20. Chapter 19
Scottie
I blink, then blink again as I look at the paperwork clutched in my hand, mine and Bradley's names in bold, my sister’s and Kavan’s signatures clear as day.
I watched them willingly sign the paperwork.
My throat feels like its closing and my heart pounds, the last hour not clicking with me right now, my head all fuzzy.
Everyone has become a blur, their voices are all muffled like I’m underwater, only bits and pieces coming through.
Yasmin is crying and pleading with my brother not to leave her. Mama is quietly talking to Dad but keeping close to me. She has spent the whole evening next to me, and Bradley is on the phone, yet nothing is registering. All I can see is the adoption papers in my hand.
Sammie is legally mine. Bradley did what I thought about doing, only he got him legally signed over to us.
I blink, then blink again as I vaguely hear Mama hiss, “I cannot believe how blinded we were to Rachel’s manipulation.
I cannot believe we treated Scottie the way we did, the way I did, our own daughter, and why, huh?
God, poor Sammie, she signed away her own child believing I would take him in all to hurt her sister. ”
I swallow the lump forming. Rachel signed the papers, believing Mama was going to have custody, showing everyone her true colors, and I…
I tremble slightly, my heart rate not coming down as I hear, “Yeah, Doc, the papers are all signed. I just need to have a real conversation with Scottie to convince her to leave Dr. Thomas before I can pack her stuff and come home. She’s in shock at the moment. I never gave her the heads up…”
Home? To Wincher?
Can I leave? I mean, I said I would go anywhere Bradley goes, and Doc mentioned I’ll always have a job in his ER.
Excitement fills me, excitement of a new start with Bradley and Sammie as well as nerves and then fear.
What if Rachel tries to get him back?
“Does she have to leave us?” I hear Mama choke and Dad sighs, “Yeah, she does and not in two weeks now that both Kavan and Rachel signed without a second thought,” and my mama sobs, “But I feel like I’ve only just opened my eyes and begun to have that relationship that I should have had…”
I blink again. Crap, right? Mama wanted us to have lunch a few times a week. She wants to earn my forgiveness and get to know me again, to learn about my passion.
I take a shaky breath as I look over the official paperwork Bradley handed me. With everything that has happened tonight, I never thought it would end with me having custody of Sammie, of having a fresh start dangled before me.
Everything feels like a dream and a nightmare all in one.
“Yeah, Doc, I’ll keep you informed but get Mama to get one of guest rooms ready for Sammie, he likes motorcycles,” I hear Bradley say, his voice closer before suddenly his warm hand is cupping my cheek, gently lifting my head, and I lock eyes with him.
“I thought you felt uncomfortable calling Kathleen your mama?” I ask in a whisper, the only thing I’m able to focus on right now, and Bradley smiles slightly as he rubs his thumb over my jaw.
“I do, I even think of her as Kathleen in my head, but she’s still the only mama I’ve ever known and I won’t disrespect her,” he says, then asks, “How are you doing, baby?”
“Confused,” I confess, “I didn’t think tonight would go this way.”
“Treasure, I told you that I won’t live without you and I meant it,” he says lowly, “You and Sammie, even though you didn’t want to believe it at first, you’re a package deal.
A package I want, one I need,” he gently kisses my lips, “You two are my family and I need my family with me always, but I also can’t stay away from my club much longer.
I had to do what I had to do without actually kidnapping a child,” he smirks, “As much as conjugal visits sounded fun, I’d prefer to have you in my arms always. ”
Damn man.
“This is all a lot,” I choke as I grip his cut with one hand, keeping hold of the papers in my other, “But dammit Bradley, I love you so much, thank you for doing this, for making Sammie ours.”
“As I said, baby, I will do anything for you,” he whispers, and I close my eyes as I lean my forehead against his stubbled chin.
“My head feels scrambled,” I choke, and he tightens his grip on my cheek.
“I know, baby, and I know this has been a lot, but just know, I’ve fucking got you,” he murmurs against my head and I let go of his cut and wrap my arms around his waist, placing my head over his heart, just as I hear Yasmin shout, “You are not leaving me, I refuse!” and I roll my eyes.
I honestly don’t know why my brother married her to begin with.
I mean, he never showed her affection, and even at their wedding that I was forced to attend, he looked miserable.
