18. Chapter 17
Trick
My jaw ticks as I hang up the phone and squeeze it tightly in my fist, anger hitting me fucking hard.
Getting her call, fuck, it meant everything because I miss her and was ready to call her myself like I did last night.
I stayed on the line until she fell asleep which was a lot better than watching the cameras that she doesn’t know about, but hearing my parents barging into our home knowing I wasn’t there…
Fuckers, both of them, and Dad knows he’s overstepped this time.
“Everything alright?” Crash asks as he walks over from the vans that the prospects are swapping product in, and by product, I mean lots of fucking guns and ammo that we distribute to our allies, earning us a shit ton of money.
Fury, a Dark Angel brother, is taking point in watching them, and I shake my head as Blade walks over.
“What happened?” he asks, seeing the tension, and I breathe heavy.
The man was there for Cage, and he has my utmost respect, which is why I don’t mind explaining the call with Clark in front of him.
“My parents showed up at the house, fully aware I was still on the run. Mom barged in—Clark didn’t even get a chance to open the door,” I say, annoyance weighing on me.
Crash growls, while Blade asks calmly, “I’m guessing you don’t get along with your parents?”
“No,” I admit, “Mom tried to overdose me when I was seven in revenge because she thought Dad had cheated. Then proceeded to scream I had to die when Dad managed to get her off me. She spent six months in the hospital before he brought her home. She lied about being bipolar, and they acted as if nothing had happened.”
“Fucking hell.” Blade curses.
“Let's not forget the continuous mind fuck she’d give you over the years and calling you a rapist was bad enough considering she knew you were drugged, again,” Crash adds, anger lacing his voice, and I grunt.
“Clark kicked her out, but not before Dad begged her to allow him to do the school pick up, and drop offs when she begins college,” I huff and run a hand through my hair with frustration.
The fact that he’s trying to use that against her to get his own way when I voiced my opinion in church just angers me further.
“You going to call your dad?” Blade says and I nod.
“I have to. He knows how important it is right now with Clark. She still can’t get over my one-eighty, and he’s trying to use it against her,” I mutter, my frustration tightening my grip on the phone as worry knots in my stomach.
“It isn’t a one-eighty, brother,” Crash says and I grimace.
"I spent five years barely communicating with her. This past year, I basically ignored her, brother. So yeah, it's a one-eighty in her mind. She didn’t know I was struggling with my feelings. She also didn’t know I’d started therapy to be the man she needs," I remind him and he sighs, because he knows I’m right.
“But she’s willing to try, right?” Blade confirms.
I grunt in agreement. “She is, and she’s making the effort.
We finally feel like a married couple. I don’t need my parents trying to ruin that, all because we’ve told them to stay clear of our daughter,” I say and Blade nods, his dark blue eyes assessing me.
I sigh, “Just say what you’ve got to say, brother. ”
“I don’t really got much to say. I’ve seen a difference in you since you’ve finally given in to your feelings. Fuck, Cage used to bitch all the time because you wouldn’t claim her. I’m proud of you,” he says but is still assessing me, and although I’m wary, gratitude fills me.
“Thanks, brother,” I choke, and he nods, then confirms, “You’re knocking your wife up again, aren’t you?”
Crash, mid-sip of his water, sprays it everywhere and I grin as he coughs, then looks at me with wide eyes. I just shrug.
“What the – she’ll kill you, brother. She’s about to start school.” he chokes.
Again, I shrug. "I’m hoping that she’ll trust you again so you can help with childcare," I admit, "And so can your mom."
Emotions flash over his face and Blade laughs.
As I said, he was assessing me and nothing gets passed that fucker.
My phone rings, and I growl, knowing exactly who it is and I grunt, “Guess he was done waiting for me to call him.
“Talk to him,” Blade says, “We’ll go catch up with Bones and I’ll see you next time, brother.”
He pats my back and drags Crash away and I might have chuckled, but my anger takes over again.
“You have some fucking nerve!” I growl as I answer and Dad sighs down the line.
“I messed up,” he admits.
I snap, "No shit!" then sneer, "You took advantage of the fact that I wasn’t home. You hoped you could get through to my wife behind my back. You allowed yours to storm into my home!"
"I didn’t know she would storm in, son. I thought we were going to see if we could watch Willow and get to know our granddaughter," he says in unrest and I just scoff.
“I told you how I felt. I told you I didn't want you anywhere near my daughter, that I don’t want Mom near her because I don’t fucking trust her!” I snap and I remind him, “She tried to kill me, Dad. What is stopping her from trying to harm Willow?”
“I wouldn’t let her!” he snaps back, and I retort, “What, like you didn’t let her with me? And then brought her back home making me feel unsafe?”
He’s quiet for a moment, and I shake my head as I eye the brothers shooting the shit, Crash looking my way a few times.
“I know I failed you,” he whispers. “I thought she was ill. I thought you were trying to cause shit when you told me she lied, because I didn’t want to think my wife could do something so horrendous to our child.”
I look down and shake my head just as Bones calls, “Get ready to ride out,” and I look up and give a salute to Blade, who nods my way before following his brothers.
“It doesn’t matter if you wanted to be blinded, it fucked me up and you allowed it to,” I sigh, “Now, where Willow is concerned, this is something I need to speak to my wife about. If we do agree and that is a big fucking if, it will be because of her and Mom will not be allowed near my daughter. I don’t trust her, it is as simple as that. ”
“Okay,” Dad chokes out before he says, “I love you, son, and I’m so fucking sorry,” before he hangs up, and I sigh as I drop my phone from my ear, then grab my helmet off the handlebars and put it on.
Maybe the ride back will disperse this fucking anger….
I go to put my phone away, but it beeps, and I check it with a huff only to melt at the message.
My Buttercup:I love you xxx
Fuck, how did I get so lucky with this girl?
How did I miss all the signs over the years?
My heart flutters at the words, and the need to see my wife pulls, but I know she’s on shift until eight, and I quickly message her back.
Me:I love you too, baby. Family night tonight, I missed my girls xxx
Putting my phone into my pocket after pressing send, I turn on my Bluetooth and connect with my helmet that I fucking hate wearing.
I start my bike and rev it just as my phone rings and I answer, “Yeah?” thinking maybe it’s Blade since we couldn’t speak again before riding out, but I’m not that fucking lucky.
“So about trying to convince my sister to speak to me again after six years of basic silence…” Crash voice echoes in my helmet, and I look his way to find his attention on me, and I roll my eyes.
“Please tell me I’m not about to ride three hours with you in my ear,” I groan.
The fucker salutes me as he pulls off, following Bones, who is acting as Road Captain because Blaze had something come up. What, I don’t know, he just said he’d let us know if he needs us.
Crash confirms, “You bet your ass I am and hopefully I can help you rid some of that anger because we both know my sister will hit your dad again.”
Well, he’s not wrong there…
I pull off and get behind the van where I’ll stay until we get into town and take front formation as the VP.
“Fuck’s sake,” I grunt, and his laughter echoes around my head.
This is going to be one long fucking ride back.