Page 16 of Loathe

“It’s going to be okay, sweetheart. I’ll be right there with you. You’re not going to do this alone I promise,” Cameron said as he got out of my car to move to his bike.

That was the first promise he made and I knew it was one he’d keep. I smiled at him as I started my car and waited for him to get on his motorcycle. I followed him back to the clubhouse and parked in the spot that was designated to me. I got out of the car and waited until he got his bike parked so we could go in together. He took my hand and kissed me softly.

“You can do this. I’m right here and nothing is going to happen to you. Tony needs to know everything so he can protect you better,” he stated as we made our way to the door.

I nodded as he opened the door and led me inside. The eyes of others followed us as we made our way to Tony’s office. I wondered what they were thinking, but I told myself it didn’t matter. Cameron knocked gently and opened the door once he was given permission. Tony seemed surprised to see us walk into his office together.

“Hey, guys, this is unexpected. To what do I owe this visit from you? Is everything okay?” he asked as a look of concern spread across his face.

“I need to talk to you about something that I’ve kept from you for a long time. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I didn’t think anyone would believe me and I was ashamed,” I said, trying not to let my voice crack with emotion.

Tony motioned us to the other side of his office where a plush leather couch sat with a matching recliner. He took the recliner as Cam and I sat on the couch. Tears threatened to spill over as I tried to gather my thoughts and process how I wanted to tell him the things I’d hidden from him the entire time I’d known him.

“What is it, Phoebe? It must be bad if you’ve kept it from me for a long time,” Tony said as he focused his attention on me.

“I need to talk to you about the man I called father,” I told him softly trying to keep the tears at bay.

Cameron squeezed my hand as I began to tell Tony the horrific things I’d endured at the hands of my father and the business dealings that I knew about that might hurt the club if they got wrapped up in it. Tony knew the man was bad, but he had no clue about selling women. I watched as Tony’s face changed colors as different emotions spread through him with each of the things I told him. I could tell he was having a hard time holding himself together and I hoped that he wouldn’t be angry with me for not telling him sooner. Once I was finished telling him everything, he sat quietly for a moment before offering any kind of a response.

He was so quiet I’d begun to wonder if he was okay. I could tell that his emotions were still running wild and I hoped I hadn’t upset him too bad by telling him everything way later than I should’ve. Panic started to rise in me as I argued with myself about whether telling him had been a good idea or not. I knew deep down it was, I was just worried that I’d waited too late and he was going to be too mad to forgive me.

“I’m so sorry that you’ve had to endure all of that from him, and I now understand a lot of things that I didn’t understand before. I am sorry for the way I’ve treated you all these years. I always knew he was a low-down, dirty piece of shit, I just didn’t know how bad he really was until now. I’m angry that you’ve known things that could’ve hurt the club and are just now telling me, when the club could’ve been in danger way before now, but I’m grateful that you did tell me. I just have to figure out what to do to protect you and the club both,” he said. “I think I know what needs to be done, I just need to call in a few favors from some friends of mine.”

I knew what needed to be done, but I wasn’t sure I had strength enough to do it. I had never thought the way I was thinking before and couldn’t believe the thought was even rolling around in my mind. I knew that at that moment I didn’t have the strength to do what was necessary, so I shouldn’t even mention it to Tony. I was going to have to find the strength, but I wasn’t sure where I was going to get it. I’d have to find it somewhere I knew that for sure.

I was going to tell him that I wanted to take down the man I had called father. I knew I was probably going to get a negative response, but it was what needed to be done for me to be free from him for good. I was a bit nervous about voicing my idea on what I thought needed to happen, but I knew that was because I wasn’t used to being able to have a voice. I told myself I was perfectly safe with Cameron and Tony. I nervously fiddled with the hem of my shirt as I looked at Tony.

“I have an idea of what we could do,” I said with a confidence I’d never felt before.

Chapter Sixteen

Cameron

I sat silently beside Phoebe as she opened up to Tony and let him know everything about the man that had raised her. There were things that she knew might hurt the club, but I knew that Tony would know how to keep that from happening. I could tell that Tony was trying to keep himself from exploding as she talked, and I was proud that he handled himself as well as he did. I listened intently and held her hand letting her know I was there for her. Once she was finished talking, Tony stayed quiet for several minutes before saying anything. I knew he was going to be upset that she’d kept the business side of things to herself, but I never expected the response she gave him.

“I want to take him down, Tony. I want him to suffer the way he’s made me suffer my entire life.”

“What? No! Are you fucking crazy? You can’t go around him, Phoebe, it’s not safe.” Panic filled my voice.

There was no way I could let her put herself in danger and go in front of the man she had been trying to hide from all this time. I was going to have to put my foot down no matter how mad she got at me. I loved her too much to let her do that to herself.

Love … even in my head it was scary and enlightening. But it was irrevocably true.

I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to stop the panic that was rising inside me, but I knew I needed to try. I didn’t want to do anything that was going to upset Tony.

“I have to do this, Cameron. He needs to be stopped and I want to be the one to do it,” she pleaded.

We both looked to Tony to see what he thought about what Phoebe was saying. I begged him with my eyes. Only I could tell by the look on his face he agreed with her and was going to approve her plan. I could feel my heart breaking inside my chest, but he was the PrezPrez, and what he said would be what happened no matter if I wanted it to or not.

“Have you really thought about this? It’s going to be a dangerous thing,” Tony said as he scooted forward in his chair.

I couldn’t believe he was going to consider her idea of taking down her father, the mafia PrezPrez. They both were stupid for even considering it in my mind and I resisted the urge to tell them so. I kept myself quiet though, because I had promised her I would support her through the process of talking to Tony about the issues. I hoped that as they talked, she would come to realize that the idea wasn’t a smart one and change her mind, but that didn’t happen.

“I’ve thought about it a lot, especially after he contacted me twice,” she replied in a serious tone. “I know it seems like I thought this up on the fly, but I’ve actually wanted to do this for a long time and just never had anyone to back me up on it.”

Tony nodded in understanding as I sat beside her trying not to lose my shit. There was no way in hell that Phoebe needed to try to take down one of the most powerful men out there. I knew she was a strong woman and could handle a lot, but I wasn’t sure she was up for that challenge. I kept trying to communicate with Tony using my eyes, but he didn’t seem to be concerned with what I was trying to convey.

“Tony, can I have a word with you in private please?” I asked as I stood from my seat.

---