Chapter Ten
Teagan
CASH AND I had planned to talk to my dad after church on Wednesday, but Hatch locked the meeting down to officers only, so I was forced to stay home while Cash had to be at the club ‘in case they needed anything.’
After dinner, I closed myself into my room, not wanting my mother to ask questions. Questions like, ‘why are you wearing a hole in the floor?’ or ‘why is your hair falling out?’ or ‘why have you bitten three of your fingernails to the quick?’ Of course, the worst would be ‘why are you talking to yourself?’ and more importantly, ‘why are you answering yourself?’
I flopped onto my bed and stared at my phone, telepathically willing Cash to send me some kind of text that let me know he was okay.
My mother knocked on my door about thirty minutes into my self-induced exile.
“Can I come in?”
“Oh, sure,” I droned from my place on the floor, back against my bed. “Welcome to the crazy train,” I said.
“Toot toot,” she said sitting beside me, and settling one ankle over the other. “You didn’t want dessert?”
“I’m fine.”
“Baby, it’s chocolate lava cake with vanilla bean ice-cream.”
My mouth watered. “I’m good.”
“And homemade whipped cream.”
I shrugged. “I don’t need the calories.”
“Okay, now I know you’re hiding.”
I stared at the floor. “What do you mean?”
She wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “Oh, my sweet, sweet, beautiful girl. You have always had the worst poker face.”
I decided it would probably behoove me to shut my mouth at this juncture because she was right about my inability to keep my thoughts from my face, but I was also smart enough not to give up information too soon.
“Hmm, no questions?” Mom mused. “So unlike you.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Would you like me to tell you what I know?”
“Feel free,” I muttered.
“Once upon a time, there was the prettiest little girl in the world, and she fell in love with a grumpy biker who just happened to be her best friend’s big brother.”
I bristled under her touch, but still said nothing.
“Oh, she was good at acting like she hated him, gave this grumpy man as good as she got, but ultimately she brought him to his knees, and he fell head over heels in love with her as well.”
“Cool story, bro.”
“And the way he looked at my little girl when he thought no one else was looking.” She gave me a gentle squeeze. “Well, that was a wonder. Something that makes a mama’s heart skip a beat.”
I lost my battle with my emotions then, bursting into tears and folding myself into my mother’s welcoming arms. She held me as I sobbed into her shoulder, all of my worries soaking her shirt. The thing about a mother’s love, though, is in its magic and I found it to be the soothing balm I needed.
Until I came to my senses, that is. “Shit,” I hissed.
“What, baby?”
“Does Dad know?”
She chuckled. “I haven’t talked to him about it, so I don’t know what he knows or suspects.”
“Is he going to kill him when he finds out?” I rasped.
“No.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because I will make sure he doesn’t,” she promised. “But, you need to tell him what’s going on before someone in the club does.”
“I know.” I let out a huff. “Those guys are the worst gossips.”
“Amen, sister.” She gave me another squeeze. “Now, come down and get some dessert.”
I grinned. “You don’t have to tell me twice.”
We hauled our butts off the floor and headed downstairs.
* * *
Cash
“Why the hell are you so amped?” Archer asked, squeezing my shoulder as I dropped my ass onto a stool next to him at the bar. I’d been pacing the great room for about an hour while the officers met for church.
“Need to talk to Mack.”
“About…?”
“Yeah,” I confirmed.
“Fuck,” he hissed. “You sure?”
“Yeah, brother, I’m sure.”
“Razor!” Archer called, rapping his knuckles on the wood. “Dos tequilas. STAT.”
Just as Razor poured us each a shot, the meeting broke up and I heard my name called. Mack waved me over and Archer slapped my back. “I’m not leavin’ until you do.”
“Thanks, brother,” I said, taking my shot then following Mack down the hall to his office.
He closed the door behind me and waved to the chair facing his desk.
“Got a few things comin’ down the pike this week, so I need you to keep an eye on Teagan.”
I nodded as I took a seat. “I can do that, but I think before I commit to anything, I need to tell you something.”
Mack raised an eyebrow, lowering himself into his chair. “What do you need to tell me, Cash?”
I took a deep breath and ran my hands through my hair. “I’m in love with your daughter.”
“What do you mean you’re in love with my daughter?”
“I’m in love with her Mack.”
“What the fuck, Cash? We have been very clear about the Wolfpack.”
