Cody's Second Chance_Bad Alpha Dads Page 2

  She realized he was watching her and swung her head away, tilting it as she did, and bam! His heart lurched, his belly dropping to his boots as he was propelled back to the day he’d left his original Pack. The day he’d said goodbye to the only person he’d ever loved. Her eyes filled with tears as she’d told him she couldn’t leave with him.

  That she wouldn’t live without a pack around her, that she couldn’t live life as a lone Wolf . . . and it had torn him apart. His heart wrenched from his chest as she’d done exactly what the girl in the corner just did . . . turning her head and tilting it just so, dark hair cascading to cover a face that he’d never again set eyes on. A face that had haunted his dreams for years . . . and sometimes still crept in to jolt him awake with his cock hard, and his arms searching for her warm sweet body only to feel the cold sheets next to him. His soul aching and his eyes smarting as he refused to allow tears to fall for the only person he’d ever loved . . . and lost.

  The sight unsettled him more than he cared to admit, shouting along the bar to Jonesy, “I’ve a call I need to make. I’ll be back shortly.”

  Jonesy shrugged, his usual easy going self. “Sure, I’ve got this.”

  Cody made a quick exit, rushing back to his office while his past rushed into his mind as he attempted to force it back to where it belonged: locked within the recesses of his brain. That way it wouldn’t tear at his guts causing him the excruciating pain that had dogged him for years after he’d left his pack. Not that he’d had much of a choice.

  The Alpha had made that clear. He didn’t like how Cody was showing his own Alpha tendencies, his defiance rearing its head far too often and causing problems more days than not. After he’d come to blows with the Beta over something stupid . . . well, the Alpha had given him an ultimatum: that he leave or he’d be facing him the next time. Cody was young and headstrong, but he wasn’t stupid. He knew he wasn’t powerful enough to take on the Alpha and he didn’t want the responsibility either.

  Running a Pack? No. That wasn’t what he had in mind for his future. But cowering before anyone, bowing and snivelling to them just because they were in positions of power? No. Never. So he had no choice, he had to leave. And he had tried to get her to leave with him, he’d had no doubt she would. He loved her with every fiber of his soul and thought she felt the same. She’d told him so often that she did. Until it came to the crunch and then she’d cried, tears streaming down her face when she said she couldn’t do it. Wouldn’t do it. Her sobs ringing in his ears as he turned and walked away.

  Fuck! Cody slammed the door of his office, storming over to his desk, tearing open his bottom drawer and hauling out the bottle of good whisky he kept there, sitting down and staring at the amber liquid, whispering, “We could’ve made it work.”

  He sat for a long time, just staring at the bottle, knowing if he opened it he’d go in search of the damn crate it came in and he’d not surface for days. His heart ached and his soul wasn’t faring much better. Damn it to hell and back. He hadn’t thought of her for a long time and in a split-second everything had come crashing in on him and he was right back to that angry, scared and alone young man.

  Every emotion under the sun was flooding his system, his belly clenching as he shook his head over and over, knowing things could’ve been so different if she’d only said yes instead of no. But there was no point in dwelling on that now. “Stop being an old woman,” he mumbled, shoving the whisky back in the drawer and banging the drawer closed. “You’ve a business to run now and people who depend on you. You get up off your ass and suck it up.”

  Standing, he took several long, deep breaths to calm himself, cracking his neck from side to side and pasting on his usual cheeky smile before going back out to the bar to rejoin the world. When he arrived, he was shocked to realize the band was finished, and people were already leaving. Jonesy raising an eyebrow and tapping his watch.

  “That was a long call. Everything okay?”

  Cody tipped his head, hiding his surprise well. “Yeah, sorry, one call led to another and another. Hope you weren’t rushed off your feet, Jonesy.”

  “Nah, wasn’t too bad.” Jonesy carried on clearing away glasses and Patty and the other waitresses were cleaning the tables.

  “I’ll do this, you get off.” Cody felt bad for leaving him alone. “I’m sorry for taking so long.”

  “It’s okay, but if you’re offering . . . I’m outta here. Night, boss.”

