Chapter Sixteen
I’m curled up in a chair next to the window with a book on my lap. I can’t help but smile as I read about a guy in a motorcycle club who’s falling for his little sister’s best friend. It’s sweet and almost reminds me of my relationship with Loyal.
The main difference though is that my MC guy is one hundred percent real and not fictional in the least. Fictional or not, I can’t help but wonder how much of what the fictional clubs are doing happens in real life.
For a moment, I contemplate sending Loyal a text asking just that but quickly change my mind. No, if I actually work up the courage to ask, I’m going to do it in person.
I catch movement out of the corner of my eye and look out the window.
I see Farrah and Billy pulling up to the house. Sighing, I set the book down and head outside. I hate the fact that when my daughter comes home I brace myself because I never know what her dad will say.
Just a few minutes. I just have to say hi and then walk away.
Just walk away.
When Farrah gets out of the car she has a frown on her face, making my heart sink. I don’t know what was said in that car, but it clearly wasn’t good.
“Hi, baby,” I tell her as she walks toward me.
“Hi.”
“Samantha, we need to talk,” Billy says gruffly.
Annoyance courses through me. Will he ever stop?
“Billy, stop. Please. I don’t know how many times I can ask you to let this go. You need to leave me alone. Your pestering is becoming a serious issue, and if you don’t stop, you might force my hand to take legal action.” He stops and stares at me before tossing his head back and laughs.
Once he’s got himself under control, he looks at me and points at his chest. “Me? I’m the issue?
Really? Come on Sami, you can’t actually believe that.
For fuck’s sake, take a look in the mirror.
You’re the one who decided to end our relationship out of the blue.
You’re the one who’s dating a criminal now.
Meanwhile, I’m the one who’s fighting for us. Me!”
“For the last time, stop! Just stop, please. There is no us. I don’t know how to get it through to you that I wasn’t happy in our marriage and that I have no desire to get back together with you.
Also stop calling Loyal that! Last I checked, his record as an adult is clear.
Honestly, I think if you took five minutes and had a conversation with him, you would actually like him. ”
“You’ve officially lost it if you think I would like your criminal.”
“When did you get so hateful? You need to stop taking your anger out on others because we aren’t together anymore. If you don’t, you are going to lose everyone, mark my words.”
He looks at me for a minute, and I fight the urge to shift but hold my ground.
He nods. “You know what, Sami? You’re right. This does need to stop, and you know what…take this as your formal notice. Due to recent developments, I’m taking you back to court.”
“What for?” I ask, tossing my hands up in the air.
“For sole custody. Not only that, I’m going to ask for a mental evaluation. You’re clearly going through something and aren’t making safe decisions. In fact, maybe I should look into seeing if you’re mentally competent. Maybe you shouldn’t be able to make any decisions for yourself.”
“You can’t be serious. Like you’ve officially lost your mind,” I say, shaking my head.
He tilts his head. “Have I, though? I look forward to seeing you in court, Samantha. And remember, we were married for a long time, pillow talk and all that…”
Before I can say anything else, he turns and walks away.
“Unbelievable,” I mutter as I watch him peel out of my driveway.
Lawyer. I need to call my lawyer, and I need to talk to Loyal. Not because I want to end things but because I want his advice. He’s the first person I want to go to when things are hard and confusing.
Turning, I walk back inside.
“Did you have a good week at school?” I ask Farrah, trying to give her an ounce of normal.
“Why are you two always fighting?” she grumbles.
I sigh and lean against the edge of the couch.
My body aches like I’m holding the weight of the world on my shoulders, and in a way, I am.
I’m holding her world in the palm of my hand, and I’m fucking it up.
I try to think of a way to lessen what’s happening so I don’t hurt her, but I can’t. Not anymore.
“Honestly, Farrah, I don’t know. The last thing I want to do is fight with your dad and for it to affect you.
I swear to God, I’m not doing it intentionally.
This is just one of the ways we aren’t meant to be together anymore.
We bring out the worst in each other, but that shouldn’t touch you. I’ll try harder to keep you out of it.”
She laughs sarcastically. “Come on, Mom. You can’t protect me from this. Not when he’s wanting to go back to court.”
I know she’s not trying to hurt me, but it does.
“I’m sorry.”
“Why, Mom? Do you even realize I’m in the middle of this? That the divorce impacted me in ways that I can’t explain? It wasn’t as simple as Dad just moving out and having to go between two homes for me.”
“I’m sorry. You were never supposed to be put in the middle. We’re supposed to protect you, and we’re failing. I promise you, Farrah, I’ll do whatever I can to make this better for you.”
“It’s not only you, Mom,” she says, making my heart skip a beat.
“What?” I rasp as my mind starts to race.
“Does it matter? Either way I’m the one who’s paying for it. Me. Not you. Not Dad. Me.”
Before her words can really register, she storms out of the room, leaving me alone standing in the middle of the room.
What the fuck just happened, and what have I been missing?
“I’m glad business is going well.”
Antonio nods. “I won’t lie, I had some concerns about joining forces with your club, but it’s been good for us. The growth we’ve made is insane.”
“I’m glad.”
“Speaking of business, I’ve cleared my schedule for the end of the month to go up to Chicago.”
“I appreciate you doing that. I know you were apprehensive.”
