Chapter 17
Still Indy
I was sitting behind my desk at work, thinking about the coming weekend with knots in my stomach.
My cellphone buzzed across the desk with an incoming call.
A local number showed on the screen.
I didn’t get a ton of SPAM calls or any really. Could it be…? My heart stuttered in my chest as I raced to answer it.
“Hello?”
An automated voice responded, “This is a call from Timothy Evans, an inmate at Sacramento County Main Jail. If you’d like to accept the call, press one. If you no longer want to accept calls from this inmate, press three.”
My hands shaking, I pressed one.
“This call is from an inmate at Sacramento County Main Jail and is being recorded.” The line buzzed and crackled then came my dad’s voice.
“Indigo? Are you there, darlin’?”
“Dad?” My voice trembled.
“Hey girlie. How are you? How’s school?”
I gave an incredulous laugh. “School? I wouldn’t know since I haven’t gone in weeks. I was too busy trying to keep a roof over my head and you know, worrying about where my next meal was coming from—despite my car getting repo-ed. What the fuck, Dad?”
It all left me in a huge run-on sentence word vomit. All this pent-up shame and angst and just vitriol.
“Shit, I’m sorry about that. It’s just…money got tight, and I knew the cops were closing in and—”
“And you just forgot to pay rent for two months? I got evicted, Dad. The super locked me out of the apartment. If it wasn’t for—” I cut myself off.
For some reason I didn’t want my dad to know about Dylan.
I might’ve been all twisted up about both of them, but for some sick reason I still wanted my dad’s approval.
God, I was stupid.
My breath hitched. “I don’t know why I even try. I shouldn’t have even accepted your call. I haven’t heard from you in weeks. You clearly don’t give a shit about me.”
“I do, Indy. I swear I do. I was an ass. I didn’t think about you and how my shit was going to ricochet onto you. I’m so sorry, darlin’. I didn’t want you to get tied up in all this.”
The words were right, but something about his delivery just niggled my brain. Like he had to keep me happy?
Like he was placating me.
“But I did, Dad. Because you left, and I haven’t been able to talk to you since right after your arrest. You call me once, and that’s it? I even went down to the jail, and they said you weren’t allowed any visitors who weren’t legal advisors or whatever.”
“Right. I, uh, got into it with a few guys, and they took away my privileges.”
“Of course you did.” I scoffed. I shouldn’t have been surprised.
“Seriously, Indy? I’m in jail. What the hell were you expecting from me?”
“How about a warning that I was going to get evicted? Because I damn well know that wasn’t a surprise to you. But then I guess I was expecting more than you were willing to do.”
He muttered something under his breath, “…was a mistake.”
“Did you just call me a mistake?”
“What? No.” Dad cleared his throat. “I thought I had you to thank for my new lawyer, but clearly that was a mistake.”
“Lawyer? I couldn’t even afford my cell phone bill; I’m not bankrolling a lawyer.”
“Huh. I really thought it was you—using a connection you’d made at school or something because this guy is amazing.
He’s got ins or some shit with the DA, so it looks like I’ll be out in less than a year with good behavior.
My sentencing is in a few weeks, and I was hoping you would come so I can see you. ”
I stared sightlessly in front of me. What was going on? What was he talking about? How did he get this amazing unicorn of an attorney?
And then what Maddie said last night came back to me.
Dylan.
It was the only answer that made sense.
“This call is from an inmate at Sacramento County Main Jail and is being recorded.” I jumped at the loud, automated voice. “Three minutes remaining.”
“I…don’t know, Dad. I just… This is a lot to digest. I’ve been waiting on pins and needles for you to call for weeks now, and you just don’t seem to give a shit about me. I got evicted. I almost had to sleep on the streets. If it wasn’t for Dylan Burns, I would’ve been—”
“Dylan—mother fucking—Burns?”
“It turns out your villain is a wonderful man who took me in, gave me a home and a job, and didn’t ask for anything in return.” I blinked back tears as my heart thundered in my chest.
“I don’t know who the fuck you are because you’re no daughter of mine. My kin wouldn’t even look at that asshole unless it was to spit in his fucking face.”
The sound I made was half laugh, half sob. “Well, joke’s on you because I’m pretty sure that asshole is responsible for your unicorn lawyer. I’ll be sure to pass on the sentiment.”
I punched the end call button with a flourish then tossed my phone onto my desk and bent over and just wept.
