Page 51 of Kiwi

"Stop it, Dad," Piper screams over my shoulder.

"Piper. This is between Kiwi and me," Nova tells her.

"Daddy, I love him," she confesses, and Nova physically flinches as if she punched him. His shoulders slump, and a little of the fight he has leaves his body. "I trusted you," he spits and those three words hurt more than any physical blow he could deliver. Nova's eyes narrow, darting between Piper and me, his fists clenched at his sides. Without speaking another word, or giving me another glance, he walks away. We watch his retreating back as he crosses the yard, gets on his bike, and peels down the driveway.

Spinning, I take Piper into my arms and see tears pooling in her eyes. "I'm so fuckin' sorry, baby."

She sniffles, holding the tears at bay. Her hands caress my throbbing face. "Are you okay?"

"Don't worry about me, babe."

"Why didn't you fight back?" she sighs.

I rub my palms up and down her arms. "He's my brother—my family, Piper. I respect him too damn much to hit back. He's angry with me, and I owed him that much." I allow Piper to guide me to the porch, and I take a seat on the steps.

I watch as Promise hands Jaxson to Tequila's niece, who takes him to the small playset in the yard. Promise moves in our direction. "Come on, Piper. Let's get some ice for Kiwi's face." Reluctant to leave my side, Piper disappears inside Pop's house, and Tequila isn't far behind them. Resting my elbows on my knees, I hang my head.

"You've got balls. I'll give you that." Wick's deep voice hangs above me, and I lift my head. Wick tosses a pack of smokes that land on the porch beside me. I grab the box and slide a cigarette out. Wick hands me a lighter.

Once lit, I pull the smoke deep into my lungs, and Riggs appears. Luna gives me a small sympathetic smile as she brushes by to join the other women. "I would have done worse," Riggs states as he looks down on me. "Not gonna lie. I kind of saw this comin'," Riggs admits, and I look up at him. "I've got eyes." He stares hard at me. "I don't particularly like it myself, but it doesn't matter. My niece matters, and so does the club."

I have no regrets loving Piper, but the fact that my love for her is having an impact on the club feels like an elephant sitting on my shoulders.

"Women," Wick grunts. "They make us do stupid shit."

"Stupid, but worth it," I mumble.

"You sure about that?" Riggs asks, and I don't hesitate to reply.

"I'll risk everything because I love her, and she loves me."

He nods. "I can see that." Then he looks across the yard in the direction Nova took off. "I suspect my brother wasn't as blindsided by this as he acts. He's too fuckin' smart for that. Some part of him, like the rest of us, knew this was comin'."

The screen door behind me creaks, and the women step onto the porch. Piper lowers herself to sit beside me, holding an ice pack in her hand. I look at her face as she presses the cold compress to my chin. Her red-rimmed eyes tell me she's been crying, and I fucking hate it.

"Come on," Riggs bellows. "Let's give these lovebirds some space and try to make what's left of this beautiful day as peaceful as possible." Riggs tucks Luna into his side, and they leave us, as do Tequila and Wick.

"Everything okay?" Piper asks once we are alone. I wince when she presses the ice pack against my swollen eye. "Shit—sorry," she hisses.

"Does it look as bad as it feels?" I ask her.

"We're a matching set now," she smiles, and my chest tightens with emotion. Fuck I am so in love with this woman.

Several hours later, the dust has settled. Piper and I are sitting on the porch, where I've spent most of the day. Pop strolls out of the house, with a cigar in one hand and a mason jar in the other. He settles in his favorite rocking chair. "You youngins come over here and give an old man some company." He snips the end off his cigar, then strikes a match.

Piper smiles at her granddad, who happens to be one of her favorite people. Rising from our seats on the opposite end of the porch, we join him. I pull Piper onto my lap as I take the rocking chair beside him. Pop tokes on his tobacco then he lifts the mason jar in his hand to his lips, sipping on the clear liquid inside.

"Gampy, is that moonshine?" Piper raises her brow. "You know you shouldn't be drinking something so strong. It's not good for your ulcer."

Pop smacks his lips. "After the week this family has had, I'd say a little white lightnin' is well deserved." His chair creaks as he rocks. I rub Piper's bare thigh as we sit looking out over the water. Pop sure does have a nice piece of property out here—his own little slice of heaven. As we watch the sun get swallowed by the bayou, the horizon is painted in beautiful hues of red and orange that slowly fades into deep indigo where the night sky is kissing the day goodbye.

"Gampy."

"Hmm?" Pop hums, as a puff of grey smoke billows in front of him.

"Are you upset with me too?" she asks him, and I hear the worry in her voice.

"Child, I'm not upset at all." He continues to rock and takes another sip of his liquor. "You and Kiwi go together like moonshine in a mason jar. Anyone who actually pays attention can see that."

"I wish dad could see it that way." Piper's shoulders slump. I rest my hand on top of hers tucked between her knees.

"Give it time," I try to reassure my woman even when I don't have full confidence in what I tell her. "My choices haven't always been the best-made ones in my life, but making Piper mine is one decision I'll never regret. Even if losin' Nova or the club is the price I have to pay."

At my confession, Pop twists in his chair. His weathered hands pass me the mason jar. Eyes, much like Nova's, look at me. "Son, every day, we're all just one choice away from changing our lives. Good or bad, we have to live with them." He releases his hold, and I bring the jar to my lips. The spicy burn of the alcohol runs down my throat and warms my stomach.

"However, we don't get to choose who our heart falls for." Pop looks out into the darkening sky. "My grandson will come around. Our family is strong, and you are a part of this family, Kiwi." Pop falls silent for a beat. Then, in the most casual way possible, he says, "But, if you hurt my granddaughter, make no mistakes, even though I'm slower in my old age, my aim is quick and precise."

Piper bites her lower lip, trying to hide her amusement. Grinning, I take Pop's words to heart, letting everything he said sink in before saying, "Yes, sir."