“I’m trusting you. I would still like someone to go with me, though,” he says, shifting in his seat.
“No problem. I know one of our older members, Dagger, is going up there at the end of the month. His daughter goes to college up there, and he’s going to some parents’ weekend thing. Is that enough, or would you like another member to come with you?”
“As long as I could meet him beforehand, it should be okay.”
“Easy enough,” I chuckle.
A commotion catches our attention.
“What the hell…” Antonio mutters as we stand.
We make our way into the lobby.
“Sir, is there a problem?” Antonio asks.
The man spins around, spitting nails. As soon as I see his face, I bite back a curse.
Billy.
His eyes narrow. “You. Of course you would be here.”
“Sir, is there an issue?” Antonio asks, trying to calm the situation down while others are watching.
“Yeah, we have an issue. Your tech scuffed up my brand new tires and refuses to give me a full refund. Then I come in here and see this trash,” he says, pointing at me.
“Sir, tires get scuffed. I understand it’s frustrating. We have a process in place. We have to file a claim and go through the proper channels. We cannot give you a refund here in the store,” Antonio says.
Billy glares at me. “Let me guess, this is one of the fine establishments you have your dirty biker claws into. Do they clean money for you? Run drugs? Tell me, what is it?”
To his credit, Antonio doesn’t flinch when the rest of the lobby shifts uncomfortably.
“I’m just like you, Billy. I’m a paying customer here. That’s all,” I say calmly.
He scoffs. “That’s all my ass.”
They are all looking at him. Not like they side with him, but with disgust. He isn’t getting what he wants, and he’s throwing a fit.
“I know we have issues between us, Billy, but that’s not a reason to cause a scene.” I try to keep my tone low, taking the higher road.
He slaps his chest. “Me? I’m making a scene?”
His voice is loud. Everyone can hear him.
I raise my brow and look around the room.
“Yeah, dude, you kind of are,” a guy in the corner mutters, not looking away from his phone.
“Fuck you,” Billy says, pointing at him before looking back at me. “You know what? It’s a good thing you’re here. Since Sami isn’t around, you can finally come clean.”
“Come clean about what, Billy?” I ask with a level of calm I don’t feel.
In reality, I really want to rip his head off and shit down his neck, but we don’t all get what we wish for.
“Admit that you are only with Sami in order to get with Farrah. You want my daughter, not my wife.”
“Ex-wife,” I point out.
“Admit it,” he grits out, fists clenching.
“I can’t do that. I’m not going to admit to something that’s not true.
I’m with Sami because I want to be. That’s it.
Nothing less, nothing more. No ulterior motives.
Nothing. Your daughter is a child, and I view her as such.
Making wild accusations because you want your ex back isn’t the way to go.
In fact, if you continue to make false accusations, I will be forced to take you to court for defamation of character. ”
“Bullshit. There’s no way you would want to be with that limp noodle.”
Antonio makes a noise that sounds like a growl.
“God, no wonder she left you. You’re a miserable bastard,” a woman says, shaking her head.
“Who says she left me?” Billy snaps.
Phone guy chuckles. “Dude, it’s obvious she left you. You got some serious anger issues, and no one cares about an ex this much unless they are the one left behind.”
“You don’t know shit!” Billy looks over at me.
“I know you preyed on her when she was down. I know all about your little club of misfits owning the PI firm I hired to look into her when she filed for divorce. The only reason you know who she is is because of me. I hired you to collect dirt on her, and you didn’t hold up your end.
Instead, you saw a woman at her lowest and took advantage of it. I know it, and I’ll prove it.”
I nod. “You’re right, my club does own a PI business, but if I remember correctly, we turned you away.
As for my woman, the only thing that matters is when we met, she was single and ready to move on.
She entered into a relationship with me on her own because she wanted to.
Because she was already over you. I’m sorry if that hurts you, but that’s the truth. ”
“Bullshit. She’s mine. Always has been, always will be.”
“It’s the twenty-first century, Billy. She’s a woman and isn’t an object you can own. She has her own free will, and it’s best you remember that.”
“Sir, I think it’s time you leave,” Antonio cuts in.
Billy looks around and sees everyone looking at him in disgust.
“Whatever. This isn’t over.” He snatches his keys off the counter and rushes out the door.
“Good fucking riddance,” a guy mutters.
“No wonder she left him. The guy couldn’t find a G-spot if he tried,” the woman says quietly, making a few people laugh.
I take a deep breath as I watch him peel out of the parking lot.
A list starts forming in my mind. I need to call Savage and fill him in on what happened. Need to check in with Dex to see if he’s found anything yet. Call Sami and give her a heads-up because Lord knows this asshole isn’t done. But first…
I turn toward Antonio. “Sorry about that.”
He shakes his head. “That wasn’t your fault. Honest to God, I don’t blame you at all.” He pauses. “Is he always like that?”
“I haven’t had a run-in with him where he wasn’t just like that.”
Antonio shakes his head. “That’s messed up. I’m sorry.”
“Not your fault.” I shrug. “But if that’s all, there are some things I need to go take care of.”
“Go. I’ll talk to you later and finish setting up those travel plans,” he says quietly.
“Sounds good. Later.”
Turning, I leave the shop cursing Billy’s name six ways from Sunday. He’s a goddamn thorn in my side, but she’s worth it.