Team: Alpha (Knights of Ares) (10 page)

BOOK: Team: Alpha (Knights of Ares)
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"Yeah," he murmured quietly. "Although she seems to be doing just fine without either me or Gareth in her life. She's raised you without us, and she's raised a rather amazing little girl at that. We may just be in her way," he whispered stroking his thumb to her much smaller fingers.

 

“That’s where you are wrong daddy.” Honey whispered, “She cries. Every single night I hear her crying in her sleep. Well, when she’s home that is. During the daytime I hear her crying as well. She’s sad daddy. Really, really sad. Sometimes I hear her calling out your name, and I’ve read her other diary daddy and believe me, she misses you and needs you.”

 

Looking into her eyes that were so very Gareth he smiled, "I'm sorry Honey, no child should have to look after a parent like you are doing." Pulling her close he gave her a hug, "I'll see if Gareth can't get your mom to smile more," the other man was much better at it than he was. And Honey was their biological child after all. While Mik didn't plan on just stepping aside he'd let them figure it out and go from there.

 

Honey shook her head, “No daddy, you don’t understand. She needs you. She cries out your name daddy. You look at me like I’m not yours, but I am. My momma told me so. I am both yours and daddy Gareths baby. If you don’t like that, well that’s just too bad cause you have me anyway.”

 

"You are mine of the heart; but I can't have kids Honey, and I'm fine with that. I never lied to your mother on that score. I will never have any of my own blood, but you are so much more than that to me poppet." Stroking her hair he pressed a kiss to her cheek, "Never think anything other than that. I do adore you as my own, but you are all Gareth's in looks and personality. Which, I'm fine with as well because you are much prettier than he could ever hope to be."

 

“But it bothers you doesn’t it daddy?” Honey asked softly, seeing far too much, far more than she should see. “I’m sorry daddy. I’m sorry that you can’t give mom kids from you but it doesn’t change how much she loves you and that’s the truth. You just gotta let her love you and love her back. That’s what my momma needs.”

 

"Maybe does bother me a little," he murmured with a sigh. "But what is done is done and at the time I was glad that I couldn't leave anyone pregnant and alone. In my former line of work, my life expectancy was fairly low. Chances of not returning from a mission were higher than the rate of heart attacks in all the public of America; which is scary high." Rubbing his hand to her back Mikhail looked at her, "I'll always love your mom poppet, but she's still mad at us. I understand fully, but it wasn't our fault and I wish it could have turned out so differently than it did. We lost too much time with her I think for her to ever fully forgive us."

 

“She loves flowers daddy. I think that if you maybe sent her flowers. Or we could plant some roses around the porch for her. I think she would like to tend them. That way she wouldn’t have to always fuss over me as much as she does. I love her but she does seem to fuss a lot.”

 

"It's her job as a mother Honey," he said and looked beyond her. "Just because I'm chatting with the kid doesn't mean I'm not noticing the lack of work out of you buggers. Get back to work or you're walking home tonight, the lot of you," Mik growled at them. Shaking his head he looked to Honey, "We'll go online later and see if we can't find some flowers that will survive here for her to look after, alright?"

 

“Oh come on daddy let them have a couple more minutes?” She asked with wide open eyes and a small quiver of her lip. “And yes, online shopping would be good. They would be able to tell us what would be best, especially if we go to Amanda Douglas’s website. She lives in Sweetwater too and has a small flower shop there. She’s really, really nice and her and mom are pretty good friends. I love her just like I love Aunt Penny. So giving her business would be good so that she doesn’t ever have to move away, right?”

 

“True enough,” he said watching her and shook his head at her. “Are you trying to get them more time than they’ve already had sitting on their butts?” He didn’t actually have to ask the question, he knew she was. Pulling her close he kissed her nose, “They’ve sat around long enough and we have a lot to do today poppet. So get them up and moving,” Mik told her softly.

 

“Are you sure daddy?” At his nod she gave a heavy sigh and patted his cheek. “All right daddy Mik, since you said so.” Turning around she faced the men and shouted, “All right you lazy bones, get off your fannies and get your bums back to work.”

 

Chuckling softly Mik got up and nodded, “Keep them in line, but stay out of the way of anyone swinging something alright? We’re a long way from a doctor out here poppet,” he reminded her gently stroking a hand over her hair.

 

“Don’t worry, I will stay safe.” She nodded and climbed up on the back of the truck bed again. Pulling out a thick blanket, she folded it neatly and then grabbed a pink polka dot umbrella from the bed and stuck it in one of the holes in the back of the bed. Settling under the shade she grinned and pulled out her phone so that she could begin to play games.