I didn’t know who that man was. The father I knew was sweet and kind. Sure he’d had some rough edges, but he cared about me. Wanted to hear all about my hopes and dreams. Convinced me to move to California since we only just found each other.
But apparently I’d been fooling myself. Because slowly, day by day, he’d showed me his true self.
I just refused to see it.
The sly slut shaming comments about guys at college.
The backhanded compliments about my cooking.
The snarky comments about all the cleaning I had let slide.
The times he’d disappeared for days or weeks at a time without any explanation. I’d gone out of my mind with worry, and now I was pretty sure he’d been on drug runs for the MC.
More fool me.
“Indy? Who was that on the phone just now?” James’ voice came from behind me.
I burrowed my face into my hands as I cringed. How much of that had they heard? Thank god it hadn’t been on speaker phone. I swiped at my eyes and refused to look at the producer since he never traveled alone. Pretty sure a camera was pointing at me. “My dad.”
“Dylan paid for a lawyer for your dad? Why? What’s going on? Why does your dad need a lawyer?”
Oh god.
I felt the walls coming in on me.
I never thought this through.
I didn’t want him looking into my past. Into who my dad was or why he was in jail.
Could that get Dylan in trouble?
“What’s going on?” Suddenly Austin was standing in the doorway to the main shop, his arms crossed over his chest. “You okay, Indy?”
I shook my head. There was no sugarcoating it. I was a mess.
Austin crossed the room to stand in front of me, blocking me from James and his cameraman. “Then we’re done here. No filming right now. Indy needs a minute.”
Despite all the angst and emotion, I smiled a little even as I clutched at the back of Austin’s leather jacket.
“Yeah, that’s not how this works,” James’ smug voice came from across the room.
“Check our contract because that’s exactly how this works,” Austin retorted. “I’ve gone over it recently with our attorney. You didn’t notify us that you intended to film today, so we won’t be filming. You guys can pack up your gear, and we’ll see you tomorrow when we are scheduled to film.”
“Wait, we’re not supposed to be working today, James?” Will, the cameraman, asked.
“What the fuck?” Liam, our sound operator, groaned. “I’m not getting paid today? Seriously?”
“Oh, we’re getting paid,” Will bit out. “Right, James?”
Then there was more shouting followed by slamming doors.
“Stupid fucker.” Austin laughed before turning around to face me. “Are you okay, kid?”
Tears burned my eyes for a second time that day but for a whole different reason as that feeling of love and family I’d come to know with the Burns family enveloped me. “I’m getting there.”
“Aren’t we all.” He gave me a gentle smile. “How about you knock off early? No point in giving James access to you right after I pissed him off. He can be a vengeful ass.”
I sucked in a breath. I really didn’t like the sound of that.
Austin tipped his head. “Don’t stress about it, okay? I’ll sort him and the network out. But, uh, actually now that I’ve got you there’s a few things I’d love to talk to you about.”
“Sure.”
“Let’s talk in my office.”
I collected my stuff from behind my desk then followed him down the hall to his tiny office. I’d never been in here before, since it would only hold like three people. We had all our client meetings in the conference room.
Austin sat behind his desk with a sigh while I perched on the end of the chair opposite his desk.
My eyes took in the tiny room—the three filing cabinets next to his desk, the pictures of bikes they’d built and family members on the walls and standing on every flat surface.
He had a picture of Wyatt and Rachel on his desk next to an ancient monitor. The sight made me smile.
“So my brothers and I have talked—”
My heart stalled in my chest.
This was it.
They were firing me since I wasn’t with Dylan anymore. I should’ve known that was what he meant by ‘take tomorrow off.’ I was getting fired.
I gulped. Shit.
“And we’ve decided,” Austin continued. “Once our current contract with the network expires, we won’t be renewing it.”
I sat back in my chair as relief swamped me.
“I know that’s probably disappointing to you since you’re essentially getting two paychecks for this job, but we’ve decided it’s what we need to do to control the narrative of our lives and work.”
“After that little scene, I totally understand.” I smiled slightly despite my tearstained face.
Austin grinned back at me and leaned forward over his desk. “Not glad it happened but thankful you understand.”
I nodded.
“But with this change comes a new opportunity for you.”
“Me?”
“Yes, like you suggested, we’re interested in pursuing an internet series that we direct and produce, and we want your help with it.”
I stared dazedly at him. “I’m not…I’ve only completed one year of my marketing degree. I’m not, I don’t have the kind of experience you need.”