“I get it,” I said. “It’s not like we planned it, but as I’m sure you’re very aware, Teagan’s amazing and it just sort of happened.”
“And where does she stand in all this?”
“Teagan feels the same.”
“How long has this been going on?”
“Three months.”
He stood, settling his fists on the desk. “Are you telling me I sent my daughter into the lion’s den?”
“No,” I said. “Of course not. None of this was intentional.”
“You should have come to me immediately.”
I sighed. “She asked me not to.”
“And why the hell would she ask you to do that?”
“Because she was afraid you’d remove my spleen with a spoon.”
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “Get the fuck out of my office.”
“Mack—”
“Now!” he bellowed.
I stood, heading back down the hall, sliding my phone out of my pocket as I went.
* * *
Teagan
I was about to set my bowl into the dishwasher when my phone buzzed and saw Cash’s name pop up on my screen. I answered immediately. “Hey.”
“Hey, baby. Get ready.”
“For what?”
He filled me in on his conversation with my dad and I let out a frustrated groan.
“I thought we were going to talk to him together.”
“Yeah, well, your dad wanted me to watch you this week and I didn’t want to lie to him anymore. There was also the fact everyone kept saying the longer I waited the worse the beating was gonna get.”
“Teagan Elizabeth Reed!” my father bellowed followed by the front door slamming.
“He’s here,” I breathed out. “I’ll call you later.”
“Okay, Turtle. Love you.”
“Same.”
“Teagan?” Dad bellowed again.
I hung up and closed the dishwasher, then made my way to the foyer. “Yes, father of my heart?”
“Take it down a notch, butthead,” Mom said.
Back in the olden days, when my parents were dating, Dad had called her his Pixie in Distress, or PID, so she’d come up with butthead, which apparently meant boyfriend using tongue to help excite and delight. When us kids had found out that little nugget, we’d all been thoroughly disgusted, but it did seem to help calm my dad down when he was on edge.
Dad scowled as he faced her. “Do you know what’s going on?”
“Yes.” She slid her hand up his chest. “Do you want to have a little chat before you bring down the hammer?”
He squeezed her hand. “I think I’d like to discuss with my daughter why she felt it was a good idea to lie to me for the past three months.”
“It wasn’t a lie, Daddy,” I countered. “It just wasn’t really any of your business.”
His nostrils flared as he scowled again and took a deep breath. “You don’t think I should know the man who’s watchin’ my daughter is pervin’ on her?”
I scoffed. “He wasn’t perving on me, Dad. He was totally respectful. I was actually the one who made the first, second, and third move. It took him forever to sit down and discuss us having something romantic. And I asked him to keep it between us because I wanted to make sure it was something that would last before we made it public.”
“The boy seems to think he’s in love with you.”
“Well, you raised a kick-ass daughter, Dad. Of course he is,” I sassed.
“Teagan,” he growled.
“Are you objecting to this because it’s Cash, a Dog, or just a man in general?” I challenged. “Because I love him like crazy, so please don’t make me choose.”
“Baby girl, that’s a step too far,” Mom warned.
I sighed. “Sorry.”
The sound of Harley pipes grew louder and then shut off and my father’s face reddened. The doorbell pealed and Dad practically ripped the door off the hinges as he pulled it open. “Had a feelin’ you’d be stoppin’ by.”
I bit my lip as the porch light illuminated Cash’s worried face as he met my eyes. “You good?”
“She’s good, Cash,” Dad bit out.
He bristled as he focused on my father. “I’d like to hear it from her, Mack.”
“Are you going to make him stand outside?” I challenged.
“Come in, honey,” Mom said, and pulled Dad from the doorway.
Cash stepped inside and held his hand out to me, which I took. He pulled me against him. “You okay?”
“I don’t know. Dad, am I okay?” I looked up at my raging father. “More importantly. Are we okay?”
His hands fisted at his sides as he glared at Cash. “If you hurt her, I will remove your fuckin’ testicles.” He turned to me. “If you cry, even once over him, he’ll be a fuckin’ eunuch, got it?”
I nodded.
“Let’s go get you a beer, baby,” Mom suggested.
Dad let out a low growl in his throat.
“Or whiskey,” she corrected, wrapping her arms around his bicep, and pulling him away. “Whiskey might be better.”
