Page 51 of Vapor's Blaze

Jamus finally speaks up. “Yeah, what’s she’s saying is true. Your father was an asshole who thought if he could get her pregnant again, she’d come back to him. It didn’t work though.”

“Tell me again how my father died,” Hark demands, staring straight at Jamus.

“You know I couldn’t just let go of what he did to her, taking the boys away near broke her heart. When I confronted him, things escalated. He told me that he could do as he liked because she was still his wife, and no judge could change the vows they took. He attacked me in the clubhouse in front of everyone, it was a beatdown that we both walked away from. But he ended up getting killed during a fight with a rival MC some months later. Maybe I didn’t cover his ass the way I should have, but I knew if I didn’t do something he was gonna end up destroying her life.”

Vapor is the one to lock the last piece of the puzzle in place. “King went to see her after he realized what you did.”

“He suspected. I covered my tracks so thoroughly he sounded crazy when he accused me.”

When no one says anything, he admits. “I believe King went there to get Trix. He was going to keep my daughter because I took his son’s life. Of course, your mother wouldn’t let him leave with you. I know he didn’t intend on killing her, it was an accident. But depriving me of the woman I loved must have settled the score in his mind because after that he backed off, and he didn’t try to stop me from ensuring you were safe with your other grandfather.”

“How could you stay on as a member of the Hellfire Hounds after what he did?” I ask incredulously. It’s clear that whatever went on between King and Jamus in the past, there was some bond.

Jamus shrugs, “Girl, sometimes I wonder that myself. But it’s the only life I know, and after your mom died maybe I stayed on as some kind of penance for not being able to save her.”

That made me sad, I’d always wondered why Jamus never had a family and now I know the truth, the man didn’t think he deserved happiness.

“Our family has always been royally fucked up,” Hark says, which has to be understatement of the century. He gestures to Jamus, “So, you’ve just been slipping around behind the scenes looking out for all three of us over the years because you had a thing for our mother, right?”

“Leave him alone,” I say, louder than I intended jumping to my father’s defense. “He’s done the best he could in an impossible situation.”

Tracker states firmly, “The truth had to come out sometime. Better now than later. We’re still a family. We’re just one that can move forward with a clean slate.”

Our younger brother makes a sound of disbelief.

Tracker grabs his arm and give him a shake. “Look Hark, nothing changes between the three of us because the other people in our lives have made shitty decisions. Sure, our family might be more dysfunctional than most, but we’re family.”

“No,” he says, jerking his arm away. “To hell with this whole fucked up situation.”

Before I can think of what to say to soothe his feelings, he does an about face and stalks out of the room.

Jamus glares at Tracker. “That wasn’t the smartest thing to do. Ever heard of the saying ‘let sleeping dogs lie’? Those particular dogs should still be slumbering.”

“He might be upset now but he’s stronger than you think he is,” Tracker says.

“Shouldn’t we go after him? He shouldn’t be out roaming the streets by himself,” I add. My younger brother has just learned some unpleasant truths, and I’m scared he’s going to do something stupid.

“He won’t,” Tracker responds. “He’ll sit in the parking lot and stew for an hour tops, then come back with his tail between his legs.”

“How can you be so sure?” I ask.

Tracker snorts a laugh, “Because our little brother is a mercurial bastard in his own right. Besides that, he’s left his cell phone. If he wants his friend to come and get him, he’s gonna have to come back for it.”

“That’s true,” Jamus says holding up Hark’s iPhone.

“I’m starting to think that none of us are quite as messed up as I thought. Least of all you, dad.”

Jamus’ looks like he’s fighting back tears. “I’m sorry that I couldn’t save your mother.”

“She had a name, Jamus. And I’ve never heard it pass your lips,” I say.

His head turns to the side, and he closes his eyes for just a second. The expression on his face is heartbreaking. “Some things are too painful, girlie. Not every story has a happy ending.”

I reach out to squeeze his shoulder. “I get it, but you did the best you could, and I thank you for that.”

His hand comes up to pat mine. “Thank you, Trix.”

I pull my hand away. “Well, all things considered, I hope the two of you don’t hate me for bowing out. I don’t think I can ever look at King again, he’s not my grandfather and I’m done with him.”

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