ANTONIO: Diablos MC (8 page)

“Monica the music has started.  You ready girl.”  I ask over her shoulder.  She is putting on her finishing touches. 

She stands up with a huge smile on her face. “Oh yeah.  Time to go get my man.”  She says shaking her hips.  We bought fall into a fit of laughter.  She has been planning this day for almost a year now.  She is so ready. 

“Alright.  Well let’s get this show on the road.” I say walking Emma to the door.

Before I open it and send Emma on her way Monica grabs the handle “Haylee wait.”  I turn and look at her. “Are you sure you want to do this.  I mean don’t get me wrong I am very thankful and happy you are here and that you brought Emma but is this too much?  Do you think it is a good idea to send her out there?”

I grab her into a big hug “Thank you for thinking about her and worrying.  But I know Tank will make sure nothing happens while she is here.  And besides I am not hiding her from him.  Never have.  Never will.  He has a daughter weather he wants her or not.  I am not forcing his hand in anything.  He has made his choice long ago. So yes we both are going to walk down that aisle and wait for you to come find your man.” 

She shakes her yes “Ok then.  Let’s do this.”

I bend down and get level with Emma “Ok sweetheart.  You remember what mommy and Uncle Tank taught you last night.”  With a big cheesy smile, she nods her head yes.  “You walk, throw flowers everywhere and walk right to Uncle Tank.  You think you can do that sweetheart.”  She shakes her head yes.  Giving her a quick kiss, I open the door and send her on her way.  As I wait for my que I listen at the reaction of the crowd.  All giving her oohs and aahs.  Of course because she is adorable.  And then once she standing next to Tank I start my walk.  At first I thought everything would be fine.  No one would notice.  But I couldn’t be any more wrong.  Of course they remember me.  I am the club whore who got knocked up by the married brother.  And as soon as the brothers see me they all react with shock and surprise.  I am sure they thought they would never see me again.  Hell knowing Toni was married I am sure they all from the start looked at me as the club whore.  But I don’t care.  Not anymore.  Holding my head up high I walk right up to the Alter and stand next to Emma.  I never directly looked at Toni but I did catch him out of the corner of my eyes watching Emma.  I can see it on his face he is processing what is standing right in front of him. But I don’t think he has put it all together until Emma shows all my cards right before him.  Reaching up she asks “Mommy pick up.”  When she does that and I obviously pick her up I can hear Toni make a noise. I am sure shock, is a noise of shock but it also sounds like the low growl he used to make when he was pissed.  Yep asshole this is your daughter.  But you didn’t want her.  And she is all mine.

Ignoring him I tell Emma “Time watch for Auntie Monica.”  She turns in my arms and watches Monica walk down the aisle. She is so beautiful in her dress.  Just the way anyone woman should look on her wedding day.  Happy and completely in love.  Once Monica is standing before us with Tank, Emma and I turn towards the happy couple.  When I do I finally make eye contact with Toni.  He is watching Emma and I with so much intensity it scares me a little. I can’t tell if he is pissed or hurt.  It honestly varies depending on who he is looking at.  When he looks at me I think he looks angry but then the second his eyes land on Emma they soften and show affection. 

Emma twirls in my arms wanting to get down.  When I put her down she starts doing what little kids do best, she starts to wonder and get into things.  Before I have a chance to stop her she walks over to Toni and puts her hands up.  Instantly he bends down and picks her up.  Holds her close.  Whispers into her ear and she starts talking to him.  It is so quiet I can’t hear what either of them are saying.  To keep from crying I look away and catch the attention of the brothers focused on Toni.  Some look like they are ready to get Emma far away from him, others are sitting in shock.  A few even have their phones out taking pictures.  Maybe it was bad to bring her.  Clearly no one is paying attention to Tank and Monica.  Which is where they should be.  But instead everyone is focused on the fact that Toni just met his daughter.  Like I said she looks just like her daddy.  I am sure no one is doubting who her daddy is. 

