Chapter 26
Cage
“I can’t believe I’m tattooing my woman’s name on your fucking arm,” I grumble as I dip my needle. My jealousy heightens like always where my girl is concerned, even with her own father, and Joel laughs.
“She’s my daughter, son,” he unhelpfully reminds me with humor, “And I never wanted anyone else to tattoo my girls’ names on my skin other than a Carnage brother, life just got in the way.”
I huff and continue outlining Drew's name above her sister's, which took everything in me not to fuck up on purpose.
“Have you heard from my dad since the brothers left?” I ask above the needle's hum.
I’ve had radio silence, only receiving one text saying church would be next week, then nothing, and I don’t know how to feel about that.
Something deep inside me, a feeling of disappointment, churns, and I fucking hate it.
Joel nods. “Yeah, he’s rang a few times now, but for once he’s not begging me to talk to you, to convince you to return home because funnily enough, he’s actually listened to my daughter. That’s probably why you haven’t heard from anyone this week,” he admits.
“What’s he bitching about this time?” I ask as I quickly dip the needle again and begin to color in my girl's name, the urge to scribble it out fucking high.
He’s her father, I try to remind myself, but the devil on my shoulder is laughing at the voice.
I don’t care that he’s her dad, she’s my girl.
“He’s been reminding me that I’m still technically a brother,” he admits quietly, and I quickly lift the needle as I look at him in shock, and he half smiles.
“You’re a brother? How did I not know that?” I ask as I sit up straighter, giving the man my complete attention.
He shrugs and admits, “It wasn’t well known that I earned my rockers before leaving town for college.
Your grandfather didn’t want me to become a target, so he kept it under wraps.
When I decided to stay here for my wife, he said I’d always have a place in the club.
As soon as I put that leather back on, I’d start earning from the club again, keeping my place open.
Your dad continued that. Now, he wants me home, ready for him to step down, and for us to begin the brotherhood we were supposed to. ”
I swallow hard and dip my needle again, but before I can touch his skin, he shocks me yet again and admits, “I’m going home, son,” and I look at him like he has two heads.
“Joel, you have family here, your wife, Drew, even that bitch – no offense – then you have the garage that you partially own…” I remind him.
“They named me Greasy because I love being under cars, and we both know I own a share in Carnage Motors. I didn’t sell all of my shares over to Bones when he took over,” he says.
I shake my head and finish Drew's name, not knowing what to say right now and he keeps silent, allowing me to think for a moment.
Five minutes, we stay silent for five fucking minutes while I try not to let my mind go crazy. I finish the tat without messing up before I drop my tattoo gun and sit up to look at my future father-in-law.
“You didn’t mention your family, Joel,” I accuse, my stomach tightening, the memory of waking up alone this morning hitting me like a ton of fucking bricks.
Drew never brought up our conversation from last night, and she didn’t say anything before I left this morning.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
“Because where I go, my family goes,” he says fiercely as he sits up, and my heart hammers as he admits, “Now, if I had it my way, Elizabeth would stay here and grow the fuck up, but she’s adamant she needs to leave town, so she’s on probation.”
“Joel,” I state with warning, already seeing where he is going with this, already putting two and two together to make four.
My girl went to her dad for help.
“My daughter loves you like crazy,” he says, ignoring my warning, “She loves you that much. She knew if she spoke to you about this then you would have shut down on her, she knew that you won’t listen to anyone else, she knew exactly what you needed and that was me to tell you, go fucking home and take your rightful place as my president. ”
I push away from him on my stool, breathing heavily, and try to process everything he just said.
“She’s not going to resent you for taking her with you or making her uproot her life.
As she said this morning, she’s never seen this place as home.
If her mother and I weren’t still here, she probably would never have opened her studio here.
Even before she knew I was planning on relocating, to go back to my roots now that my kids are grown, she told her mother she’d only be three hours away.
She told her mother she had never had a good experience here because of her.
” He leans forward, locking eyes with me, “She told her mother, you are her home, and she can do ballet wherever you are.”
“It’s not that simple,” I choke, and the man smiles at me.
“But it is,” he states firmly, “my daughter is your rock, so let her shoulder some of your concern and worry. Let her help you get through seeing your sister's grave, let her help you grieve like you should have done all those years ago, let her help you return to your family.”
I squeeze my eyes tightly, feeling them tear up. Joel whispers, “Let my daughter help you heal and be the man you are slowly becoming. Be the man you should have been before grief took him away. Believe you won’t relapse. The love my daughter holds for you will keep you straight.”