 

Rolling his eyes at that Gareth tossed his shirt into the truck and grabbed a bottle of water. “I have a feeling we’re all going to be living under the rule of Honey around here,” he murmured as he got closer to Mikhail.

 

“We already are Gareth, we already are,” he said tossing his shirt into the truck as well. Moving up next to her he looked at her, “If you get too hot sitting here, take a little walk around in the shade alright? But don’t go too far and watch your step.”

 

Honey patted her father’s cheek and grinned, “Don’t worry daddy, I’m good. I have a fan too. It’s battery powered. Mom made sure that I packed a little of everything. Besides, I’m used to the heat, I’ve lived here all my life and momma says that I’m like a snake, always in the sun and loving it.”

 

“Yes but you have Gareth’s horrid complexion which means while you may love the sun; but the sun will try to cook you Honey. So you just keep safe and yell if you need something, alright?” Dropping a kiss to her cheek he headed for the fire break they were still working on.

 

“Hey daddy!” Honey yelled. When Mikhail looked back at her she smiled, “I love you too.” She told the man and then dropped her gaze back to her phone and
The Simpsons -  Tapped Out
game she was playing.

 

“Kid has your fucking number,” Victor grinned at him as he joined them.

 

“Language,” Gareth growled at him.

 

“She’s forty feet away and ignoring us,” he protested waving a gloved hand towards where she sat.

 

“She’s a kid with big ears that will hear anything and everything and report it back to her mother. If Daisy finds out you’re teaching her daughter that language,” Mikhail shook his head, “I’d just shoot myself right here right now and save us all the agony.”

 

“Don’t like that word anyway.” Honey called out without even lifting her head from the game. “It’s a very bad word and only people who don’t have a large enough and imaginative enough vocabulary use words like that.” Grinning she added, “Love you anyway Uncle Victor.”

 

“Told you,” Gareth and Mikhail said in unison shooting Victor a look.

 

“You guys suck,” Victor muttered and headed farther away from the group still mumbling under his breath.

Chapter Eight

 

 

Honey saw the plume of dust before the others did and jumped up and down clapping. “My mom is here!” She shouted to the men and raced from one to another giving them hugs. “I love you all like crazy, but I’ve missed my mom.” Stopping before Gareth and Mikhail she added, “And you will work on getting mom to move out here, right? You will make us a whole family?”

 

“We will work on her,” Gareth promised softly with a grin. “Go and give her some love and then pull her around back here. This should be hot enough soon that you can start roasting a weenie and we’ll all get eating.”

 

“Okay, sounds good.” Honey gave them an impulsive hug and then raced off so that she could meet her mother in front of the house.

 

The sound of laughter filled the air, from both Honey and Daisy, as they walked around the corner of the large farmhouse. “So I have been told that a five star meal is being catered by you boys for us girls?” She asked with laughter dancing in her eyes, happiness as well.

 

“Don’t know about it being five star but it’s a one star at least,” Gareth said standing up. Leaning in he kissed her cheek, “Hey D. Drinks are in the cooler next to Antonio,” he pointed. “We’re about to start grilling up the dogs so if you have any requests on the burn you want; speak now or forever hold your peace.”

 

Snorting, Mikhail stood and gave her a kiss on the cheek too, “Hi,” he murmured softly.

 

“You know how I like them, with a nice brown burn, not blackened though.” Linking her arm with Mikhail’s she looked up at him. “Hi. You okay?” She asked softly. “And how did you survive the Tsunami called Honey?”

 

Nodding, he moved over a bit so she could sit on the cooler he’d vacated. Settling next to her he shook his head, “She doesn’t ever stop. Even when you think she’s finally passed out from exhaustion it’s only for a short time and then she’s right back up and going. I may have unfortunately added to her education,” he muttered wrinkling up his nose.

 

Daisy narrowed her gaze, “How?” She asked in that ‘mom-voice’ that spoke of torture and pain if something was done to her baby that would be harmful to the child. “How could you have possibly done that Mik?” She asked this time with a smile on her face.

 

“Well,” he shifted uncomfortably. “She came barreling into my room as I came out of the bathroom and, if you recall, I have this serious allergy to pajamas,” he smiled as big as he could manage and blinked his eyes.

 

Daisy laughed, “Oh God.” She bumped her shoulder to Mik’s and grinned, “Door locks, just remember that for next time. You might want to pass it around too.” She teased him. Patting his knee she added, “I bet you were far more embarrassed than she was fascinated. I would guess she did something like ‘oh, eww!’ or something like that, right?”

