Chapter Fifteen
“Why can’t they stay here? I get the feeling there’s something you’re not telling me.” Dad turned and demanded as soon as Smokey closed the door to his father’s den, ensuring it was just the two of them.
“You saw what that fucker did to her, or at least part of it. She’s covered in bruises.
And did you miss the imprint of his fingers around her neck?
” Smokey shook his head. “I’m not giving him a chance to get a hold of her and finish what he started last night.
And I’m not giving him a chance to get to my son either. ”
Smokey forced himself to take a deep breath and let it out slowly.
His father wasn’t his enemy, but he had to make him understand that fucker was dangerous and the clubhouse was the best place for them.
There were people around who were far more prepared for the kind of violence Tania’s soon to be ex seemed to like to deal out.
After a second deep breath had him calm, or at least as calm as he would be getting for a while, he tried again.
He couldn’t stand still, he started walking back and forth the length of the room as he spoke.
“I had her make a list and sent a couple of prospects over to get the things she wanted, hoping that if we got it done before the fucker got off work, then we could get in and out clean. But while they were there someone showed up and shot them.”
“Fuck.”
“Yeah. One of them was just grazed, he was able to get the other back to the clubhouse and they’ve both been treated and will be okay.
” He glanced up and caught Dad’s gaze. “This guy is crazy. I don’t know how far he’ll go and I can’t put you and Mom at risk.
I can’t risk that he comes in, kills the two of you then he has Tania and Carter to do whatever he wants with.
” Smokey shook his head and went back to pacing the floor.
“I can’t do it. At least at the clubhouse there’s all the guys.
They know what’s going on, they’re prepared.
Over the last few months, we’ve surrounded the property with a fence, added a gate with someone manning it 24/7, we’re working on building houses so we can be certain our homes are secure. ”
“Okay, I see where you’re coming from on this, but long term. What are you going to do?” Dad went to the small cupboard where he kept liquor and poured himself two fingers of scotch. “Want some?” He lifted the bottle.
Smokey shook his head. “I need to keep my head clear, just in case.”
Dad carried his drink to one of the leather chairs in the corner and sat. “What’s going to happen to that baby?”
“I’m going to raise him.” Smokey knew what his father was asking, yet he couldn’t keep the tone of that was a stupid question out of his voice.
“And his mother? You know this is going to cause problems with the Bussards.” Dad watched him as he took a sip of his whiskey.
“I don’t give a flying fuck if it makes Minton Bussard’s head explode.
He picked that loser for her. He chose the man who beat her.
Do you know why she didn’t go to them? Why her first call wasn’t her father, like it would be for most women?
Because her father would tell her it’s her duty to stay with her husband, no matter what.
At least that’s what she’s telling me. And I don’t doubt her.
Did she not tell me about Carter? Yeah. I’ll give you that but when I saw him I recognized the eyes.
The eyes are hard to miss. I asked. She didn’t lie.
She didn’t tell me no or try to make excuses. ”
Smokey realized he was shouting. He stopped pacing for a moment, ran one hand through his hair, and forced himself to take several deep breaths.
“I’m going to do my damnedest to make sure she’s happy and that she stays with me.
” He looked up and met Dad’s gaze. “I love her. I always have. Watching her marry that asshole was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. I’m not letting her get away again.”
“If you don’t give her the choice, you’re no better than he is,” Dad spoke for the first time since mentioning her parents.
If looks could kill, his father would be a dirty smear on the back of his seat.
“Do you think I don’t know that? I’m not going to force her. What kind of man do you think you raised?”
Dad shrugged. “I didn’t think one who would surprise me with a grandbaby before we even knew he was dating someone.”
Smokey narrowed his eyes at his father. He loved the man, but sometimes he wanted to knock him on his ass.
“Do you think I didn’t want to be there?
That I didn’t care about watching my son grow?
Or come into this world? If I’d known, you would have.
I have known less than twelve hours myself, and look where I am!
” He threw his arms out to the sides, motioning to the room around them.
Smokey realized he was yelling again and that wasn’t what he wanted to do.
He scrubbed one hand over his face while he counted backwards from ten.
“I’m not going to force Tania to do anything.
Well, nothing that’s not directly related to keeping her safe, at least for now.
We’ve had that discussion and what goes on between her and I is just that, between the two of us.
I will do everything I can to make her want to stay with me.
If you can’t get on board with that, then that’s on your conscience. ”
“What do I tell Minton? You know he’s going to come demanding answers when he finds out.”
