Page 27 of April’s Fool

“Come on, let’s get this party started,” my Prez calls over his shoulder.

“What did you do?” April asks, but I don’t answer as I usher her inside, and she sees exactly what I did.

Twister, Horse, and several of the older members of the club are standing just inside the doors along with Kayla, Mercy, and their moms. There’s also another man with them, one I don’t know, standing with them.

April inhales sharply. “Dad.”

I glance down at my woman, then at the stranger among the group, and take a closer look, noticing the resemblance between them.

“Baby girl,” he calls, grinning, stepping forward and pulling his daughter into his arms, hugging her tight. “I’ve been missing you.”

“I thought you were in Mississippi,” she says, looking confused by his appearance.

“I was, but Twister called and said something was going down with you, so I hauled my ass back up here. Didn’t realize that where I was in Mississippi, I’d be coming to the same place as those guys as well.”

April looks as confused as I feel, but her dad doesn’t seem confused at all. He looks to Cannon, then to Rex, and to Cannon’s brother Steel, who joins us.

“Cannon, Steel, you know your great-uncle Mikey. The rest of the crowd here has already met him, but it’s now finally my turn to meet my great-niece,” Rex booms, looking at April.

What?

April’s related to Cannon?

“Um, I’m not sure I understand,” April says quietly, tucking herself closer to me again.

“I’m sorry, baby girl.” Mikey grimaces, looking at his brother.

“Let’s get into that all later,” Cannon announces. “Right now, it’s about Fool and April and the fact that they just tied the knot.”

Horse lets out a barking laugh and pulls his ol’ lady into his side. “Doesn’t this remind you of our wedding day?” he asks her.

Kenny snorts and elbows him as she and Izzy push through the crowd to reach April, both women pulling her from my arms. “You just had to follow in the ways of life, didn’t you, sweet girl?”

“What do you mean?”

“What she means is that she and Horse were barely together for a week at best before he carted her off to the courthouse and tied her to him,” Izzy says through a fit of giggles.

“If you remember correctly, Horse and I had a history before he came back into my life,” Kenny argues.

“So, he still did it, and you can’t deny it,” Izzy points out.

“And I don’t regret a minute of it.” The look Kenny shoots Horse is one of adoration, something I hope April and I will both feel years from now.

“How about we let the newlyweds get out of the doorway?” Twister suggests, coming up behind Izzy to claim her. His eyes on me. “Don’t forget my warning. You hurt her, and I hurt you. Just remember that.”

“I won’t forget it.” I nod and claim April once again. I have a feeling it’s going to be hard as hell to keep her close with everyone here wanting her attention. But I don’t mind, ‘cause she’s mine in every way she can be, and soon enough I’ll get the last piece of her that will be mine and mine alone.

Chapter 15

APRIL

“I can’t believe you didn’t tell us you were getting married,” Mercy snaps, hands on her hips, looking peeved, but I know she’s not actually mad at me.

“We decided the other day. It was completely spur-of-the-moment,” I admit, looking across the room to where Fool is standing with Hazard and his parents.

After the initial shock of seeing everyone, including my dad, and the revelation of what was shared, I met Brian and Elle, who welcomed me into their family with open arms, hugging me close.

“You could’ve texted us,” Kayla mutters. She might not be exactly mad, but there’s no denying she’s upset. Though, I don’t think it’s me she’s upset with.