Page 87 of Sinner's Storm

“You have a funny way of showing it, Jason,” she clipped. “Look, I don’t know why you are here, and I don’t care. I’m done. I won’t go back to that penthouse or the clubhouse, for that matter. So whatever you’ve come to say, just say it and leave.”

“I’m sorry.”

“You’re sorry? For what, Jason?”

“Everything,” I admitted honestly. “All of it. From the moment I came back into your life. I never meant to hurt you.”

“But you did,” she whispered. “I tried to tell you, but you never listened.”

“I know,” I agreed, putting Harlow down on the ground.

I stood there watching my daughter run off, laughing as Marco appeared out of nowhere, watching her. Turning back to Delany, I saw the fear in her eyes, the pain I’d caused her.

Reaching for her hand, she didn’t stop me.

She never did.

I noticed that. She never denied me contact with her.

“Delany, can we please talk?”

Nodding, she allowed me to walk her over to a small bench Bane had placed under a large oak tree. Waiting for her to sit, I kneeled before her, taking her hands in mine. When she looked at me, I said, “I know you don’t trust me. I’ve given you no reason to. I’ve been selfish. Instead of thinking like a partner, a father, a husband, I continued to do things that benefited me. I never took your worries or concerns into account. For that, I am truly sorry. I should have known that my life wasn’t what you wanted or needed.”

“It’s not that, Jason. I just don’t understand it all. One minute I’m just a mom trying to raise Harlow, and the next, I’m thrust into a world I know nothing about, and everyone is keeping things from me. Instead of telling me, explaining everything, I’m more confused than ever.”

“What confuses you the most, baby?”

She huffed, looking away. “All of it. This other club. The Golden Skulls. Why are they so interested in me? I don’t get it. I’ve never been around them before. I didn’t even know they existed until Remi and Layla told me about them. Who are they and why do they care so much about me? Remi said that I’m some kind of biker royalty. I don’t even know what that means. Then she had this Sypher guy ink a tattoo on my back as protection. Protection from what?”

“What else?”

“Why does Montana hate me so much? I had never met him before that day at the clubhouse. I mean, I’d seen pictures of him in the papers, but that’s it. One minute he is kicking me out of the club and keeping my daughter from me, then at the Fireman’s Ball, he’s apologizing. Then there is this mess with my dad. Everyone believes the lie, Jason. I can’t just sit back and do nothing, but I don’t know what to do. You said you would help, but you’ve done nothing. Now, I learn that this Gale Stevens is the reason my dad is dead, and that Montana’s father is the one who killed him. It’s all too much.”

I kept a tight rein on my temper because what I really wanted to do was ring Bane’s neck. I know that fucker told her that last part. I already had my hands full with trying to smooth things over with her. Now I had to explain shit she had no reason knowing.

I didn’t know where to begin. I didn’t have time to sit down and explain it all to her. Even if I could, I needed Montana’s permission to tell her everything, and we didn’t have time for all of that. Time was of the essence. I needed to get her to safety, hunt down Gale Stevens, find out exactly what he knows and has on the club, then put a fucking bullet in his head.

“You can’t tell me, can you?”

Looking at her, I frowned. “What?”

“I just asked you to tell me something and you’re silent.”

“It’s because he can’t tell you, Delany.”

Silently cursing, I didn’t move as I felt Delany stiffen.

He couldn’t give me a few minutes. Time to smooth things over? Asshole.

“He can’t tell you, but I can.”

Chapter Thirty-One

Storm

“She will be fine, brother,” Mercy assured, standing next to me as we all watched through the window while Montana sat with Delany and told her everything she wanted to know.

“You sure about that?”

---