  “Goodnight, see you tomorrow.” Cody noticed most of it was already done, dang, Jonesy was good.

  Then he felt it . . . again. Eyes boring into his back like knives being stuck into him and he turned, catching her glaring at him. Shit. This was getting old and he was going to get to the bottom of it. Now.

  She saw him and his intentions. Rising quickly from her table, knocking over her soda can as she did so, she scrambled to get away.

  Hell, no. Cody’s palm landed on the bar top, taking his weight as his thighs bunched before he leapt right on over, landing lightly on the other side before taking off after her. Patty’s shout ringing in his ears as he ran.

  “Cody! What the hell? Wait, what’s wrong?”

  ~ Chapter Three ~

  With Patty’s words ringing in his ears, he focused on the girl, who’d fled through the door, its thud as it swung closed telling of her haste and the fear he’d seen flash in her eyes a second before she’d took off. And the strength that comes with it.

  When he reached the place she’d been mere moments before he faltered, her scent wafting up his nostrils and almost flooring him. It was familiar. Too fucking familiar. But that was impossible. Impossible. She was barely legal, hell, she was probably not old enough to drink booze, hence the soda she’d been nursing all evening.

  Cody refocused, snatching the door and heaving it open with such force he heard the hinges creak and moan at his manhandling as he tore through the opening as soon as there was enough room to do so. It was pitch dark outside, the only light coming from the few lamps he had dotted around his large parking lot, but he didn’t need any. Not with his shifter abilities, both eyes and nose engaging to track his quarry who was at this moment trying to evade him.

  “Not on your damn life,” he growled as he closed in on her.

  She’d ran down the side of the building, squashing herself between two huge garbage dumpsters just past the back door to the kitchens. Not a bad idea in the grand scheme of things, obviously hoping the stench would mask her, but Cody was an excellent tracker and he’d followed her faint footprints left in the dust, together with that fucking aroma he knew so damn well. One that was imprinted inside him and that he’d never, not ever, forget. Not even if he lived to be a thousand years old.

  Slowing his pace, Cody approached cautiously, a smorgasbord of scents assaulting him now: anger, fear, loathing, and that old faithful . . . hate.

  What the hell was going on and who the fuck was this girl?

  “There’s nowhere to go, so you may as well come out and tell me who you are and why you’re looking for me.”

  He tried to keep his tone cool and calm, but truth was he was upset and angry and he was certain that came through . . . just as Patty and Ricky came running. Ricky was huge, with long dark hair and covered in tattoos that were visible all the way up his neck and down onto his hands. And right now he was snarling viciously because he thought his boss was in trouble. Shit.

  “Boss? What’s up?” Ricky stepped up right beside him, his eyes scanning the area for the threat he obviously thought was there.

  “It’s okay, I’ve got this.” Cody held out his arm, waving Ricky back.

  Patty’s hand was at her throat, her face white as a sheet. “Is it that girl? The one that was asking for you earlier?”

  Cody grimaced as Patty let the cat out of the bag. Not sure what to say as a sarcastic laugh echoed down the dark alley, a shadow emerging from behind the dumpster.

  “That girl? Yeah, you could say that I suppose.” She walked o
ut, her long dark hair getting flicked back to reveal her face properly for the first time beneath the light over the back door.

  He staggered back as if he’d been punched in the gut. Up close he saw the similarities much better. The jawline, the shape of her nose, her almond shaped eyes that were the exact same color as his and now her scent washed over him fully. A blend that made sense . . . and didn’t. Couldn’t. It was beyond the realms of possibility and Cody couldn’t take it in.

  Patty gasped, looking at him alarmed at his reaction. “Cody? What’s wrong?”

  The girl stormed toward him, anger rolling off her like a damn tsunami ready to sweep him away with her rage. Her arm swinging back as her palm landed a stinging slap to his cheek. And he let her, powerless to do anything against the overpowering hurt he felt inside her. “You bastard!”

  She lifted her hand again, ready to let loose again and he would allow it. He couldn’t do anything to stop her. Not when he could see, scent, feel the pain that flowed so freely from her. But Patty had other ideas.

