25. Chapter 24
Knuckles
I roll my shoulders as I drop the weights on the floor and try to ignore the pain in my stomach, the pull that is telling me not to push shit and I grit my teeth ignoring it.
I’m sweating like shit, my arms are burning, my stomach fucking hurts and I’m irritated as fuck.
Instead of training, getting ready for my fight tomorrow night.
It is with some skinny fuck just to get me back into the groove of things.
I’m blowing off steam, trying to control the anger that always creeps up, the anger only my girl can control.
My girl was supposed to be here half an hour ago, but instead she messaged that she was going to be late because of another online interview at a fucking school to teach art.
She doesn’t want to do that, it doesn’t bring out her passion.
She won’t even entertain opening her own gallery because of money even though I said I’d fork out for the building.
She shut me down before I could even finish the fucking sentence, she won’t lean on me.
Damn woman and her damn pride.
I shake my head as my irritation builds, the itch to get eyes on my girl pulling me.
I hate being away from her, and I know it isn’t healthy, but she’s only been out of the hospital for five days.
I need eyes on her at all times, I need to know she’s fucking safe, especially with Masters still around.
Fuck, she even denied a prospect to follow her because she knows I don’t have trust in the fucking club, the same club who is doing everything they can to keep us here.
Kodi has had several online interviews in different states for art galleries, but every single one of them has come back with a decline, which I know has dampened her spirit. It just pisses me off because I know Trick is the reason they’ve all turned her away.
The club has realized that wherever my girl goes, I’ll be following and I know they don’t want me to leave, I know Clark doesn’t want to lose her friend.
I roll my neck, my shoulders aching. Wherever I am, the brothers pop up like unwanted dandelions, especially if I’m at home with my girl.
One by one, the brothers will come up with excuses as to why they had to pop by, even interrupting my alone time with her in the fucking tub.
And don’t get me started on Trick, the fucker tried using Willow yesterday, who begged for a sleepover with her favorite auntie, stating she’d be sad to see us go.
Fucker.
Sighing, I bend to pick up the weights to put them away knowing if I do anymore then I won’t be able to fight tomorrow.
I pause when the door to the gym opens and look but instead of being my girl, my fucking mother of all people walks in shocking the living shit outta me.
For the first time ever, wearing jeans and a t-shirt, looking unsure of herself.
I stand up straight as we lock eyes, and she gives me a grimace.
Her face is clean of makeup, and fuck, she looks normal, like a mother should look, she looks fucking weird.
“Hi,” she whispers as she stops before me, and I swallow at how weird she fucking looks.
“What can I do for you, Mom?” I ask as I bend and grab the weights, trying not to grunt at the pull in my stomach.
“Five minutes of your time,” she says quietly as I put the weights away and then walk over to the ring.
“Why?” I ask as I cross my arms over my chest.
“Because I’m so goddamn sorry for everything,” she chokes as her eyes tear up and I scoff, I can’t help it, making her flinch but I don’t back down.
Fucking years I was nothing to her but a pest and suddenly she gets kicked out of the club and she wants to talk? She wants to apologize?
Yeah, fuck that.
I shake my head before I hold my arms out.
“Look at my body, Mom, beneath the tattoos, sorry doesn’t cut it,” I state, and she flinches seeing the raised scars.
“You abused me, neglected me, and made me feel so fucking unwanted. You let the brothers fuck you in front of me, forcing me to watch, you brought dangerous men to the apartment, fuck, you starved me whenever I wanted a hug!”
She lets out a sob. “I’m so sorry,” she cries, “There a-are no excuses, how I acted, how I treated you, I’m so sorry, Liam, so goddamn sorry.”
I lock my jaw and shake my head at her theatrics, which seem to be really fucking convenient right now.
She knows all I’ve ever wanted is to be loved and it’s so fucking hard because she’s still my mom, and I can’t just shut off my fucking emotions.
I can’t hate her even though I really fucking want to, but I also won’t be falling for this act.
“I-I was a shitty mother, I know this,” she croaks, “I know you may never forgive me, but I-I, please, I just, I want to get to know my son, I nearly lost you and…”
She chokes back a sob, and I swallow hard, her performance is really good.
Does she mean it?
Or is this a ploy to get back into a club I don’t even know I’m going to stay in?
“Is there any chance at all for forgiveness, for a relationship?” she asks, and I look away for a moment, my head fucking scrambled before I look at her again.
“I don’t know, Mom,” I admit with a rasp, not willing to lie.
A mother is supposed to love their child, to be there for them, and make their lives better, but she didn’t. She hurt me in the worst fucking way, neglected me, hated me, so how in the hell am I supposed to show her that we can have a relationship?
Mom sobs but nods in understanding before she chokes, “I won’t give up.
No matter what, I’m going to be there, I’m going to be the mom you should have had,” just as the door to my gym bangs open and I sigh thinking maybe it’s my girl and she’s had another shitty interview.
Instead, I tense as a dirty looking Masters, whose clothes are wrinkled and covered in god knows what, storms inside with a gun in hand and determination on his face.
Shit.
He looks around the room before his cold eyes come my way and he snarls as he lifts the gun, pointing it at my heart and states, “I said I’d be coming for Kodi and I fucking meant it, all I was doing was waiting in the shadows for her to wake up.
But first, even though I want you to watch as I fuck her, I need to kill you! ”
Mom gasps and stands in front of me making me tense and honestly making me really fucking confused, and Masters chuckles, “Aww, your little whore is worried for you, does Kodi know about you two?”
“Mom, move!” I demand, but my mother, who has never been there for me, despite trembling, shakes her head and refuses as she stands straight, keeping her eyes on Masters.
Fuck’s sake.
I put my hand in my shorts pocket and feel my phone, and quickly I press and hold a side button, Trick somehow, and don’t ask me how, had installed and press down on it before I take a step to the side so Masters puts the gun on me, but my mom follows me, making my heart stutter and my fear kick up a notch.
What the fuck is she doing?
“Mom, huh?” Masters chuckles as he cocks his gun, and I take a step to the side again, ready to dive in front of my fucking mother, but my mom has other ideas.
She side-eyes me and instantly, the hair on the back of my neck stands and before I can grab her, to stop her from doing something fucking stupid all in the name of forgiveness, she takes off into a sprint towards Masters.
I roar out as I try to grab hold of her arm, not willing for her to do this, but I just miss, and Masters shoots.
I watch in horror as my mom’s body jolts before she falls to the floor, and Masters laughs like a crazy person, and everything slows down.
Blood pours from beneath my mom’s body where she’s slumped on the floor, face first, and the door to my gym opens again, only this time, my whole fucking world enters with a slight smile on her face. It soon fades when she takes in the scene, and Masters turns and holds the gun at my girl.
Oh fuck no, no, no, not again!
I don’t think as I watch the smirk appearing on his face, I run towards him before he can shoot my girl, and Kodi’s eyes widen as Masters looks my way and lifts the gun, and déjà vu hits me as Kodi drops her bag and runs towards Masters.
Fuck, no, not again.