Chapter 6
Chapter Six
brISTOL
Nervously, I lick my bottom lip, wanting to kick myself for allowing myself to not only enjoy the kiss Beast and I shared a bit ago, which I’m blaming on the wine I’ve consumed tonight, but also that I admitted what I just did.
Again, I’m blaming it on the wine. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have done either.
At least that’s the story I’ll keep telling myself. Otherwise, I might have to admit something else altogether, and I’m definitely not going there. Nope. No way.
The way Beast handled my mother didn’t help, and then there’s the way he spoke to my sister about helping her if she were ever to decide to finally get out of the hell she’s living in.
But I honestly don’t know if she ever will.
My sister is a people pleaser. I don’t think she had a chance to be anything else.
Or ever will. She’s allowed my mother to dictate her entire life, and I don’t know why.
If I did, maybe then I’d have been closer to Giselle.
I might have even respected her rather than kept my distance.
What I don’t get is why my mother seems to think that she has any say when it comes to my trust fund.
She has no say in the matter. Not now. I’m an adult, and if I wanted to use it, I could.
There’s nothing in it that says I have to have her permission to use it.
Granted, I didn’t use it at all, but still, what’s it matter to her?
“I shouldn’t have left. Should have demanded to stay with you, but I didn’t,” Beast says softly.
“That’s on me, and I’ll have to deal with it still, I’m not letting it get between us.
Not anymore. We’ve got a lot to go over, and we’re not gonna get to it all in one day, which is okay.
We’ve got time. What matters right now is that we talk about it, what the fuck your mother was talking about, and how the hell did you hide the fact you came from money? ”
“I didn’t hide it.” I shrug. “I just didn’t talk about it.
” This is true. The best way to forget about something like this is to just not talk about it.
You don’t talk about having money, then people won’t treat you like you are.
I also don’t rub my nose at this fact. I would prefer to be broke as dirt than have all the money in the world if it were my decision.
“I get that,” he grunts and gives my waist a squeeze. “Now, what did your mother mean?”
“She seems to think she can choose who my siblings and I are to marry. She might have gotten her claws in Giselle, but there’s no way Ben or I are doing what she wants.
Sure, my brother is working for our dad, but that’s because he loves what he does.
As for the courting BS, he’s told me he’s dating a woman that he’s actually in love with.
According to him, she’s funny and makes him laugh.
There’s no way he’d allow our mother to push a woman on him he doesn’t want.
Besides, Dad has told all of us that if it’s not something we want, then so be it.
He’s more down to earth, but he does have his moments.
Usually, that revolves around financial decisions.
Not personal, unless it’s something that will reflect on him in a way he wouldn’t approve of. ”
“Like you being with a man from a motorcycle club?”
“I don’t think so. He doesn’t like my brother-in-law because he knows what’s happening to my sister but can’t do anything about it due to who the family is,” I answer truthfully and suck in a breath.
“Our mom wanted to become one of the top families in society, I guess you can say. She’s worked at it, making sure that arrangements were made for her daughters to marry powerful men. ”
“And who does she want you marrying?” he demands, that gruff voice of his turning harsher.
I swallow, turn to my back, and sit up, pulling my knees up to wrap my arms around them. “My sister is married to Ronnie Fisher. She picked Ronnie’s best friend for me, Cordell Barker.”
“Cordell Barker,” Beast mutters at the same time I give the name.
I swing my head toward him, feeling my eyes nearly bugging out. “How did you know that name?”
Beast slowly sits up and scoots to sit with his back to the headboard, arms crossed over that beefy chest of his that I’ve admired for so long. “I know that name because Cordell Barker is my cousin.”
I don’t think shock could cover exactly what those words do to me.
“You . . . you’re . . . wait,” sitting up on my knees, I turn to face him, “you’re Cordell Barker’s cousin? How’s that possible?”
“Cordell’s mother is my father’s sister. She married Cordell Senior.”
Whoa.
This is unreal. How in the world is this possible? Wait!