 

“I was very definitely embarrassed, but it was more because she asked if Victor had one like mine,” he said under his breath. “My cock Daisy, not anything else,” he told her looking at her in the eye. “You may want to have a chat with that kid. She’s got a bug in her brain about him.”

 

“Oh lord.” Daisy rubbed her temples. “He’s such a gentle giant.” And she meant that. The man was freaky huge! “And he’s so good with her, but yes, I will have a talk to her about it. I will make sure that she understands that she can’t go after one of your men because they are all, in essence, her uncles and far, far too old for her.”

 

Chuckling he nodded, “So glad you agree that you’ll be talking to her about it.” Turning he whistled, “G, she’s agreed it’s all on her,” he called out and got two thumbs up with a grin from Gareth. “We are so very glad that you will take that on,” Mik told her hugging her to his side.

 

“She knows about the birds and the bees, she’s just never seen male genitalia. Don’t worry. I’m her mom. I will discuss it with her. However, on the off chance that there is ever a son involved in your lives, you have to talk to him.”

 

Snorting he shrugged, “It’ll all be on Gareth for that one too,” he said with a grin. “Did you want a hot dog?” he asked her as Victor pulled out a dozen on the killer skewer they’d created earlier in the day.

 

“Yes please. Dark but not so burnt that all I can taste is the fire okay?” Leaning against Mikhail’s shoulder Daisy looked up at him and sighed. “Are you okay? Really. I know that you are not very happy with everything that’s happening, but are you going to be okay with having Honey, and well, me, in your life again?”

 

“Partially singed for the lady,” he called to Victor before looking down at her. “Daisy, I may not be happy with a great many things but it is not you or Honey in any way shape or form. Am I still shell shocked at finding you practically living on my doorstep? Uh, hell yeah. Am I still reeling that you have a daughter? Uh, hell yeah. But never, ever think that I don’t want you or the poppet in my life. I know I’m an emotional iceberg most days, I can’t help that,” he murmured. “But I know I want and need you both in my life, in my heart, and in my home. I’d also really like you in my bed again but one thing at a time,” he shot her a crooked grin.

 

Well that surprised the hell out of Daisy. She sat there and just looked at him for several minutes and finally, after a big gulp of air, said, “Well. Okay.” She wanted that too, damn but she wanted that so badly that she could all but taste it. She was desperate for him, for feeling him inside of her again, his hands on her body. “So you guys are going to be gone for a while. Do you need to have me come out and check on things while you are gone?” She offered.

 

“If you want to, you don’t have to,” he said softly. “I can get Mills up the road to swing by and water the roses each day I’m sure. He likes the cases of Vodka I can get him,” he grinned. “But if it’s not a bother, which given your schedule and Honey’s, it could be so don’t feel obligated. They were just planted yesterday, so they’ll need a little extra care for a few days.”

 

“How about if I come out and stay the weekends with Honey? She loves this place. It’s clear from the way that she acts here. If you don’t mind having us in your home, I can come on the weekends so that Mills doesn’t have to worry about coming the entire time that you are gone.”

 

Smiling he nodded, “Sounds like a plan,” he said pressing a kiss to her temple. “Remind me later and I’ll grab you a key and the code for the alarm. Oh, food,” he leaned back as Victor passed her only a slightly darkened dog in a bun buried under all the fixings. “Shit, sorry, should have warned you he’s a little liberal with everything so if there’s anything there you don’t want, ditch it. Oh,” he leaned to the side, “I hear rumor you have a rather ripe sailors mouth on you.”

 

“Well ya know.” Daisy blushed and took the dog. “This is good. As long as it’s not a charcoal briquette, I’m totally good with it. Anyway, who told you that I have a rather vicious mouth on me? Our daughter?”

 

“She and the guys have been comparing notes on swear words,” he said rolling his eyes. “I think they may have taught her a few, and you have my deepest apologies. Unfortunately though, she taught them a few as well. I came in on the tail end of that conversation last night; otherwise I’d have stopped it. So I feel for you, and god help everyone else.”

 

Daisy shook her head and snickered, “They are creative ones. Did she tell you about fudge nuggets? Or Bass runners?” She didn’t cuss so much in front of Honey as she did, catch herself and make up her own cuss words on the fly.

 

“She mentioned them and gave us translations,” he grinned. “She was very, very informative of her mother’s language skills. It was actually fairly amusing this morning as we hauled out a root ball to hear a bunch of guys all using the fudge nuggets and a few others she’d given them. She was killing herself laughing, and I’m sure gave herself a stitch in her side.”

