Page 29 of Tess, Property of Blaze

Tess

Jeff hangs up the phone and looks over at me, disappointment filling his eyes. “Fuck, Tess, you’ve got some explainin’ to do, your man is hurtin’.”

I cover my face with my hands and cry as I sink slowly into the couch. I’ve really done it this time—I’ve just ruined everything. Feeling the couch dip beside me, I lift my head up when Jeff’s arm drapes around my shoulders. “Tell me, Tess. What’s going on? Who did this to you?”

Wiping away my tears, feeling defeated, I blurt it all out, explaining everything from the beginning—how I had no mother growing up, and how I was raised by the president of the Forseekers Motorcycle Club—all while Jeff’s eyes keep widening, surprise and shock covering his face. It’s not until I tell Jeff my story about marrying Viper, and about all the abuse I received before I snuck out in the middle of the night and fled to New York to start my life over, that he jumps off the couch and storms over to his punching bag and begins to absolutely thrash it. Jab after jab, punch after punch, I just let him go on and on until he finally stops and rests his hands on his knees as he tries to catch his breath.

Hesitantly I stand, my legs weak, worried at what Jeff might say. I step closer to him until he turns to face me with one palm held out toward me. “Stop right there,” he says, his breath coming out in puffs. I still, halting my steps, not knowing what to say or do. He’s mad; I can see that.

“I’m… sorry, Jeff.”

“Sorry?” he shouts. “Do you understand the situation you are in? And now me? You’ve just explained that not only are you married, but that your husband is the VP of your father’s club, and that you have been hiding out here in New York with another club that has no fuckin’ idea you’re married and a president’s daughter? This is so fucked-up.” He growls, shaking his head, sweat breaking away in drops and falling to the floor.

I pace the room, mumbling, “I know how it sounds, Jeff, and….”

“How it sounds?” he yells, making me stop still. “If the Blood Brothers hear you’re hiding this shit, they’re gonna kick you out, not to mention Blaze. You’ve been lying to him the whole time!”

Jeff runs both his hands through his long black, now damp hair, frustration pouring out of him. Then he looks up, a light hitting the sheen of sweat on his face and making it glisten. “You lied to me,” he says, regret entering his voice. I don’t know what I hate more—Jeff yelling at me, or the fact that he’s clearly disappointed in me. Jeff’s been a good friend, like my very own big brother, and right now he’s hurt.

“Jeff, listen to me,” I plead, stepping forward a little, then I desperately try to explain myself. “I tried to keep a low profile. I had to get away from Viper, I couldn’t go on living like his fucking sex toy and punching bag.” I hear Jeff’s intake of breath, but I continue, chewing on the inside of my cheek. “I needed to look out for me for once. I got to New York, changed my name, and finally did something for me—I opened up Ink Me. I told myself I would stay away from men and just go on in life, living like I was a free woman. All those nights that Viper hit me, raped me, forced me to club parties to show me off, was only a smidgen of what my life was. The worst part was my father, he thought I deserved to be punished. To him I was Viper’s old lady, I wasn’t his daughter, and if Viper wanted to hit me like that, then in my father’s eyes, I must have deserved it. Do you know what it’s like to have your only living parent think that you’re a piece of shit and deserve to be treated like dirt? Do you, Jeff?”

Jeff drops his head, trying to hide the tears gathering in his eyes. He wipes them away angrily when they spill over, then looks me straight in the eye. “Tess—”

“No, let me finish. I didn’t want this, I didn’t want to meet another man, but I did. He came into the store that day and there was no stopping him, and if I’m honest, I wanted to know what it felt like to be with a man that didn’t scare the shit out of me. And I’m so glad I did, because I never knew love could be like this. So please, Jeff, don’t look at me like that. I have my reasons, and right now, I can’t have you judging me, not when you’re the only person I can trust.”

Finally Jeff steps forward and folds me into his large arms. I rest my head on his chest and let my tears fall. “Shush, darlin’, I’m so sorry you had to live like that. Whatever you need, I’m here, I promise.”

I sniffle and look up at him. “Thanks, Jeff.”

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