“Honestly, Dad, I don’t give a flying fuck.
” His father flinched at the language but didn’t say anything.
He’d learned years before that to protest only made Smokey use it more.
It occurred to him that Tania hadn’t said anything about it either.
He hoped it didn’t bother her, because otherwise he wouldn’t know what to do.
He’d have to ask her about it, later. Smokey could clean up his mouth, but the rest of the Angels? That was going to be a challenge.
“You can tell him that he failed her and I stepped up, or anything you want as long as it doesn’t make things worse. Tania loves her parents and I don’t want to ruin that relationship any more than I have to, but I will not have her put in danger.” He went back to pacing.
“I know you haven’t seen them, but I brought three of my brothers with me today.
Because of the shit going on with that fuckwad, none of the Angels are going anywhere alone.
And the women are traveling with even more, when they leave.
We try to keep them close to the clubhouse when we can but some things have to be done away from there.
Like this. I wanted to make sure you and Mom got to meet Carter.
” Smokey stopped and watched his father, wanting to see his body language, not just hear his words.
Dad stared at him for several seconds. He looked down at his lap for a moment and then back up.
“You’re right.” He took a breath, still meeting Smokey’s gaze.
“What’s important now is your safety. Not just Tania and Carter’s, but everyone’s.
” He licked his lips and Smokey wasn’t sure if he was embarrassed over being more concerned with what people would think of him than other people’s safety or if he was trying to find the words for whatever he was going to say next.
“I appreciate you bringing them for us to see. I hope it’s not too long before you can bring them back and not have to worry about their being safe here.
I understand why you don’t want to leave them here. ”
Dad looked away. “I’ll figure out how to deal with Minton.
I don’t think he had any clue that Rod would hurt her.
I can’t believe he would choose a man for her who would do that.
” Then he met Smokey’s gaze once more. “I may be wrong, and I’ll deal with that once I know more but you’re right.
What her father thinks or says isn’t what’s important here. Your son and his mother are.”
Smokey nodded once, glad that Dad had come around. It would have hurt something in him to have to work around when his father was home and when he wasn’t so Mom could see Carter, but he would have done it so Mom could have a relationship with his son.
His son. He still wasn’t used to that. Even the thought made him smile.
“Anyway. They can’t stay here, because as good as you are, you can’t be here all the time and you can’t cover the entire house. We’re better set up for something like that and I have no doubt that this fucker is capable of hurting, hell, maybe even killing, both of them.”
“All right. I agree.” Dad nodded a couple of times, then fell silent. After a few seconds he looked up at Smokey and met his gaze. “What do you need? Normally a couple has six to eight months to gather all the things for a baby, you’ve had a few hours. What can your mom and I help with?”
“Honestly? All of it.” Smokey shook his head.
“We weren’t able to get anything but a few clothes for either of them out of the house before the elder Mr. Werner showed up.
Raven did have one of the prospects unearth an old high chair out of storage, so we’ve got that, but right now Carter’s sleeping in the middle of my bed with pillows as walls to keep him there.
I don’t know what we’ll do when bed time rolls around.
I guess we’ll have some shopping to do.”
“Let us,” Dad offered. “We can go out and get what you need without the risk. Do you want me to bring it all by the clubhouse?”
“That would be great.” Smokey reached for his wallet inside his cut.
He pulled out a stack of cash and handed it over.
“Here. Get whatever you think we’ll need.
You have more experience at this than I do.
Pay for what you think is appropriate, then use this to pay for the rest.” He knew there would be no talking his parents out of getting gifts for them, so he didn’t try.
Instead, he gave his father the choice of how much they spent and they could use his money for the rest. “Will that be enough or should I give you a card too? I would give you more, but that’s all I have on me. ”
Dad thumbed through the stack.
“This should be good. If it goes over, I’ll let you know.”
Smokey knew that Dad would never tell him, so he pulled out a card and handed it over.
“Just in case.” He wasn’t worried about Dad going hog wild and maxing out the card, if anything, he’d be lucky if he used all the cash. “Now, what do you say we go see how Mom and Tania are doing? It’s likely going to take me a while to get her out of here. She’s always loved you and Mom.”
“We love her too.” Dad pushed himself to his feet. “It just never occurred to me that the two of you would end up together.”
“It’s not over yet, but I’m gonna do my damnedest,” Smokey said. And he meant it.