Before I know it Monica and Tank are being pronounced as the new Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Tank Diaz.  The place erupts into cheers and hollers. Monica and Tank start to walk back down the aisle towards the club house.  I step forward and come face to face with Toni who is still holding Emma in his arms. Without any words he turns towards the aisle and holds his free arm out for me to grab a hold of.  Not really wanting to cause a seen I graciously slip my arm around his and link them together.  The second we start walking all kinds of flashes from phones and cameras start going off and blind all three of us.  Emma starts to cry from all the bright lights.  Toni lets go of my arm and pulls Emma’s face close to him to shield her.  I follow behind in awe.  Only being with her for10 minutes and he is already proving he is protective of her. 

Once in the safety of the club house Toni walks right past Tank, Monica and Viper who are all standing in shock at how this has played out.  He ignores everyone and continues walking down the long hall until he reaches his personal bedroom.  He walks in and steps a side holding the door for me to step in.  Even with his back to me he knows I have followed close behind him.  Once inside he shuts and locks it. Slowly he turns around and looks at me.  I can tell he is fuming.  “Look Toni I can tell you are pissed.” 

Emma reminds me “Mommy bad word.”  I smile at Emma and continue.

“Sorry baby.”  I say to Emma before turning my attention back to Toni “I get it you are mad.  But please do not yell in front of my daughter.” 

“You mean our daughter.”  He growls.  I shake my head yes.  “Why didn’t you tell me?”  he asks.  I can hear the hurt in his voice.

I shake my head no.  “I am not having this conversation in front of her.  If you want, we can talk all you want later.  After Emma goes to bed.  But I refuse to talk about this in front of her.  Can you please do that for Emma?”

He shakes his head in agreement. “But I want one question answered.”

“Ok what?”  I am not going to fight in front of her so he better pick his question wisely.

“What is her name?” 

Confused I look at him “Emma.  Haven’t you heard me call her that already.”

He shakes his head no.  “Her full name.” 

Closing my eyes and taking a deep breath.  “Her name is Emma Toni Hernandez.”  His eyes widen.  Realizing I named her after him.  He shakes his head yes, turns and leaves the room with our daughter still in his arms.  Feeling the heaviness of all that has occurred I need a few minutes alone. I sink down onto his bed. Taking deep breaths.  I can feel the tears threatening to descend but I refuse to let anymore tears fall for him.  I have cried enough for a life time.  After a few more minutes of getting myself under control I get up and walk out to mingle with the rest of the party guest.  The night has just begun but I am all ready for it to be over.

CHAPTER 9

TONI

              I walk out of my room with my daughter in my arms. Leaving Haylee behind.  I thought if I ever saw her again my world would become whole again.  I thought she would forgive me for lying about being divorced and we would fall back into each other’s arms. I guess to kind of pick up where we left off. I know sounds like some fucked up Cinderella story. Honestly at the moment I am so disgusted with her I can’t even stand to look at her.  How could she keep my daughter from me?  Why wouldn’t she tell me.  I am so lost.  I am not really sure where I am going or what happens from here.  All I know is this is my daughter in my arms and I can’t seem to put her down.   I don’t want to put her down. 

She looks up at me with those big brown eyes. “What is your name?”  She asks all quiet.  Like a little mousey voice.  Instantly it pulls at my heart. 

“My name is Toni.”  I say softly.

Her eyes go wide and she gets a huge smile and she yells “Hey.  My name is Toni too.  Mommy says I am Toni like my daddy.”  I stop walking and look at Emma.

“You know who your daddy is?”  I ask a little confused.

She shakes her head yes “His name is my name.  Toni Hernandez.” 

I look at her with tears in my eyes.  It has been a long time since I have cried but this sweet little thing is about to reduce me to rubble.  Quietly I say “My name is Toni Hernandez.” 

Lifting her hands and touching my face like as if she is examining me for the first time.  I give a little chuckle at this.  “So are you my daddy?”  She asks. 