 

Daisy snickered at that, “Oh I’m sure. She’s already got them all dancing to her merry little tune.” She watched her daughter flit from man to man; all of them doing whatever they could in order to make her happy. “She’s wrapped you all so tightly around her little fingers it’s not even funny.”

 

“You have no fucking idea,” he muttered and then smiled when Honey came over to him. Lifting her onto his knee he cocked a brow, “You have the peasants in line do you?” he asked her curiously just to see what she’d say.

 

Honey grinned, “Yep, they are all doing what they should be doing and now I get to sit here and talk to you and mommy.” She reached out and took her mom’s hand in hers and whispered, “Sometimes boys just need a little direction mommy. Remember that with the dads, okay?”

 

Daisy couldn’t help but giggle, “I love you kiddo. And you’re right. I will keep that little nugget of information tucked away for when I need it.”

 

“Good.” Honey looked up at Mik sweetly and smiled, “And you are doing what you should; holding me and talking to mom?”

 

“Uh-huh,” he looked at her and shook his head. “And what is with giving your mother advice on men
sladkaya?
I’m pretty sure she’s got tricks up her sleeves that would even stun and amaze you completely.”

 

Honey rolled her eyes, “That’s for boys that she really doesn’t care about. This is for people that she
loves
.” She rolled her eyes. “I love you daddy and so does mommy but you have to get her to admit it.” She heard her mom choking and laughed, “See, she does. So get on it daddy.”

 

“If she feels it she will say so when she is ready. You can’t force someone to say something they are not ready to say Honey. It’s a form of bullying, and we had that talk. Remember?” he said quietly. “If your mom has feelings she wants to share, she will, but only in her own time and when she’s comfortable enough to say what they are. We’re not mind readers poppet.”

 

“Honey how about you go and help your daddy Gareth? I want to talk to daddy Mikhail alone for a bit okay?” When the child jumped down and raced away Daisy looked up at Mikhail, “I do you know. Still love you. I really do but god you two tore my heart out when you left. I want to see if there is still an us; slowly?”

 

“We’re not going to rush you D, you know that. Your daughter on the other hand has a schedule that we’re apparently not keeping in line with,” he murmured. “She’s very insistent that we get you living here so she can live here and have her happily ever after. I’ve been working on her to try and ease up and let things develop how they will. About a third of the time she seems to remember the concept and sit back.”

 

Daisy shrugged, “Well you guys will have time away so I will talk to her. I will make sure that she knows that she can’t push like she’s doing. I will see that she backs off okay?” She asked softly. “I know that you won’t rush me and I’m thankful for that. Very much so. I just want us all to take our time, to learn the people that we are now okay?”

 

“Whatever you want and need Daisy,” Mikhail assured her. Leaning in he pressed a kiss to her neck, “But I rather like you as you are now.” Smiling he brushed his lips to her ear, “I’d love it more if you were naked and screaming my name, but we’ll go at your pace D.”

 

Daisy bit her lower lip, gulped and nodded. “Right. Uh.” Good lord she couldn’t think. All she could think about was her Russian stripping her naked and his hands, his mouth, and his cock. Hell his cock. “Good lord. Where were we?”

 

“You’re finishing off your hotdog,” he said with a knowing grin. Chuckling he leaned over and picked up his beer to take a long drink as he watched her. “Problem Daisy?” he asked holding out the bottle to her.

 

“Uh, yeah I seem to forget everything when I think of you naked. I think of how you touch, and lord how you feel.” She closed her eyes. “I never stopped loving you and thinking of you. I’ve not had a lover since you, and good god, just thinking of it now makes me ache.” Damn-it all to hell and back again.

 

“Hey,” he leaned in with a frown. “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable Daisy,” he said quietly. “I’m sorry if I did,” he murmured pressing a kiss to her shoulder. “We would never blame you if you did take another lover D, not like we were around anyway. But I will admit, at least to you, I’m really glad you didn’t.”

 

“I could only take a lover if my heart were involved and the two of you took that with you. You didn’t make me uncomfortable, just reminded me of how amazing that the two of you are. How amazing you are.” She loved Gareth, with her very last breath but there was something about Mikhail, it was like his soul and hers were one.

 

“Not all that amazing really, just me,” he said with a crooked smile that slid away too soon. “Eat up Daisy and I’ll try and keep my sexual innuendos to a minimum; at least until you finish your food. I’m not exactly up on my CPR of late and would hate to make you my guinea pig.”

BOOK: Team: Alpha (Knights of Ares)
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