Chapter 44 Ash #2
He staggers.
He doesn’t hear her.
Pulling a gun from his waistband, he points it at our dad, and my stomach churns.
JT pulls me to his chest, but I can’t take my eyes off my brother.
Gabriel jumps to his feet, watching Shane, who’s trembling, fury rolling off him in waves.
“Big man,” our dad spits from the ground. “Gonna shoot your own dad?”
Shane stiffens.
“He’s not worth it!” Nik shouts. “Listen!”
He doesn’t move.
“You really are a worthless piece of shit!” my dad spits. “You boys are gonna get what’s coming for you. Mark my words.”
Shane’s nostrils flare, and the gun shakes in his hand.
“Shane!” She places a hand on his bicep, her voice more of a cry than a scream this time. “Please! Stop!”
That’s when he hears it.
He takes a deep breath, turning his head to look at her as he lowers the gun. She places her hands on his face.
Something in her eyes has him coming back from the edge of that dark place. His face softens slightly, and his shoulders relax. He stares at her for a moment, sucking his teeth before glancing at our father who’s rising from the ground. “Don’t come back. You’re not welcome.”
He spits on the ground before stomping away with Nik on his heels.
One of the older members moves to help my dad the rest of the way up.
“Someone get him the hell out of here,” Gabriel shouts over his shoulder as he stomps back toward the clubhouse. When he lifts his eyes to JT, who’s on the phone with someone, he shouts, “What the hell!”
JT pulls the phone from his face, shaking his head. “I don’t know. My guy isn’t answering.”
“Fuck!” Gabriel runs his hands over his face as he disappears inside.
Racing inside to grab something from my purse, I come back in time to find my dad stalking toward his car in the parking lot. “Wait!”
They stop. My dad’s face softens like he thinks I’m coming to check on him.
I swallow, collecting all the courage I can muster. “Just so you know, I don’t hate you.”
He stares at me but says nothing.
“I might have even been able to forgive you for how you treated me.”
“Ashton—” He steps in my direction, and I take a step back, holding my hand up to stop him.
“But I’ll never forgive you for what you did to Shane. All I ever wanted was to be loved.” I exhale, biting my top lip. “I don’t know what happened to you that you didn’t know how to do that, but I don’t hate you. I just don’t ever want to see you again.”
He nods, running his tongue over his top teeth. I think he might say something else, but he doesn’t. Instead, he stalks away.
“Here,” I say, walking toward him.
As he turns back to me, I hold out the small jewelry box. It’s been in my purse since I found it.
His eyes flick to the box and back up at me.
“Take it, and don’t contact me or Shane again.”
He grabs the box before walking away.
Tears well in my eyes, and I stand in the parking lot, watching him leave.
I mean it. I don’t hate him. But I can’t forgive him for almost taking my brother from us.
I hadn’t noticed but JT stands behind me, watching.
“Sorry, I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop, but I couldn’t let you come out here with him alone.” He holds out his arms.
I crash into his chest, laughing through the tears rolling down my face. “It’s okay. You really weren’t lying about being a good friend.”
“I know my strong suits,” he murmurs, a grin spreading across his face. “You alright?”
I pull back. “I always am, aren’t I?”
His mouth turns down. When I waltz back into the club, Shane’s sitting at a table with his face in his hands while Nik talks in his ear, and Gabriel’s nowhere to be found.
I saddle up at the bar and wait for everyone to leave so I can help clean up. There’s no way I can get through the rest of this weekend sober.
“Hey, where’d Gabe go?” JT asks, coming up to sit beside me.
I shrug.
“Are you kidding me? You guys are so annoying. Make up already.” He laughs.
“I can’t. This life—” I let out a long exhale. “I can’t do this.”
He narrows his eyes at me, opening and closing his mouth before finally saying, “He didn’t tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
His brows raise. “Gabe quit the club.”
“What?”
“Yeah. Right before the bachelor party. I can’t believe he didn’t tell you. I mean, it’s not official yet, but once the club decides who’s taking over, he’s done.”
“Why would he do that?”
“Are you really asking me that?” He stares at me like I’m dumb.
I shake my head in disbelief.
“If he’s president, he can’t have you and Maggie. He made his choice.”
My hand flies to my mouth. “Oh my god.”
“Ash, he loves you.”
I sit with my mouth open, trying to process what the fuck is happening. Why didn’t he say something? He let me walk away, knowing he’d given up everything for me. God, he’s such a fucking asshole. I would have—
Would I have? Quitting the club doesn’t fix everything, does it?
Finally, I say, “What if things don’t work out again? It’s more than just me that would get hurt this time. I can’t do that to her.”
“And what if things do work out?”
I scoff. “Well, if history has taught us anything, it’s that it won’t.”
His brows furrow. “No, if history has taught you anything, it should be that you will always find your way back to each other.”
I turn in my seat to face him.
“Look, I can’t tell you what to do, but I know Gabe. He’s learned his lesson. I think you’re doing both of you a disservice if you don’t at least try.”