  “No!” She stepped forward, shaking her head firmly. “One is all you get, sweetie. I’ve no idea what’s going on, but you don’t get to raise your hand to him again.”

  The girl’s anger didn’t leave her, nostrils flaring as she screamed. “You fucking left! You left her . . . and me! I’m not that girl! I’m your daughter!”

  And the next thing he knew she’d collapsed against him as tears cascaded down her cheeks, horrific sobs tearing from her body as her clenched fists pummelled his chest.

  “Oh fuck,” Patty gasped and thankfully Ricky remained silent.

  My daughter? Cody’s arms wrapped around her as she continued to hit him, the words reverberating around his brain but he couldn’t quite grasp onto them. How? Why? What the fuck?

  “Why?” she spluttered.

  Finally running out of steam she pushed away, swiping her arm across her face and glaring defiantly up at him. Looking for an answer that he didn’t have. He had no idea she was alive, had no idea her mother had been pregnant. What did he say? No words could make up for what he’d done. None.

  Patty saved him, stepping forward and taking her arm. “Let’s move this inside. An alley isn’t the place for any type of conversation, far less one of this magnitude. Sorry, I’m Patty, and you are?”

  Her face stained with tears, white and so young looking, she turned to Patty who gave her a smile. “I’m Cordelia but everyone calls me Cordy.”

  Cordy . . . so close to his own name it struck a chord deep inside him. Was that intentional? Hell, he had no clue but it felt like it was some kind of hidden message, just for him. But once again, that was impossible.

  “All right, Cordy, come on inside and I’ll get you something warm to drink and then you two can talk properly in private.” Patty’s hand settled on Cordy’s elbow, ushering her back toward the bar as he watched, shock and horror fighting for supremacy inside him.

  Shock that he had a daughter and horror for what he’d left behind when he’d walked away . . . then another emotion reared its ugly head: anger.

  Why the fuck hadn’t she said anything? Why had she not told him she carried his child? He had a right to know something so vitally important. It would’ve changed everything. Wouldn’t it? Damn it. He wasn’t so sure of that.

  The Alpha would still have ordered him to leave and what other options would they have had? She would not have left with him . . . but he could have sent for her as soon as he settled somewhere. She had no right to keep this from him all these years.

  Shit. He had no right to be angry. Not without all the facts. That’s what he needed and the first place to start was with his daughter who seemed to hate his god damned guts.

  Patty and Cordy disappeared around the corner, Cody inhaling and exhaling several times before he forced his feet to move. Ricky still nearby but silent, his presence a welcome reminder of the friends he’d made. Ones that would stand by him, no matter what.

  “You okay?” Ricky asked quietly as he passed by.

  Cody shook his head, not sure how to respond. “Not really, Ricky, I never knew anything about her. Fuck, if I did . . . but I didn’t.”

  “I know, Cody, I know.” Ricky’s huge paw of a hand landed on his shoulder, squeezing gently. “If you need me, for anything, just call.”

  “Thanks.” Cody, reached up and patted his hand. “You can head home now.”

  “Sure, I’ll see ya tomorrow.”

  “Yeah, tomorrow.” Cody sped up, suddenly desperate to find out everything about his daughter and the only person he’d ever loved . . . and lost.

  ~ Chapter Four ~

  The bar was empty when he walked in, Spencer, his other bouncer, and Patty’s boyfriend, waiting patiently by the door. He gave a brief nod back toward his office. “Patty’s back there with the girl. She says to go on back. I’ll lock up, she told me to go on home.”

  “Thanks.” Cody took a deep breath, steeling himself as he strode down toward his office. His stomach in knots and his mind in turmoil, emotions roiling through him that he’d never experienced before, mainly fear.

  Fear that she’d still hate him after they’d talked, because she sure as hell hated him earlier, and terror at what he was about to find out about her life and that of her mother. The girl he’d loved with his entire heart and soul and the one he’d left behind, pregnant.

  Stopping at the door, he stalled, hearing soft voices inside he eavesdropped, a shitty thing to do but he couldn’t help himself.

