Page 48 of Thor

“What the hell are you wearing?”

Chapter Twenty-Four

THOR

Maddy freezes like a statue before she slowly turns around to face her family. Her mom looks downright furious and her brothers glare at me with their hands clenched. Her father, Andrew, keeps his face neutral. While we did have a talk, he doesn’t know anything about the property cut. He only knows my intentions and that I love his daughter.

When I called to arrange for them to come, he grilled me for over an hour. He let me know that mending things with Martha wasn’t going to be easy. I expected that. I would be concerned if she just welcomed me with open arms. My uncle raped her daughter and then I deserted her and left her to a monster for the past decade.

If it was my daughter, I wouldn’t be so forgiving either.

“Mom, please, keep your voice down. There are children in here,” Maddy whispers shakily.

Martha shakes her head, her anger rising by the second. “Property? Now you’re his property? What’s next? Is he going to pass you around to his friends?” she hisses.

Madison gasps and her eyes fill with tears. Martha’s eyes fill with regret and shock as if she can’t believe what just came out of her mouth. Andrew stares at his wife, fuming. “Outside. Now.We’re not having this conversation in a room full of people. Boys, stay here.”

They open their mouth to object but quickly snap their lips shut when Andrew pins them with a hard stare. He is not messing around. He walks away and Martha and Madison follow. “You too, Jonah. We’re settling this once and for all,” he says over his shoulder.

I follow them out the front door and we stand on the porch in awkward silence for a few moments.

“How could you say something like that to me, Mom?” Madison whispers. A few tears roll down her cheeks and she wipes them away angrily.

“I didn’t mean it, sweetheart. I’m sorry. I was just so angry when I saw what that damn vest said. How could you fall right back into the arms of the man who betrayed you and let him call you his property?”

Anger courses through my body but I do my best to calm down. I understand that she’s scared for her daughter, but I would never hurt Madison. If I was going to share Madison like she just accused, then I would have never left home ten years ago. If I didn’t care, I wouldn’t have lived these past years scared to let another woman get close to me. That night broke me as well.

I could never compare what I felt to what Madison went through. I wouldn’t ever want to. She’s the one who suffered the most out of all this, but doesn’t Martha get that I was hurt too. For the past decade, I thought my woman stepped out on me. It broke my heart in two and changed me in every way. Before Madison can open her mouth, I decide it’s time her mother and I get on the same page.

“I would never do anything like that to her. If I was so big on sharing her, then I would have left her to Thomas. I had no clue what really happened between them. I’ve lived the past tenyears a broken man, thinking Madison had left me for my uncle. Imagine my surprise when she shows up and informs me what that bastard had done to her. I don’t give a damn if that man is my blood, I won’t rest until he suffers for what he’s done to her.”

Martha scoffs and shakes her head. “Am I truly supposed to believe any of the crap you just spewed?”

“Yes, because deep down you know me. I grew up in your home. How many times did I come over for dinner? How many times did I come over for movie nights and play dates with your sons? Do you really believe the young boy you knew all those years ago would be capable of what Thomas accused me of? Look past all the deceit and lies and listen to your gut. This is me, maw maw. Maddy brought him back to life the second she walked back into my life.”

Martha’s eyes fill with tears when I use the nickname I used to call her growing up. The first time she heard me call Madison “Maddy,” she demanded to have a nickname too. I said the first thing that popped into my head, and she threw her head back, laughing, and said she loved it. This woman was like a second mother to me. I hate that she thinks I could be capable of any of the things Thomas has said.

“B-but what’s all this property mess? Property of Thor? Really, Jonah? Is that all she is?” she asks as her tears begin to fall.

I grab on to both of her hands and look her in the eyes, so she knows I mean every word I say. “That cut means she is my world, Martha. Her wearing this gives her the highest level of respect within the club. This cut is the equivalent of marriage in the eyes of bikers. I love your daughter more than anything in this world, and as soon as all this is over, I’m going to marry her and give you those grandbabies you always said you wanted. She is my queen, and I will take down the entire world if I feel sheis threatened. I willneverwalk away from her again. She is safe with me. I promise.”

By the time I’m done, Martha is sobbing into her hands, and I bring her into my arms. She wraps her arms around my waist and hugs me back. Madison and her father cling to each other, watching us with happiness. When she pulls away, she turns to Madison and hugs her while crying through an apology.

Andrew slaps his hand down on my shoulder and looks me in the eyes. “Don’t make me regret trusting you with my baby girl again.”

“You won’t.”

After Martha and Madison get themselves together, I link hands with Madison, and we walk back to the dining hall. We enter and I notice everyone is sitting at their tables, but no one has a plate.

Smoke stands from his seat. “We weren’t starting Thanksgiving until the entire family was here.”

Martha gives a small smile to Smoke. Her brothers are sitting at a table with Capone and Dice. There are just enough seats for us to join them. We take our seats and Smoke brings his fork to his tumbler, gaining everyone’s attention.

“I started this club when I was eighteen years old. We’ve been to hell and back. With the leadership of my son, he took this club to places I never imagined possible. We have come a long way. This club, once filled with only parties and bad decisions, has now morphed into one big family. Today, we come to celebrate the family we continue to build.”

“Enough with the mushy mess, you old bastard. I’m starving over here!” Tiny interrupts.

The room fills with laughter and Smoke discreetly raises his middle finger so the kids don’t see. “Alright, Alright, lets dig in, fellas!”

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