Tears spilling down my cheeks “Yeah peanut.  I am your daddy.”

“Mommy say I look like you.”  She says still touching my face.

“Yeah peanut you do look like me.  But you are very beautiful just like your mommy.”

“Uncle Tank said if I walk to him slowly I can get cake.  Did I do good.  Can I have cake now.”  she asks wiggling in my arms. 

Uncle Tank.  Hmmm.  She seems very familiar with him.  Since Haylee doesn’t want to talk right now he can answer a few question.  Fuck it being his wedding day.  I want answers and someone is going to fucking give them to me now.  “Yeah peanut let’s go get a big piece of cake.”  She starts wiggling so much I set her down on her feet.  She takes off running down the hall way yelling for her Uncle Tank.  Fucking Uncle Tank. 

Once we round the corner Emma runs right up to Tank.  He bends down and starts to talk to her.  I stand back and watch the two interact.  He looks up and sees me watching him.  He hands Emma a cup cake from the table.  Turns and says something to Monica and then walks in my direction.  “My office.”  He says as he walks past me.  Once we are both in his office he props himself up on his desk and waits for me to start. 

“So I take it you knew about Emma?”  He shakes his head yes.  “How long.”  I fold my arms over my chest to help control the urge I have to strangle his neck.

“Vegas.” Is all he says.

“Wait a minute.  You knew she was pregnant while we were in Vegas??”  Her throwing up, tired all the time, saying no to alcohol all makes fucking sense now. 

He gets up from the side of his desk.  Pour himself some whiskey as well as me and points for me to sit down.  “Look I will tell you everything that I know but you have to keep your cool or you are out of here for the night.  This is my wedding night which means I will do anything to make Monica happy.  You will not do anything to ruin it for her. Got it.”  I shake my head in agreement and sip on my whiskey. He tells me everything from how she found out she was pregnant the morning before we went to Vegas, how when she came back she wanted to run away and disappear but he convinced her to not go very far and to let him help her.  Give her protection from me that way she could live her life as she wants.  He told me how he paid off Vinny to not locate Haylee.  He knew where she was the entire time but didn’t want me to find her.

“Why?  I thought we were brothers.  Brothers stick together.”  I am not going to lie.  I am fucking hurt.  Not only was I lied to and betrayed by Haylee but by my own brother as well. 

“I did it for one reason.  And that reason is Emma.  Toni I am your brother but when Haylee found out she was pregnant do you remember all the nasty hateful shit you said about never wanting to be a dad.  Hell if I remember right you even told her if that ever happened you would drag her ass to the clinic and make her get an abortion.  Do you remember that?”  he asks sternly.  I shake my head in agreement.  I never wanted to have kids.  Back then I am for sure I would have done everything in my power to get rid of it.  Selfish asshole I am.  “And she told me she knew you would leave her and she just wanted one more weekend with you.  She wanted to enjoy being with you one last time and then she was going to tell you.” 

I look at him with fury.  “I wouldn’t have left her.”

He shakes his head no.  “Maybe you wouldn’t have left her but she would have ended up leaving you.  Haylee isn’t the type of woman who would get an abortion.  And she knew you didn’t want anything to do with kids.  So yeah brother you two would have been over with after that weekend.  She just wanted to enjoy what little time you all had left.  And well that ended up being a lot shorter than any of us realized.  I did eventually explain to her about Vera.  She actually felt sorry for you.  But Toni I felt I had to do everything I could for Emma.  And if that meant lying to you then damn it brother.  I did what I had to do.  I gave her money anytime she needed it, I helped her buy her house in Portland, even made sure she finished school.  Hell I called in a favor and got Emma in the best damn preschool there is in Portland.  And they know not to fuck with that little girl.  She is a Diablos baby.  So you see I wasn’t protecting Haylee.  It may look like it but honestly I have done everything I have to make sure Emma is taken care of.  And Haylee knows that.”