  “Thanks,” Cordy said.

  “Hot chocolate with marshmallows is my go to drink when I’m upset,” Patty replied, and he could almost see her soft friendly smile as she said it.

  She was one of the nicest people he knew and just the sort of person to calm Cordy down. He stayed where he was, giving Patty a few more minutes to work her magic.

  “So, Cordy, I’m sorry about earlier. I didn’t mean to be rude, or upset you. We’re all close here at Silvers and tend to stick up for each other. Cody’s looked out for every single one of us at one time or another . . . me included on more than one occasion. Hell, he got me out of a bad situation once and I’ll never be able to repay him for that.”

  There was silence for a few seconds before Cordy’s soft voice asked, “Really? What did he do?”

  Patty sighed before she lowered her voice. “I don’t normally talk about it, most don’t know the details . . . but if you promise not to go blabbing then I’ll tell you.”

  “Of course, I don’t know anyone here anyway, but I don’t spread gossip. It’s not who I am.”

  “Okay, well, I had this boyfriend, he was a shifter from another pack and he wanted more than I was prepared to give. He wouldn’t leave me alone and things got very nasty. Cody knew something was wrong and he got it out of me. He offered to help but I asked him to let me handle it. Anyway, said boyfriend came over and, let’s just say it got ugly and he beat me up really badly. He wouldn’t allow me to transform so I could heal and I was in an awful state. I was late for my shift here and Cody has a sixth sense about these things and he didn’t even bother trying to call me, he drove to my place. As soon as he saw that bastard’s car outside, he broke down my door and got in, saw me on the floor and beat the living daylights out of him then took me to the pack’s Healer. After that, he went and got the ass and took him to his own pack’s Alpha and told him if he didn’t deal with him that if he ever came near me, or Silvers, again that he’d end him for good next time. Now, if that wasn’t enough, he found out that he’d stolen a heap of my cash . . . Cody paid my rent for me for the next three months up front so I wouldn’t have to worry. That’s the kind of man he is now.”

  Silence. Cody waited. Embarrassed at hearing the story out loud. Although every word was true. He hated hearing it.

  “Does he do stuff like that often? Or was that a once off? Does he like you? Is that why?” Cordy fired the questions at Patty like a machine gun.

  Patty chuckled. “H
ell, no, he doesn’t like me like that. And, yeah, honey, he does it all the time. It’s not just staff here that he helps, but he’d kill me if he knew I was telling you this shit. He’s very private about what he does, he doesn’t like it getting around, but he’s always the first to step up and do what’s needed. A few years ago, we had a rogue problem and he was right out there, hunting them down without a thought for his own life. He’s always doing stuff, baby, there’s not one person who works here that he’s not helped in one way or another. That’s a fact.”

  Another few moments of silence passed before Cordy broke it. “Where is he?”

  “I guess he’ll be locking up. This is all his, so he needs to make sure everything’s done for the night before he locks it up tight. I’m sure he’ll be here . . . oh, I hear him now. Is that you, Cody?”

  Damn. Patty knew he was there. Cordy was probably too distracted but Patty? Yeah, she knew. “Yeah.” Cody opened the door, his belly clenching as he stepped inside and taking in the scene.

  His daughter, his freaking daughter curled up in the corner of his leather sofa, so small and anxious, but definitely not scared. No. She wasn’t scared. Her head lifting, eyes that were a mirror image to his own gazing back at him defiantly.

  “Hi.” He said and went directly to his desk. This time he was certain he’d need a drink. Removing his whisky and a glass and bringing it with him as Patty dismissed herself.

  “Well, it was nice meeting you, Cordy. I hope to see you again, but I’ve gotta go, g’night.”

  “Goodnight, Patty, and thank you.”

  “’Night, Patty.” Cody raised his chin, as she brushed passed him.

  “See you tomorrow, boss, call if you need me.”

  “I will, thanks. Everything’s already locked up so just make sure you do it again once you let yourself out.”

  “Will do.” She gave them a wave, another quick look and finally left them alone.