Page 10 of War

Picking up my phone, I sigh.Five missed calls and a barrage of texts.I pull up the last one and squeeze the phone until my hand twinges in pain.

Tyler: Time is ticking, Princess.

CHAPTER3

A NEW KING

“People want to know, Rogue.”

“Mom, I don’t know how I can be any clearer.I have no desire to set another date for the wedding.It’s over.”I exhale down the line.

“Don’t say that, sweetheart.You’re just grieving, but you must eventually live your life and get back on track.Harley wouldn’t want you putting your life on hold.”She may have been Harley’s mom, but she didn’t know who Harley was or what she’d want.

“Why are you even pushing this?Did Tyler put you up to this?”I picture him there standing beside her, telling her what to say to get me to come home.She wants me married.She thinks Tyler will take care of me.The club takes care of her.Maybe she’s worried that will stop.It’s not until I got away from the situation that I realize how little she must care about me to have allowed him to have a relationship with me from such a young age.

“No, of course not.But a lot of money has been spent.The vendors will only be understanding for so long.We’ve already lost so many.”How the hell would she know?She didn’t contribute to the wedding.

“I don’t care about vendors and money.I’ll pay back whoever.It’s not happening—and you can take that back to Tyler.”

“He didn’t make me call.He’s just concerned.We all are.When are you coming home?”And there it is: Tyler is the reason she’s calling.It hurts that she’s my mom and won’t listen to what I want.It’s always been the same, she will push for whatever will make life easier for her.Maturity didn’t come as she got older.A lot of the time it feels like I’m her parent and not the other way around.

“Have the cops come by?”I change the subject.

She releases a heavy sigh.“No.I call asking for updates, but they keep spewing the same garbage: ‘these things take time.’”She sniffles, and guilt chews away at me.

“I love you, Mom.”I rub a hand across the comforter, brushing off breadcrumbs from a sandwich Diamond made for me.

“Princess, you didn’t say when you plan on coming home.”

“I’ll talk to Tyler.Don’t worry, okay?”I’m going to kill that asshole.

“Okay.”

I end the call and scrub my hands through my hair.Tyler is never going to let me go.

Me: Please check in on Mom.

Bear: Good to hear from you, Rogue.Where are you?

Bear: Rogue…?

Me: Please just check in on Mom.

“Are you ever going to leave this room?It’s been days.”I smile over at Kitty.She leans against the doorframe, her arms folded, a rainbow-colored wig on her head, and her eyeshadow matching.

“You look nice.”

“Obvs.”A half smile hooks her lip.“Guess who just left?”

“Claire?”I roll my eyes.She touches a finger to her nose.“I can’t believe she lasted this long.”

“I know.Me too.She acts like she’s too good for this place, forgetting we all know she practically lived here while fucking my dad for clout.”

“Gross.”I cringe.

Pushing off the door, she saunters toward me and grabs my hands, pulling me up from the bed.“Come have a drink with me.Everyone has been asking about you.”

“What do they know?”My heart skips, a cold dredge chilling my skin.

---