Page 32 of Dark As Coal

The feeling of that organ that rested in my chest cavity being sewn back together with little touches, little smiles, laughter, and most importantly love, and all of it from one woman.

One woman named Adeline.

Or so I fucking thought.

That was until someone pulled up outside the clubhouse after I had pressed a kiss to Adeline’s temple before she headed to school.

And the man that folded out of his car… the woman that folded out of the passenger side?

Now they could do it.

They could cause me to breathe the promise I made to Adeline only an hour ago.

And that was when it hit me.

That was when the date hit me.

Fucking. Hell.

For the next seven minutes and forty-eight seconds, my brain, my body, everything about me… was frozen.

Bitch asked, “We are your parents. The least you can do is help us out?”

I didn’t say anything.

Asshole said, “You’re nothing but goddamned trash.”

Bitch said, “I should have let that man have you when he wanted to.”

Bitch said, “Everything you touch turns to filth. I should have aborted you when I found out I was pregnant with your ungrateful ass.”

He was right. She was right.

So, what the fuck was I doing letting my blood-stained hands, touch something as pure and as sweet as Adeline?

Someone who shone with goodness from the very depth of her being.

Especially after what had been done to me. And what I had done.

I didn’t watch as Asher, Priest, Trigger, and Whit forcefully removed the two of them from the property.

I didn’t listen when they told me to shake whatever shit had spewed from their mouths.

Except when I heard Rome say, “You need to call Adeline.”

My head whipped up so fast it was a wonder I didn’t break something, and then menacingly I threatened, “You bother her? I’ll kill you.”

And with that, I headed to the shed.

Hours later, with their words running through my head, the feeling of those hands on me, the looks, the fucking touches, I couldn’t beat it back.

So, I grabbed the bottle of Jack and took a pull from the bottle.

Followed by another.

Then another.

And then another.

---