I faced Cash, sliding my hands under his cut and up his back. “Hi.”
“Hey, baby.” He leaned down to kiss me. “You sure you’re okay?”
“Yes.” I smiled up at him. “I’m better now, though.”
“You wanna spend the weekend at my place?”
“Um, hells yes.”
He squeezed my butt. “Okay, pack a bag and bring it to work with you on Friday. You can follow me home.”
“Do you want to stay for a bit and make out?”
“I’d love to, but I’m gonna go.” He chuckled. “Let’s not poke the bear anymore than we have, huh?”
“Fine.” I wrinkled my nose. “We can sext, though, right?”
“Not puttin’ that shit in writing, Turtle.”
I giggled. “Kidding.”
“Okay, I gotta go,” he said. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“You better keep me naked and well-fucked all weekend.”
“Jesus, Teagan, keep your voice down. Do you want your dad to kill me?”
I grinned, squeezing him tight. “I just don’t want you to forget your duties.”
He chuckled. “I’m well aware of my duties, Turtle, and I’ll keep you well satiated, don’t you worry.”
“Okay, I’ll let you go. Text me when you get home.”
“I will.”
With one last kiss, he walked out the door which I locked before heading down the hall and into the kitchen. I passed Grayson who was in the family room, playing some hockey video game, headphones on, his face pinched tight in concentration.
Dad sat at the island with a glass of whiskey in front of him and the bottle not far from reach. “Hi.”
He met my eyes. “Hey.”
“Where’s Mom?”
“Upstairs.”
I leaned a hip against the granite. “Are you super mad?”
“No, baby, not mad,” he said with a sigh. “Just realizing my baby’s growin’ up. Don’t like it.”
“Daddy, I’m still your little girl. Just like Harper and Huxley. And even Grayson when he’s being a little bitch. Just because we’re ‘of age’ doesn’t mean we still don’t need you and won’t continue to.” I smiled. “Especially, Gray, you know, ’cause he’s kind of a little bitch.”
“I’m right here,” my brother droned, stalking into the kitchen, and pulling open the fridge.
“Why do you think I said it?”
“Did you work out your shit and accept Cash into the family yet?” Gray asked, grabbing a root beer, and popping the top.
One of the things I loved the most about my brother is that he could take whatever shit I gave him, but he always had my back in the end.
“That’s a question for you, Dad,” I said.
“Give us a minute, bud,” Dad said to Gray, and he walked out of the room. Dad reached out his hand and I moved closer so he could pull me in for a hug. “You love this boy?”
“This man? Yes. With all of my heart.”
“You had to go and pick the gruff one, huh?” he said with a sigh.
I hugged his neck. “Some might even say I picked one just like my dad.”
He let out a grunt.
“You know Cash, Daddy, so you know he’s a quality human, right?”
“Yeah, baby, I do know that.”
I cocked my head. “And you raised me, and you always say you didn’t raise no dummy, right?”
He raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
“He’s a member of your club, Daddy. Your best friend’s son. A brother. He’s the man you trust most with me. The one you have asked to watch over me when there’s trouble. The first person you turn to when I need protecting if you can’t do it yourself. Over and above any of your brothers, you always choose Cash. Because you know Cash would go to the ends of the earth to protect me even if it means going toe-to-toe with you”—I sighed—“and protecting me from myself sometimes.”
He let out another grunt. “Goddammit, Teagan, are you sure you wanna give up the law?”
“Just answer the question, counselor.”
“Yeah, I suppose you’re right,” he grumbled.
“Exactly, so if you know Cash is the second greatest man on earth… you being the greatest, of course… and you didn’t raise no dummy, then you can’t possibly object.” I raised my hands in victory and did a twirl. “I rest my case.”
Dad chuckled, sliding off the stool and pulling me in for a hug. “Jesus, baby girl, I love you to Jupiter and back.”
“I know.” I squeezed him hard. “Me too.”
“Damn, that took forever,” Grayson said, crashing our hug fest as he wrapped his arms around both of us. “I wasn’t sure if I was going to have to be a character witness for Cash.”
“Yeah, me too,” Mom jumped in.
“Why the fuck is no one around here afraid of me?” Dad growled.
“Because you’re our butthead, baby,” Mom said.
Gray started gagging. “No, oh god, no.”
We dissolved into laughter as Dad pulled Mom into his arms and all was right with the world again.