Don’t even get me started on the arguments when he mentioned they’d be moving in with our parents instead of the large five-bedroom house he bought.
I just thought he wanted to live off our parents, but I guess he didn’t want her in his space…
Lorenzo cuts my thoughts off when he growls, “I only married you because you told everyone who you knew I was going to work with that you were pregnant even though you had your fucking tubes tied!”
Hang on a second…
I pull back from Bradley and look at Yasmin with shock as Mama sneers, “I freaking knew it!” as she steps forward menacingly, causing Dad to grab hold of her arm and my mouth parts in complete shock.
She did what?
For years she refused to have anything to do with Sammie because she claimed she lost their baby, yet she…
“I—I, Lorenzo, I’d never, I didn’t lie, I lost it,” she stutters, and my brother smirks coldly as he mentions, “Funny, because the proof I received in the mail today states otherwise. Apparently you got your tubes tied when you were supposed to be pregnant.”
“Well, she really did just want a life of luxury,” I mutter and Bradley snorts.
Yasmin's face pales as Dad sneers, “I suggest you pack your shit, Yasmin,” and she takes a step back, hurt etching her features. She quickly looks at Lorenzo for comfort, but he just crosses his arms over his chest, not budging.
“I’m your wife,” she chokes, and he reminds her, “Because you told me you were pregnant. You wanted to trap me and your plan backfired, because I had found out the truth. You want to be a stay-at-home wife with all the luxuries and not have to deal with kids. You can have that, with someone else,” he leans forward, “I know, why not call up Kavan, I hear he’s leaving my other sister.
I mean, if you dye your hair dark like Scottie’s, he may even envision you as her. ”
Bradley cuts in, “Hey, no fucker is envisioning my girl,” and I clear my throat to stop my laughter while Lorenzo bites back a smile, though I do hear a little giggle from Mama.
I’m not the only one possessive in this relationship.
Yasmin’s face reddens as she looks towards my parents but tenses seeing they won’t be helping her.
Then she looks towards me, our eyes locking and nothing but hate flashes back at me before she eyes up my boyfriend.
I narrow my eyes, watching her every move.
Despite Bradley having his arm wrapped around me, her eyes are eating him up, and even from here I can see her plan forming.
Her husband has just ended things with her, and she’s trying to focus on my boyfriend, she wants to see if he’ll stray like Kavan did. For some stupid reason, I cannot seem to control my jealousy when it comes to Bradley, something I never had with Kavan and I can’t help my reaction.
“If you don’t get your eyes off my boyfriend, you’re going to regret it,” I growl, my emotions still all over the place, and Yasmin curls her lip at me.
“It didn’t take much for Kavan to have his head turned, so what makes you think you can keep a biker?” she sneers, and Bradley scoffs, “Didn’t you say that Scottie stole Kavan from her sister and blackmailed him only a mere few hours ago?”
My lips twitch as Yasmin's face grows darker, but before she can say anything back, a screech echoes. We look towards the gate as my sister, with mascara trailing her cheeks, storms inside the yard, her sole focus on me, and I raise a brow.
“You!” she screams, pointing her finger at me.
“Now, you’re going to finally get what you deserve,” Yasmin mutters because apparently being born is a punishment for being treated like shit. I don’t even look her way, instead, I keep my eyes on my raging sister.
“This is all your fault, everything is always your fault!” she shouts as she storms our way, not looking like she’s going to stop.
I brace myself ready to fight but Bradley moves like he’s about to stand before me because of course he’s my alpha hole.
Instead of rolling my eyes like I should at his chivalrous behavior, I tense seeing Rachel pull her hand back, and I don’t hesitate.
I quickly move myself around Bradley, smacking the paperwork into his chest, which he grabs most likely out of reflex. Her hand catches my cheek, her nails scratching my skin that causes me to gasp.
Bradley growls loudly and grips my hip, probably to drag me away but as Rachel goes to grab my hair, I beat her to it. I grab hers instead, shocking her as I yank it hard, tilting her head at an unnatural angle.
I spit, “Real fighters don’t slap, they punch,” just as I bring my fist back and punch her in the face, hitting her nose, something I have wanted to do for a very long time.
She screams as a crunch vibrates through my fist. I don’t let go of her hair, I punch her again just as an arm wraps around my waist and drags me back.