“I don’t get how you’re . . . well, related to him. For that matter, I work for your brother, and I didn’t even know it.” I still can’t believe that one.
“Everett and I are brothers, yes. However, I’m no longer a part of that world. I left it a long time ago, and I refuse to go back to it. I won’t be a part of that world.”
“Why?” I ask before I can stop myself. “Are you not a part of your family’s life at all?” It’s the one reason I still go to family things. To see my dad, at least. And my brother.
“No,” Beast clips out harshly. “I turned my back on all of them a long time ago, and I have nothing to do with them.”
“But it seemed your brother wanted to have something to do with you when he dropped me off.” Even in my shock, I saw this.
“Everett can want all he wants, but I’m not going back to that family.” Beast narrows his eyes, and my stomach tightens nervously. “And what the fuck are you doing working for the annoying bastard? You fuck him?”
Blinking, I find myself speechless. I open my mouth, but words fail to come out.
It takes me a few seconds, precious seconds at that, to find the words.
“You have a lot of nerve to ask me that, Beast. For the record, I haven’t and wouldn’t; however, that’s none of your business.
I will tell you this, though, your brother is a good guy to work for.
Professional and kind. Yes, he’s a playboy, but he doesn’t cross that line with me.
He was kind enough to give me a ride to the garage today to keep me from spending money on an Uber ride. ”
“Why didn’t you just call one of the brothers to come get you?” he asks.
“Because I’m not helpless. I can make my own way.” I huff and shake my head.
“Right, and that’s why you traded your old car, which was shit, for something that’s a hell of a lot shittier.” Grunting, he leans forward, grabs my waist, and pulls me over him. In this position, I have no other choice but to straddle his lap.
“What are you doing?” I ask, pressing my hands against his chest.
“Holding you where I want you,” he remarks, gliding his hands over my waist. “Now, answer the question about why you’re working for my brother.”
“Because I didn’t want to go back to the bar, and there weren’t really any slots available at any of the other places’ businesses.
Unless I wanted to go to the strip club, and that wasn’t happening.
I can’t dance worth a lick, and I’m not big on being around a bunch of horndogs.
” I don’t bother mentioning that I didn’t want to be around a bunch of strange men, not after what I went through.
“I feel safe working where I am now. There’s security there, and no one comes in unless they have clearance. And they walk me out in the evenings.”
“Right,” Beast remarks, nodding, his hands stilling in place on my waist. “And this house? You wiped out your savings for it, didn’t you.”
How did he know that?
“That’s what I figured.” Shaking his head, he lets out a heavy breath. “You are one stubborn woman, you know that. It’s a fuckin’ turn on, at the same time, a headache.”
“Well, lucky you, you don’t have to worry about me being either for you.
Now, can you let me go then leave?” I snap, feeling as though he’d insulted me for wanting to do something for myself.
I mean, I saved for so long to be able to have this.
To not have to worry about a large payment when it comes to my mortgage.
I wanted a small one so that I could start saving for a new car.
If I keep saving for the remainder of the year, I’ll have enough for a good down payment that will also allow me to have a decent car payment.
I don’t want to be paying out the ass and worrying about my bills.
“Butterfinger, I’m not leaving, but we can finish this discussion later. It’s getting late, and we both have work tomorrow. After the day I had working on your car and dealing with other shit, I’m exhausted.”
“You’re not staying here,” I blurt out and try to get off his lap.
“Yeah, I am. Then tomorrow, I’ll take you to work. While I’m there, I’ll be meeting with my brother to find out exactly what he’s playing at.”
“You can’t do that. Either of those things.”
“Why not?” he asks, cocking a brow.
“Because I don’t need you to take me to work, and you can’t meet with your brother because he’s got court in the morning, then meetings scheduled for the remainder of the day.” I know Everett’s schedule like the back of my hand.
“Then I’ll be picking you up after work so that I can take you to dinner,” he announces. “But I’m still staying the night, Bristol, so stop arguing and get ready for bed.”
Staring into his intense eyes, I know he’s not going to budge on this, so I let out a huff and roll my eyes, giving in for the time being.