The fiasco at the bar had only slightly rattled Lily. It was bothering her a lot less than she'd thought it would when she first found herself interested in Gunner, at least.

By the time she got to the daycare to get Rowan, it was barely a blip on her radar.

The little girl squealed loudly, running from the daycare teacher straight into her mother's legs.

"Y'know I really think she's gonna start talking soon," the teacher, Mrs. Stone, commented from the gate.

"Yeah?" Liliana's eyes lit up at the thought. She would happily take the distraction, all Lily could tell herself was that Gunner was doing what he needed to to protect her. How could she hold that against him—ever?

Liliana was just happy to get any good news at all today. Especially any news about her favorite person in the world.

As the two women talked, from the road a police cruiser skulked down the asphalt. And the officer in the driver's side had a clear view of Lily heaving up Rowan into her arms. It had nearly slowed down to a stop, crawling towards the parking lot.

Grinning at Mrs. Stone, Lily bid her a soft goodbye while waving Rowan's hand manually. Blubbering at the baby, the two of them giggled as they made the trek through the field back to the car.

Her eyes glanced up towards their car before she did a double take. The cop car parked next to her passenger side made her heart jump into her throat. Her hands took on a shake that she couldn't hide. Instead she clutched Rowan closer as she knew exactly who was in the car. The feeling in her gut made her want to be sick.

But she kept her head down while a million thoughts ran through her mind. Rowan babbled in her ear and kept her grounded, looking over at her baby she finally forcefully exhaled the breath she was holding.

Lily had to keep it together for her. Always for her.

Frowning, she went to the driver's side and slid in as to avoid opening the door next to the patrol car.

As she got Rowan situated, she heard his door open and flinched at the sound of it shutting. She didn't exactly know why she was so much more fearful this time around, whether it be that she knew how much Gunner hated him or maybe it was her instincts simply telling her that Daminger showing up right then was a horrible sign.

He had no excuse to be there.

"Liliana Williams," Daminger practically sang as he rounded the car. For whatever reason, hearing her last name roll off that man's tongue made her cringe. Him knowing anything, or feeling like he knew anything, about her was currently her worst nightmare.

Pressing his palm against the doorway of the car, he looked at the two of them inside the vehicle. "Hey, little ladies," he watched Lily grip her bag close to her. Rowan patted at her mother's cheek while simultaneously swatting at the seat belt she was hurriedly trying to strap.

Swallowing hard, she attempted to calm herself down. Nothing good would come if she started pointing the finger at him. Especially not while they were alone in this parking lot. There were no bikers in sight, no Gunner in sight.

"Hey, officer." She spared him a tight smile as Rowan squealed loudly in their ears. Daminger winced a bit at the sound, his friendly grin falling for a moment before he forced it back up.

"Oh please, just call me Andrew, Liliana. I see your little one is lively today."

He was referring to Rowan squirming around to avoid the car seat even as Lily wanted to cry out of frustration at that very moment. Daminger boxed her in, inside her own car as he leaned against the car doorway.

"She's actually tired, I'll have to get her home and to a nap." Still she kept her voice as pleasant as possible and finally heard the click of the seatbelts go off. She turned to Daminger and their eyes met. For a moment, she wondered if he would move or if she'd have to crawl her way into the driver seat. But that would open a space for Daminger to have access to Rowan and the thought made her skin crawl.

So, she sat and finally he shifted out of the way a bit. And with one last look at Rowan, she slid out the car and promptly shut the car door.

"Um, so did you need anything?" Lily couldn't help but ask with her keys in her hand. Nibbling on her bottom lip nervously, she slid one of the keys between her knuckles.

Daminger stood between her and her driver's side door now. Constantly, he made himself an obstacle at every time in this town.

"Wanted to check up. Make sure you were adjusting to town."

Nodding slowly, she couldn't help but ask, "Didn't want to stop by the diner? Y'know I don't remember mentioning where Rowan goes to-" Her brows furrowed as Daminger cut her off before she could finish her statement. .

He grunted in the back of his throat, watching her closely. "I also wanted to make sure you were safe, with the crowd you were keeping as company."

"Officer-"

"Andrew," he corrected, "I'll be frank with you, Liliana. I know you got nervous and don't actually have a husband waiting at home for you and Rowan. I see you runnin' around town with her too often by yourself for that. No man in his right mind would leave you unattended to. I wouldn't at least..."

Liliana swallowed hard as she squeezed her fists tighter as she tried to ignore the underlying tone in his voice.

"And I also have seen you with Gunner," he exhaled as if it was a stab to the heart. "And I think you're a real nice woman gettin' wrapped up in things you have no business in"

Daminger sighed overtly, shaking his head in thought. "Y'know my Captain—Captain Richards—he's a real good man. Been doing his best to stop crime in this town for years before me. And the horror stories he had about these bikers... about Gunner... it would rattle even the toughest bastards I know."

Ticking up her brow, she tried to keep her face neutral. But inside she was wondering how she ended up with Daminger dick riding his boss. God, she'd been around Gunner for too long.

But Daminger kept on talking despite her face giving away her thoughts, he didn't even notice. "Richards told me it would be best to get you away from him as soon as possible. He's dangerous, Liliana. The police force—we'd help you out. Capt. has already signed off on it!"

Liliana tried to rack her brain for the name, realizing that it was the name of the man who'd first arrested Gunner. He mentioned it off-handedly when he told her about his first days as a biker, he said how Richards wasn't so much of a problem anymore and it was lackeys like the one in front of her that were thorns in his side.

At her silence, Daminger couldn't help himself from continuing, "I really do think you're amazing from what I've seen, and I don't want that for ya. I don't want that for your girl. I'd like to help ya out, turn things around for you and maybe even your baby if you'd let me. You deserve a good man."

Liliana's eyes were wide. She was wondering if those words had truly come out of his mouth. Turn things around... Her jaw clenched. She fucking owned her house. She supported her daughter because she was smart with her money.

Grinding her teeth, she tapered down an angry growl as she tried to keep her composure.

"Officer Daminger, I can appreciate what you are doing but I need to be honest. I'm not interested." She stepped forward and finally could grip her door handle. Their skin brushed one another because he barely moved, and the contact made her shiver.

"I think maybe we should only see each other at the diner. And I think whatever problems you or your Captain whoever have with my boyfriend you can work out with him."

Dropping the boyfriend felt a bit mean, but before she could sit on it, she yanked the car door open finally. "I don't need to turn anything around, and I don't need anybody's help. I think a lot of other people in town could use your attention, actually."

Daminger's entire face had flushed red at the overt rejection as his mouth opened and shut while he tried to gather himself.

Without another word, she shut the car door and promptly locked it. As quickly as she could because the anger filling his stance made her heart stutter, she pulled out and made her get away with Rowan still none the wiser to her mother's panic.

Her eyes welled with tears after the anger had worn off. Now leftover adrenaline still caused a tremble in her fingers, her lungs heaved with anxiety.

Taking deep breaths as she heard Rowan quiet down at the sound of her mother's sniffles, she wiped away tears and snot.

"Rowboat," she sang even with her scratchy voice. "I think we need some music." And as soon as the car filled with the tunes from the radio Rowan was squealing. The girl loved hearing Olivia Rodrigo lately and thankfully her music was being pumped into every station.

And as Brutal played through the speakers, Liliana could barely enjoy the song as her mind raced with what the next few days will look like for her.