1. Prologue #3
The clubhouse quietens, and I try not to bury back into my brother’s side and say, “When an old lady decides to hand in her cut after you’ve strayed, she is proving that she was with you for you, and you all took them for granted.
Jessica knows her worth, and Pitbull took her for granted.
You can’t have your bread and eat it too.
If you don’t think you’ll be faithful to a woman who has given you their everything, who has turned a blind eye to the stuff you all dabble in – guns, drugs – then don’t make a woman your old lady, don’t take away years of her life only to destroy her, forcing her to start over and heal. Stick to the club girls.”
My brother half smiles at me, while brothers around me look at me in shock as Brick, the president of the MC, stutters, “When in the hell did our little doll grow up?”
I shake my head as some brothers chuckle while their women smile wide at my words while my mama furrows her brows, looking my way intently before the door opens.
We all look to see Pitbull with a red face as he points at his son and demands, “How long did you know your mother was planning on leaving me for another man, huh?”
I roll my eyes hard at his accusation because, of course, that has to be the reason why she left him.
Before anyone can pipe in, I mock, “Oh no, my old lady left. She must be seeing another man. Why else would she leave? I mean, it’s not like I was just allowing a club girl who isn’t even dressed appropriately with girls my age around to touch all over me. ”
“Ivy!” my dad snaps, and I look his way and raise a brow.
“What?” I ask innocently, “It’s only the truth, and Mama told me never to lie. Isn’t that right, Mama?”
I look towards my Mama, who is trying to hide her laughter with the other old ladies, her dark blue eyes shining with amusement.
“I did, baby,” she agrees.
I nod, then look back at Dad and ask Mama, “And if you were in Jessica’s position, you’d also leave, right, Mama? Because you know your worth.”
My dad's jaw ticks as I raise a brow at him, and she again agrees, “Within a heartbeat, Ivy, I won’t allow my daughter to watch a man walk all over me.”
Dad flinches, and I narrow my eyes at him, causing my brother's arm to tighten around me.
I’ve had a feeling for a while now that he’s slept with the club girls behind Mama’s back, but his reaction has just proved my theory.
I swear if he hurts her…
Dad clears his throat and says, “I understand that, sweetheart, but sometimes you can be too honest.”
I shrug and admit, “Why, because the brothers won’t like my view on things?
I’ve grown up around this club and I’ve seen the old ladies treated like crap all because you men have an ego as big as a house and believe they’d stay if you strayed.
Jessica did something most old ladies would give her applause for. She’s putting herself first for once.”
The brothers look down to hide their smirks while Pitbull glares at me, making me flinch.
Psycho growls, “Stop glaring at a fucking thirteen-year-old. You are the one who couldn’t keep it in your pants, so Mama leaving shouldn’t be a shock to you. FYI, Dad, I didn’t know she was planning on leaving. I thought the bags she carried out were Marie's, not hers.”
Pitbull looks away, his face still red with anger, before he storms towards the back door and slams it open making me jump as he walks out into the yard while Brick and Dad follow.
Psycho sighs and shakes his head before he looks at me and smiles softly.
“Fancy some ice cream?” he asks.
I look towards the back door and return, “Shouldn’t you go after your dad?”
Psycho scoffs, “No, he made his bed, now he can lie in it, and honestly, I hope Mama does find someone else.” He raises a brow, holds his arm out, and repeats, “So ice cream date with my best friend?”
I grin widely, grab his arm, and allow him to guide me to the club’s kitchen while the brothers chuckle as I skip alongside him.
Another thing I’m obsessed with – Ice cream, cookies and cream to be precise.
We walk into the kitchen, and the voices carry out from the open window.
“I’m sorry, Glock, I shouldn’t have looked at Ives like that, this isn’t her fault,” Pitbull murmurs and Brick says, “You’re lucky you didn’t get a bullet from your own son with how you looked at her brother,” he sighs, “We can’t keep letting her see this shit, she’ll grow up jaded where we’re concerned.
She’s far too innocent for us to ruin her,” and Psycho shakes his head and shuts the window before we hear anymore.
“Cookies and Cream?” he asks, and I nod as I sit at the round table, my eyes going to the window.
“Do you think my dad is cheating on my mama?” I ask reluctantly as Psycho puts a bowl in front of me and takes a seat.
He sighs, “I don’t think you want that answer, cupcake…”
I look at him, and I know I’m radiating innocence, but I say anyway, “I don’t want my mama to get hurt, Jax.”
His eyes soften, and he whispers, “I understand that Ives, I do, but your mama is strong and won’t want all their drama on your head.” He nods to the ice cream, “Now eat up.”
I swallow hard but nod and take a large spoonful of my ice cream, my mind going haywire.
How can I sit back and allow my dad to treat my mama like dirt?
How can I sit here with Psycho and not tell him how I feel?
I sigh and take another bite of my ice cream, knowing I can’t control everything. He is right. Mama is strong and will hand Dad his ass if he is cheating and I know without a doubt brother or not, that is no excuse to hurt my mama, and he’ll lose his daughter.
And I know Psycho doesn’t see me as anything but a best friend’s little sister type.
He’ll never look at me like I’m his world…