Page 124 of Irons

Her voice became faint. “She said that’s what happens to whores that steal another woman’s husband.”

“That was cruel. She didn’t realize their marriage was over for years?” I asked.

She smiled. “You really aren’t here with God, are you?”

“No, I am not.” I might not have attended Mass, but I did believe. She didn’t need to know it.

“I am a sinner and my soul is tarnished. I’ll be in hell with my husband soon enough.” She sighed. “I guess I wouldn’t be a good mother if I left Brock alone in this world with no true family to love him. All my family will do is make him feel shame and guilt over things that aren’t his fault.”

“When Tony died, there was only one person I knew loved me, but she was just a girl. I didn’t have anyone left and nobody came. Now I see you and Brock alone with just each other. I want to be the person that never came for me. I like the kid, you did a fine job, and he will be your legacy. He won’t leave here without you, and I’m the best shot he's got. He will work hard and make good money. It’s a great opportunity for him. He could end up as my business partner and could own his own home and have some financial freedom. He could have the kind of life he deserves. Please help me give that to him. Let me make sure you have what you need to live longer and maybe even happier. Make better memories with Brock so he has even more great stories to tell his children. Let me take you away from the people that cause you so much shame and guilt.”

Magnus

Wrenly

It was unbelievable how Travis, the most handsome boy I ever knew, ran off and struck up friendships with other handsome men. Handsome didn’t actually give any of them justice. Even Axton, the prick, was hot. Steaming hot, and then there was Magnus. I was bias with Travis, the man was holy hotness from head to toe, but so was Magnus. His intense gray eyes and his muscular body was one thing, but that smile was worth a billion bucks. Although Travis was sexier in my opinion, I knew the girls at the bar tonight were going to go insane.

It felt like forever as we waited for Travis.

I was laughing so hard I had to wipe a tear away. “No way, he did not.”

“He was so traumatized about the family reunion on his dad’s side, he forgot to ask about his mom’s family. He hasn’t left his place in two days.”

Patrick was also adorable, but a little dumb. “I bet Morgan is having the time of her life with it.”

Patrick went out of town to Texas and went to pick up a girl in a bar. She agreed and he went home with her, but found a piece of mail with her name on it. Her last name was the sameas his mother’s maiden name. He ran from the house and all the way back to the hotel where he called his mommy to ask a very serious question, only to figure out the last name was spelled different, and they weren’t related. It was like ten miles back to the hotel.

“It’s Morgan’s fault. Come on, let’s be real. He was on the completely other side of the state park and saw a cute girl. It could have happened to anyone.” Magnus said.

“That’s not the point, Magnus. She walked him back to his own family reunion and he still didn’t figure it out. Then proceeded to finger her in the ladies bathroom. Not in a stall with a door, but the open shower.”

He shrugged. “He was zoned in on the girl and not paying attention. He was a horny and curious kid. Morgan has brought up all those old traumatized feelings and the entire family shamed him. What about the girl? Nobody blames her and she knew who he was the whole time.”

“If he’s been hiding, then Morgan hasn’t had her fun yet, right?”

He rolled his eyes. “She’s such a bitch sometimes.” He shook his head. “He left the community one time and that was to have dinner with the family. She paid one of her cousins five grand to join them for dinner and flirt with Patrick. He was so uncomfortable, and her fucking family played along just for a laugh. Fucking Tanner even encouraged him to ask her out. I swear I think she gave her dad a few grand to do it too. It was a mess. Their cousin got enough money for a down-payment on a new car then her great grandpa tried to get the cousin to go on a date with him. That wasn’t scripted, so of course Patrick left in tears.”

I laughed so hard I almost peed my pants.

“Oh, but that’s not the only drama that happened since you guys left. Weston walked upstairs at Creed’s place because Morgan told him to grab her sewing kit to fix his shirt. Addie jumped out of her room in her flying monkey costume and Weston was so scared he fell backward off the top of the steps. He broke his tailbone, fractured his shoulder and bumped his head like twenty times and had a concussion. Addie ruined her costume because it’s not washable and she laughed so hard she pissed herself, and Creed lost his shit. He said to fuck Bolton and her gentle parenting bullshit, so Addie got grounded from K-9 training for a month. Addie refuses to speak to him, and of course she’s pissed at Drakos too, because somehow she figured out that he put the baby in Melissa. She doesn’t know how, but it was pretty damn suspicious to her that these men keep making the women fat. I’m kind of annoyed with it too.” He said.

“Poor Weston.” That boy engaged in a power struggle with Addie one too many times.

“Oh, and let’s not forget the proposal of a lifetime. Drakos proposed to Melissa.” He cleared his throat. “In the most fucked up way possible. The dumbass wanted to propose where they met. The night they met he was getting a blow job from Macy in Club X, and he forgot. So, the dumbass thought the first time they met was sitting at the bar before the club turned dark. The dumb fuck took her to Club X, got down on one knee then dropped the ring. I saw the entire thing. Melissa was already pissed when he said he wanted to bring her back to the special night they met, but then he drops the ring and guess who picks it up?”

I gasped. “No way!”

“Yep, Macy the dumb fake blond tried to slip it on Melissa’s finger!”

“Holy shit!” My eyes had to be as big as saucers.

“Melissa threw the ring at Macy and told her to wear it, then kicked Drakos in the nuts and left him lying there in a ball on the floor. Drakos went crawling after her with tears in his eyes. I guess things turned out because she’s wearing the ring and he’s happier than ever.” He shut his eyes for a second. “Most fucked up relationship I’ve ever seen. I bet it’ll be the most fucked up divorce as well. The proposal won’t be the last time he fucks up. The guy is one hell of an operative, but take off the fatigues and he’s a fucking idiot.”

He looked up at the house. “Here he comes.”

Travis opened the car door and slipped inside. “Well?” I asked.

He threw it in reverse. “I feel sick, but she agreed with a fuck ton of stipulations.” He did look a little greenish gray.

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