Page 127 of Truck Off

But Lina has shown me all her cards. Now it’s time I do the same.

I rotate in my seat so I’m facing her, and then I take her hand in mine. I nod toward the apartment door I parked in front of and say, “This is where my mom lives.”

“Oh.” The surprise in her voice drags a small smile out of me. Her eyes shift to the door, and she stares at it like she’s waiting for it to do something. When she looks back at me, all I see is love reflecting back. “Should we go in?”

I squeeze her hand and shift my gaze to the apartment. I know what’s behind that door, and it’s not pretty. Once she sees just how bad it is, there’s no unseeing it. Ever.

I take a deep breath before I answer her. “I have to warn you first. What’s behind that door is bad. My mom is a mess. There will be garbage and rotting food and probably drugs.”

“Chase.” She reaches across the cab and cups my cheek. “We don’t have to do this if it’s too much.”

“No, we do. I need you to see this. My mom is a big reason why I am the way I am. Always needing to take care of you. She’s also the reason for the debt the MC owed me.”

“The drugs,” she whispers. I don’t need to tell her who’s responsible for getting my mom hooked all those years ago. Before Edge cleaned up the MC, they were the only drug supplier in the county. Lina knows this better than most.

“Yeah, and then she got Christian addicted. The club played a vicious role in Christian’s addiction. Smoke and some of the old members treated it like a game. I could have lost him. Almost did, twice. Thankfully, we were able to save Christian, but Mom … she’s a lost cause.”

“I’m so sorry.” There’s not a hint of pity in her words. Just compassion and understanding. It makes me smile.

“Come on. We’ve got a lot of cleaning to do before Christian gets here.” I open my truck door to step out, but her hand reaches for my arm to stop me.

“Wait. Christian is coming today too?”

I nod. “We visit with her on the first Sunday of every month. I come a couple of hours before him to clean up and make sure all the drugs are gone. He does the grocery shopping, and then we cook her dinner. It’s not pleasant, but if you’re up for it, I’d like you to see this part of me.”

She squeezes her eyes closed and nods several times in quick succession. If I’m not mistaken, she’s trying hard not to cry. When she opens them, they’re glassy. “I’m honored that you want to introduce me, and I’m prepared for whatever is behind that door.”

I huff out a laugh. “You say that, but you haven’t seen it yet. What’s behind that door is not pretty.”

“Chase, you’re talking to a former daughter of the MC that made your mom that way. I promise you I can handle it.”

I give her a single nod before I take her hand and lift it to my lips. I kiss the palm and breathe in her sweet scent. “Okay, let’s get this over with. The first fifteen minutes are always the worst.”

Releasing her hand, we both climb out of my truck. I grab the new box of trash bags I bought since I used them all last time, and then meet her around the front. She slips her arm around my waist, presses into me, and gives me a kiss on the lips. That small action is enough to give me the strength I need to lead her inside.

As soon as I open the door, the stench of stale beer, cigarettes, and rotten food makes me gag. Lina coughs beside me, lifting her hand to cover her mouth and nose.

“I told you it would be bad.”

“You were spot on,” she says while doing her best to take in as little oxygen as possible. “Alright, what do we do first?”

“Find all the drugs and flush them. Then we take out the garbage.” I hold up the new box of trash bags I brought.

“Let’s do this.” She takes the box from my hand. “I’ll start on the garbage. You find the drugs.”

She slips from my side and gets to work like she’s done this with me countless times. I can’t help but smile. My woman is the picture of strength and loyalty, and I’m damn lucky to call her mine.

We work in silence for a good twenty minutes before I find all the drugs—which surprisingly isn’t as much as normal today—and Lina clears all of the trash out of the living room and moves on to the kitchen. She doesn’t flinch or complain once.

“Where’s your mom?” she asks when I come down the hallway with my arms piled high with dirty laundry.

“Passed out in her room.” I dump the clothes on the floor beside the washer and start sorting. “Once I get a load started, I’ll carry her to the shower. You thought this was fun? Just wait until you hear her mouth. Adds a whole new dimension to the day.”

Lina snorts. “Can’t wait.”

I toss the load in the washer and head back down the hallway. The weight of dread pushing down on me has me causing me to drag my feet. Mom never has anything nice to say to me. Letting Lina see this part of our relationship makes me nervous.

Mom is still passed out on her bed, completely unaware that we’re here. I take as deep a breath as I can stand considering the smell and slide my arms under her back and legs. She’s limp and sags against me. If her chest wasn’t rising and falling, I’d question whether or not she was still alive.

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