I look at him as he slowly stands and grabs the gel for his tattoo.
He says, “Go home, Bellamy. Take your rightful place and make my daughter your old lady, your wife. Build a family with her and make your sister proud of the man you’ve become.
Celebrate her in your children and stop punishing yourself for something that wasn’t your fault,” my eyes tear again.
He whispers, “I’ll stand behind you and help guide you if you ever lose your way, along with your dad and the brothers.
My daughter will stand right beside you without resentment.
As I said, you are her home, not a place.
Son, to her, you come before her passion, before ballet. Let that sink in.”
Giving me a head nod, he walks out, and I quickly choke, “The tat is on the house!” all while my head is scrambled to fuck.
I hear him laugh, and I know he’s about to pay like a fucker, and I swallow hard as I just stare ahead.
She went to her dad because she knew I wouldn’t listen to her. She really does fucking know me inside and out, just like she told my dad. She knows what I need, she knows I need to go home.
I sniff hard, my love for my woman fucking expands to the point it’s hard to breathe. I go to stand, to pace and try to get my head around what just happened, but my phone rings, gaining my attention. I roll over on my stool to the counter expecting it to be my girl, but instead I suck in a breath.
Bratty
I clench my fists, nerves high as I see the caller ID.
It’s like she fucking knew I’d need her right now.
With a trembling hand and for the first time in fucking years, I answer my phone.
“Hey, little sis,” I croak, and Whitney sucks in a breath before letting out a cry that breaks my fucking heart.
I promised Drew that I’d call Whitney, but with her being attacked, then the baby, and the kidnapping, and the brothers, I just couldn’t. Joel is right, I need to return to my family, and answering my sister is the first step in healing my guilt.
“You answered,” she sobs, and I drop my head.
“I did, Whit, I’m so fucking sorry,” I choke, my emotions getting the better of me, her pain becoming mine, knowing I caused this.
“I miss you…” she sobs, and I squeeze my eyes shut as the fucking guilt pours out of me.
“I miss you too, Whit,” I whisper as I lean against the counter, and I command gently, “Tell me about college, little sis, tell me about your life…”
***
I walk into my girl's studio an hour later, my energy fucking draining bit by bit after the phone call with Whit.
She spent the whole time crying despite trying to tell me about her psychology classes. All I could make out is that she will be graduating with honors, making me fucking proud.
I’ve missed so much because of my guilt, my pain, and that just heightens both even more. It scares the shit outta me, returning. But I know I can’t stay gone much longer, I need to go home.
My family needs me.
Music hits my ears as I walk through the double doors. Smiling softly as I watch my girl bend at the knees, her arms outstretched in front of her, a serene look on her face.
This girl, fuck, she leaves me speechless with how kind she is, and normally, I wouldn’t interrupt her while she’s coming up with lesson plans, teaching, or rehearsing, but we need to talk.
“Your dad, huh?” I say loudly over the music, and our eyes connect through the mirror wall.
Drew stands and keeps her eyes on me. She grabs the remote off the side and turns the music off before turning to face me.
She’s in a light pink leotard with a short, black netted skirt at the front and long at the back, her light pink slippers, and her hair in a low, neat bun.
Her bump is cocooned safely and is visible as a soft glow radiates from her.
She looks fucking beautiful.
“Are you mad at me?” she asks softly, and I shake my head as I slowly walk over to her.
“I’m in awe of you,” I whisper as I cup her cheek, just stopping shy of our bodies touching, and warmth spreads through me.
“I fucking love you, Drew,” I choke, “I love how much you know me and what I need. I love how you care so much about me that you are willing to leave the only home you’ve ever known.
I love that, yet again, you’ve gone out of your way to help me.
I love that you love me despite my past. I fucking love you, Drew, and even though I don’t deserve you, I’m never letting you go. ”
She opens her mouth, probably to scold me for putting myself down while her eyes tear up.
I quickly put my thumb on her mouth before she can say anything, and taking a deep breath, I choke, “Come home with me, Drew. Uproot your life for a selfish jackass and come home with me but not as my girlfriend or the mother of my child, but as my wife, my old lady,” I gently rub the tears that fall down her soft cheeks and I rasp, “Little Bird, marry me before we go home. Marry me and make me the happiest man alive.”
Her eyes race between mine and I can see there is so much she wants to say but Drew being Drew knows me and knows what I need as she says one little word that sets my body alight.
For the first time in years, happiness spreads through me without guilt, my future finally something that I’m looking forward to, and I slam my lips against hers feeling so fucking grateful she gave me a chance.
“Yes.”