Chapter Seventeen
Sera
I”m not quite sure how long I sat at the table lost in my own thoughts after Wreck’s left. I know it”s been quite a while, but I think it”s finally started to sink in what really happened—did in fact happen. So I”m now walking towards the bar to talk to Wreck. There”s an empty seat next to him, so I plop down and spin to face the room like he is.
“Has it sunk in yet?” He asks me without looking at me. He”s watching across the room where Shadow is talking to Blade and some other guys I don”t know.
”Yeah, I think it may have. Thank you for the opportunity; they told me you”ve never taken an apprentice before and why. I”m honored you asked me, Wreck. I won”t let you down.”
“I know that; I could tell by the effort you put into what you drew for Cam. You have amazing untapped potential, and I cannot wait to train you with a tattoo gun. I”ve been sitting here imagining some of the things you”ll be able to do, and I”m excited.”
“When do I start then?”
“Monday morning at ten. We”ll get all the paperwork and shit done and then introduce you to everyone in the shop. You won”t start tattooing people for a while though; you”ll be working on fake skin.” He warns me.
“I know that.” I cut off when something catches my eye in the doorway across the room. Jasmine has just walked in with one of the members, but that’s not what’s drawn my attention. No, that would be the person standing next to her. My fucking mother.
“Wreck.” I say urgently, but don’t take my eyes off Patricia. “Get whoever you trust and get Cam out of here right now.”
“Who is that, Sera?” He asks, looking in the same direction as me.
“My mother. Get Cam out of here right now. Then get back here.”
Wreck doesn’t need to be told twice. He shoots from his seat and rushes across the room towards Cam. I don’t watch, though; my full attention needs to be on Patricia. She wouldn’t walk in here without a plan; she’s not that stupid.
Getting up from my seat, I start walking in the direction she’s standing. I know this is going to turn into a massive fucking show any second now. I wish my brothers weren’t about to come face-to-face with her, but there’s nothing I can do about it.
Stopping in front of where they’re standing, I look Patricia up and down. As always, she’s dressed like she is twenty years younger, wearing a short skirt, a tight top, and heels. I can certainly see her former bunny status in the way she”s dressed. Was she hoping to get some action while she was here? Fucking delusion, bitch.
“What are you doing here?” I say, angrily.
“I’m here for you.”
“Do you honestly think I’d go anywhere with you? You’re insane.”
“You don’t have a choice. Now let”s fucking go before we draw an audience.”
“Keep fucking dreaming, Patricia.” I say, my voice getting louder and drawing attention to what’s going on.
“Don’t speak to your mother like that.” Jasmine pipes up.
This bitch is going to lose her teeth in a minute. Does she not realize what the fuck she’s done by inviting the hellspawn standing next to her into The Clubhouse? It’s not even me I’m worried about; I’ve dealt with her my entire life. It’s my brothers and Cam that I’m concerned about. They don’t need to be exposed to Patricia and her venom.
From the corner of my eye, I see Blade react to what’s been said. He’s figured out who she is. I can see his mouth moving and saying something to Shadow, but I can’t hear anything. He’s too far away. Once he’s finished talking, he’s heading straight for me, and I feel nothing but relief.
“Jasmine I’d shut your mouth if I were you, and Patricia, you need to leave.”
“I’m not going anywhere, and unless you want me to tell these people your dirty little secrets, you’ll fucking move now.”
I feel Blade’s arms wrap around me from behind as she speaks. I can’t help but sag back against him slightly. Having him here to support me helps. I know what she’s about to do.
“You’re not going anywhere, Angel.” He whispers so only I can hear. There’s that nickname again. God, I fucking love it; it makes me melt inside. I love that he has a name just for me.
“Go ahead. You tell all these people what you did to me as a child. I’m not fucking ashamed of my past. The only one of us who should be ashamed is you!”
“You think that man with his arms around you will still want anything to do with you if he finds out?”
I can feel Blade laughing behind me, and before I can speak, he does. “Patricia, I know everything. I know all about the pictures when she was eight. I know about the change when she turned ten. She told me everything, and you want to know something. It changes nothing. She’s a motherfucking survivor just like me.”
I turn my head quickly in the direction where my brothers were last. They’re still there, but they look equally heartbroken and angry. I hate that they’re finding out this way. I was going to tell them eventually; I just didn’t see the point in doing it yet.
Wrath is the first one to move, heading straight towards us. No doubt to confront his egg donor, as he likes to call Patricia. Shadow is only a few steps behind him, snapping out of his own stupor. Just as they both reach me, standing on either side, I realize there are two figures standing behind Patricia in the doorway. And one’s my Dad. I hadn’t realized he’d left the room, and who’s that he’s got with him?