Rachel screams louder as I drag her with me. She trips and Lorenzo quickly grabs her and pulls her back causing me to rip out her hair extensions. I try to fight off whoever has hold of me to get back to her.
“Let me go, I’m going to finish this once and for all,” I snap, my anger doubling, and I hear a chuckle from behind me.
I shiver as Bradley rasps, “Down, tiger,” and I lean against him, tilting my head slightly and Dad snorts, “Guess you were right, Thunder…” And my boyfriend’s chest rumbles with a laugh against my back.
“My nose, she-she broke my nose,” Rachel cries, “She stole my son, she stole my husband, and now she’s broken my nose!” I look her way as I keep my head tilted towards Bradley and notice her holding her bloodied nose, and she snaps, “I’m going to sue you, you're going to lose your job, everything!”
“You charged towards your sister, we have CCTV as proof,” Dad sighs.
“Honestly, Rachel, I don’t understand what your problem is with Scottie.
This is more than you wanting attention and hating having that attention shared growing up.
Enough is enough. We never should have taken your side when you seduced and had an affair with your sister’s boyfriend.
We never should have helped with childcare when you purposely got yourself pregnant.
And we never should have listened to your lies, breaking your sister’s heart. ”
Mama continues, “You are on leave at the firm effective immediately, and all of your cases will be reviewed to ensure that you are the one who did the work. I’ve heard the rumors and I’m done trying to protect you.”
Rachel chokes out a gasp while Bradley squeezes his arm around my waist and he whispers, “I said easy, tiger,” and I lock my jaw.
Did I try to move and attack my sister again? Yes, yes I did.
She’s a spoiled, selfish bitch, and four times her eyes have gone to Bradley. Even now, she’s glaring at his arm around my waist.
It’s like she hates it when I’m happy, all because I was born.
“She keeps staring at you,” I mumble, causing him to snort, then kiss the back of my neck that sends shivers down my spine just as my sister demands, “Since when do you listen to her, huh? She’s lied, she doesn’t have a proper job, and she’s trying to steal my husband!”
My lips twitch with amusement despite my anger, as Lorenzo chuckles, “Stop before you embarrass yourself even more, Rachel,” then he turns to his wife and demands, “Go pack now, you’re no longer welcome here, and you’ll hear from my lawyer!”
“Lo!” Rachel snaps as she drops her hand against her bleeding nose, and I mention, “You may want to get your nose reset, otherwise, you’ll be at risk of septal hematoma,” causing her to glare my way, and I smirk, “I would do it, but I’m just the cleaner, right?”
I hear a snort that sounds like my mama, which is shocking, as Rachel’s nostrils flare. Bradley gently cups my cheek and tilts my head his way, our eyes lock.
“Did I ever tell you that I like it when you’re possessive?” he mumbles, and I scrunch my nose up.
It’s a side I never even knew I had but I guess if he likes it.
Bradley chuckles before kissing my lips in a chaste kiss to stop my retort because he knows he looks cocky right now. I murmur, “Can we go home now?” I lock eyes with his, “Preferably before I smack my soon-to-be ex sister-in-law, who I know, instead of packing, is currently staring at you.”
“Yeah,” he grins, “we can go home. I’ll be picking Sammie up tomorrow before taking him to school. We have the evening together and right now, you and me in the shower sounds fucking amazing.”
“Dude, that is my sister!” I hear Lo gag and I grin as my sister spits, “He’s probably using her!”
Bradley waggles his brows at me, and I shake my head at him with a smile. While no, he isn’t using me like Rachel hopes, always wanting to see me hurt, he will be using my body in a little while and my skin burns with the need for him.
“What does he even see in her?” I hear Yasmin spit, but Bradley ignores her and keeps my focus on him as he says, “We need to discuss you coming to Wincher. Doc has a job in line, the residency program has an opening, and I need to go home. I won’t leave without you and Sammie…”
I suck in a breath, and a little bit of fear hits me and despite hearing Yasmin shout and yell at my brother who I’m guessing is dragging her out of the yard.
Despite hearing my sister plead with our parents not to listen to whatever lies I’ve apparently told.
That Kavan was always hers and that I’ve ruined her marriage – which is laughable.
I stand there with my boyfriend who looks ready to knock me out and drag me to Wincher.
Can I do it? Can I pack up my whole life and leave?
Will Bradley become the family that I’ve always wanted, or will he break my heart the way my family has?