7. Chapter Seven
Chapter Seven
“Who put you up to this bullshit?” I loom over Shelby, holding onto the last shred of control I have left. Right now, all I want to do is wrap my hands around her throat and choke her until her eyes pop out of their sockets. Looking into her eyes, it’s hard to imagine her as a killer.
We share a lot of history.
Was each other’s first everything.
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”
“Why is that?”
“Ask yourself who didn’t show tonight. I know I fucked up and nothing I can say or do will ever make up for what I did.”
“You’re right. It won’t.”
“I’m not lying about the baby, Blood. I swear.”
I shake my head. “I’ll make you a deal. You tell me the truth and it checks out. I’ll let you live on one condition.”
“I’ll do anything.”
“You’ll take care of yourself until this baby is born and if it’s my old man’s or mine, you’ll give me the kid and leave town. You’ll stay away. You won’t contact me. The kid. Not a soul in this town will utter your name and you will forget we exist.”
Mascara streaked tears race down her cheeks. “What about my sister?”
“I’ll make sure she has whatever she needs.”
“I can’t cut her off.”
“You don’t. You’ll be signing her death sentence because I promise you, if anyone hears from you, it’ll be the last time for both you and them.”
“I know you’re angry.”
“Angry!” I roar, spit spraying across her face. “You ripped out my goddamn heart. You nearly destroyed everything I love. You murdered my father. And Goose? What did he ever do besides show you kindness and keep your fucking secret? My old man wasn’t enough. Had to take his too. You disgust me. Looking at you makes me want to throw up.”
“So what? You want me to hand my baby over to the woman responsible for all of this to raise like she did you?”
“You saying Momma Tee orchestrated this?”
“They threatened Ashley. Marty has friends he said would pay him for the privilege to rape and murder her. I was scared, and I didn’t think you’d believe me. I wasn’t going to go through with any of it, I swear. I wanted to tell you, but then Ashley told me about this black SUV that had been following her home from school.”
“You better not be making this shit up.”
“Who didn’t show tonight? I did knowing you hate me and will always hate me. And that you might kill me for being here. Momma Tee and Marty are probably already on his boat setting off for who knows where.”
Pulling out my burner, I dial Goose on his. “You find him?”
“House is empty.”
“He’s with Momma Tee. Check his boat.”
“Momma Tee?”
“Yeah. You know what to do.” I end the call.
“Blood,” Shelby says in a whiny tone, that grates every nerve in my body like sandpaper.
“What?” I snap.
“I did something bad.” She offers me a faint smile then sticks out her tongue, showing me there’s a handful of pills resting there.
“You stupid fucking cunt.” I go straight for the drugs as she clamps her teeth and swallows. “The fuck did you take?”
“The same thing I gave your father and Eightball. Just wanted to tell you I’m sorry. Promise me you’ll watch after Ashley. And tell her I love her.”
“You don’t get to be a coward.” I shove two fingers down her throat, forcing her to gag. Vomit erupts fast and hard enough to shoot out of her nose, spraying the front of my fucking cut. I shouldn’t try to save Shelby’s life, but I do. Soaked in her puke, I gather the bitch in my arms and have Hemlock drive us to the nearest hospital.
With her head in my lap, pale skin, and purplish-blue lips, she looks up at me and smiles. “You should have let me die,” she whispers.
“Evil doesn’t die that easily.” I tell her, hating myself for having an ounce of compassion for her.
“I’m sorry.” She closes her eyes as I urge Hemlock to drive faster.
Eight Months Later
“What did you name him?” Ashley grins down at her nephew, mentally counting his fingers and toes.
“Ash.”
“Hello, Ash.” Her gaze lifts to meet mine. “Why Ash?”
“Because despite his beginnings, he’s going to rise from the ashes. And I don’t know. Thought it seemed to fit. You can say he’s named after you.”
“He’s lucky to have you looking out for him. I am too.”
“Just doing my part.”
“It’s more than that. Most people would have left us to foster care when Shelby deserted us. I can’t believe she took off like that from the hospital. You’re a good guy. She never deserved you.”
“That’s me, sweetheart. One of the good ones.” I chuckle under my breath. I’m anything but a good man. I put a kill order out on the woman who raised me. Had that piece of shit Marty set Shelby up with a new identity and a new life. One better than trash like her deserves.
I read in this morning’s local paper that Marty was the victim of a tragic accident. Gas leak. Real tragic.
Ashley looks at me like I’m some sort of hero.
I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing. I’ve got a club to lead. I can’t be playing babysitter to a newborn and fucking teenage girl.
But I’m all they’ve got.
I’ll figure it out as I go.
There’s a light knock at the door. I glance over to see Goose standing there wearing the dopiest expression on his face. “It’s done.” He personally escorted Shelby out of town. Out of our lives. What it’s done means I don’t have it in me to ask. That’s between him and the big man upstairs or the one down below. Shelby killed his old man and mine. If Goose killed her, then the bitch got what was coming to her and if he let her ride off to her new life, then I can live with that too.
All that bad shit is behind us and we’re starting anew.
I grab Ash from Ashley and place him in his crib. He’s a cute kid, even if his mother was a whore. “Come on. I’ll drop you at school.” I tell Ashley as Candyce, Kevlar’s sister, arrives to take care of the baby.
“Are you taking me on your bike?” Ashley’s eyes light up full of hope.
“Yeah. Why not?” I’m not putting any other woman on the back anytime soon.
Maybe not ever.
“My friends are going to be so jealous. I’m earning so many cool points today.”
“Why is that?”
“Everyone at school talks about how hot you guys are.” Blush stains her cheeks.
I snort. “Tell your friends to get better idols.”
“No way. None of them believed me when I said I was living at the clubhouse. Now they have to. Jackson will be so jealous.”
“Who?”
“My boyfriend.”
“No boys,” I grumble, and she giggles.
“Okay then. No slutty women for you, then.”
“Fucking hell,” I mutter as she climbs on the back of my Harley as though she’s done the act a million times. I’m not cut out for this shit.
Ashley wraps her arms around me, and we shoot out of the parking lot.
I don’t know what the future holds, but whatever that may be, I’ll be ready.
My brother and this club are counting on it.