“We can hire the experience we need. But we need someone with the drive and the skillset to make it happen who also won’t fuck us over. And Dylan seems to think you’re the perfect person for the job. Was he wrong?”
Dylan. Again. I shook my head slightly. I didn’t get it honestly. Why had he gone AWOL with me if he was going to keep showing up in my life in these unexpected ways? “This is a lot to take in,” I said numbly. “Can I think about it?”
Austin frowned at me. That clearly wasn’t the reaction he’d expected.
“Yeah, sure. Uh, you’ll be compensated for your expanded responsibilities of course.
We have a non-compete clause in the contract with the network, so we won’t be able to get going on this for a few months as it is.
But we’d like to have all our ducks in a row when the time comes. ”
“I understand.”
“Good.” He sat back and crossed his hands over his washboard abs that his tight t-shirt only highlighted. “You excited about Fliss’ birthday party? It’s the first one for her and I know Ryan is trying to make it crazy memorable, so it’s guaranteed to be a rager.”
I laughed. “I’ve never been to a toddler’s birthday party. I’m actually looking forward to it. The last birthday party I went to got a little crazy at the end.”
“Crazy how?” Austin frowned.
“Most of the guys were gambling at the Hard Rock when Dad got into it with some guys in a restaurant where I was trying to sober him up. Security escorted us out, and I had to drive us home because he was too blitzed to drive. Hence his road name. My dad can’t hold his liquor apparently.”
Austin froze. “Road name?”
It was my turn to freeze. “I thought you knew,” I whispered.
He shook his head slowly. “Your dad is a West Coast King?”
“Yeah.” I gulped. “He’s currently in jail on drug charges. That’s why—how—I met Dylan. I was the one who tagged the side of your shop.”
I hadn’t meant to confess, but once the words were out, a sense of relief washed through me. Dylan had taken the blame for something I did and that had never sat right with me.
But it was probably going to change everything with the Burns family.
“I was mad. My dad had been arrested, and he told me it was all because of Dylan. Or blamed Dylan. Said how he wasn’t going to face charges because he was a rich prick who’d fucked over the club.”
“The feds used Dylan’s intel to turn some of the guys in the club, and they took deals that’ll get them new lives in witness protection. The feds are going after bigger fish. Dylan never even officially testified.”
I felt lower the longer he talked. I’d blamed Dylan for so much. “Umm, I’m guessing he also paid for a lawyer for my dad. Dad mentioned getting some sweetheart deal with the DA. He’s only up on charges with the state so far.”
“That sounds like Dylan.” Austin shook his head. “Too much heart.”
I gulped. “I understand if this changes your opinion of me or your offer. I’m more than willing to paint over the mural, and I can be out of Dylan’s house by tomorrow.”
“What? Why would you leave?”
I waited a beat. “Because of everything I just told you?”
“I’m not going to blame you for believing something your dad told you. Especially now that you understand that wasn’t true.”
I nodded.
“Good. And I don’t give a flying fuck who your father is. I’m sure you’ve heard about ours.”
I nodded again.
“Sins of the father is bullshit. You should only ever be judged on the shit you do.”
“But the mural…?”
“Is fucking funny.” Austin grinned. “Once I got over my initial annoyance, I liked it. Like it still. Although I don’t really appreciate all the Badass merch that was included.”
I wasn’t going to sellout Dylan after all he did to protect me. I’d be taking the fact that he’d been the one to add that stuff to the grave with me. So I hitched a shoulder. “I was mad at the time.”
“I get that.” He tapped the top of his desk. “So we’re putting it to bed?”
I nodded.
“Good. See you at Aunt Wendy’s this weekend? You want a ride?”
“I can call an Uber.” I raised my eyebrows at him. “So I’m good.”
“Good.” He grunted. “As long as you’re planning on sticking around. Dylan is already a fucking basket case. I can only imagine what would happen if you up and split. The kid would lose it.”
It was weird to hear him refer to Dylan as a kid. I know they had a six year age gap, but Dylan was all man, not a boy.
But I was too intimidated to call Austin out on it. Instead, I just nodded and gave him a, “see you there.”
Then called for an Uber.
I couldn’t deny that I spent the whole drive turning over the other part of Austin’s statement in my head again and again. Dylan was a basket case over me?
Since he’d gone AWOL, he’d gotten my dad a lawyer and hooked me up with a new opportunity with the web series, all while keeping his distance from me.
Why?
It was time to find out.