugged at my dress, and I reached down to take him into my arms. “Hey there, buddy. What’s the matter?” I stood up, and bounced him in my arms. It seemed to do the trick because the tears stopped flowing.

I sat on the floor with him on my lap, and held up his blocks. “What should we make?”

He let out a loud squeal that made me laugh. This adorable little boy was my nephew, and he may never know me. It broke my heart to think that. Moving around a lot, I never really made any friends. When Mom died, I accepted that I’d have nowhere to go on holidays and no one to call in an emergency. Would Kade and Sienna accept me into their family? I had enough disappointment in my life, and I didn’t know if I could handle any more.

“He likes you,” Sienna said, returning to the living room.

“He’s a pretty cool kid. What’s his name?”

“Dominic Cash. He was named after my father and Kade’s best friend. We call him DC.”

“Well, DC, you are the cutest little boy.”

He let out another adorable squeal.

“He’s a real ladies man,” Sienna said.

“I can see that.”

“So, as I was saying before I was interrupted, the nanny position would be full-time. I prefer you stay at the house with DC unless you are taking him to the park or to run errands. I would need help with laundry and grocery shopping and, on occasion, cooking. I usually do it all myself, but, when my father passed, I inherited his business and it’s taking up a lot of time.”

“I understand.”

“I’d prefer if you lived close by, and were available for last minute emergencies. Kade gets called away a lot for business, and he has no real schedule. Do you live close by?”

I pressed my lips together, trying to figure out how to answer that. “I’m in between homes at the moment. After my mom died, I didn’t want to stay in California, so I hopped in my car and started driving. I have a room at the hotel a few towns over right now. Kind of just playing it as I go.”

“If I run your record, would it be clean? And don’t lie to me. I’m friends with the local sheriff. I can find out anything I want.” Her tone went serious, almost threatening, but I couldn’t blame her. Looking down at DC, I could see why she was so protective.

“Other than a few parking tickets, I’m as clean as they come.”

“Do you have any experience with kids?”

“I lived in an apartment complex for a couple years and babysat for every family there. The kids ranged from six months old to twelve.”

“Good.” Her phone rang again and she rolled her eyes. “It’s my bank again. I have to take this. I’ll be right back.”

She got up and walked into the kitchen. I watched as she balanced the phone with her shoulder, and grabbed a baby bottle from the cabinet. She smacked her hand on the counter, and mumbled something into the phone.

I stood up with DC on my hip and went to help. I took the bottle from her hand and mouthed, “I got this.”

She sighed in relief, and mouthed a thank you before disappearing down the hall.

I finished getting DC’s bottle together. Thankful for all those times I babysat as a teenager when I needed extra cash.

He took the bottle from my hand, and put it right into his mouth. “Look at you, Mr. Independence.”

I brought him back to the couch, and held him while he sucked down the bottle. Sienna returned with an annoyed smile on her face.

“Rough day?”

“Lately, they all seem to be rough. You’re good with him and I like you. I don’t really like anybody.”

I laughed. “Thank you?”

“Trust me, it’s definitely a compliment. If your background check comes back clean, I’d love to hire you. I don’t even care about the other people I have coming today. I wasn’t thrilled with their resumes to begin with.”

“I would have to find a more permanent place to live,” I said, not believing the words coming out of my mouth. Was I out of my damn mind? How could I possibly take this job, knowing what I do? What if they ever found out? I would look so deceitful. But maybe they would grow to like me and it would be a pleasant surprise. Maybe they never needed to know at all.

I didn’t need the job. My online store of my crafts was doing well, and, as long as I had a post office, a craft supply store and a place to plug in my laptop, I could make my living.

“Dice, the man who was rudely flirting with you, is actually in the process of renting out his apartment. I could talk to him for you if you’d like.”

A million reasons of why I should say no ran through my head, but that’s not what came out of my mouth. “That would be great.”

I’ve officially lost my mind.