Page 54 of Wicked Oath

Chapter Thirteen

Delaney

One Month Later

“Laney,” Talon says ashe gently shakes me.

“Mmmm,” I groan. “What?”

“Your mom is calling,” he says.

“What?” I ask, my eyes snapping open. “Mom?”

“She’s called four times already. Figured I’d let you decide if you want to answer,” he says as he hands me my phone. Jude sits up with me and Talon sits in front of me as I answer.

I am surprised she is calling. I haven’t spoken to her since before I left Logan. We texted a few times over the last three months because she was keeping me updated on Dad’s cancer, but that’s it. “Hello?” I answer. My eyes are mostly closed because I am exhausted, and it’s two in the morning.

“Delaney? Oh my God, baby. Your dad. He’s gone,” she says through quiet sobs.

“What? He’s…”

“Baby, I don’t have much time. Okay? I love you so much I am so sorry for not protecting you better. I’m so sorry, Delaney,” she says with a hushed tone that is bordering on hysterical.

“What’s going on, Mom?” I ask, placing the call on speakerphone. “What do you mean Dad is gone? Did he die?”

“He… he killed him. I ran, but they’re looking for me, Delaney. You have to stay safe, okay? He’s not going to give up. I am so sorry, baby. Please forgive me. Please. I don’t have much time.”

“What are you talking about, Momma?” I ask as I start to panic. “Momma? What’s happening?”

“L-Logan and V-Vince,” she whispers. “They’re h-here.”

“Momma, get out of the house, okay? You need to get out of the house,” I say as I start to cry. Talon is already on his phone and seconds after he sets his phone down, Rogue, Knox, and Torch come into the room. “Momma? Are you there? Please, keep talking to me.”

“I love you so much, Delaney. Never ever forget that. Your dad was a cruel man, but I should have fought harder for you. I shouldn’t have let him hurt you,” she says tearfully.

“Where are you, Momma? I can come to you. Just tell me where you are,” I cry.

“No,” she says firmly. “You stay away. He will hurt you. Let those boys take care of you.”

“Momma,” I sniffle. “Are you at home? How did they kill Dad?”

“They shot him. You weren’t supposed to escape them. You have to stay away from them, baby,” she says tearfully. “They’re coming.”

“Momma, I’m coming, okay? Just hide. Please hide, okay?” I say as I jump up. None of the guys hesitate to spring into action with me. I don’t know why I want to save her when she never saved me, but I have to try. I pull on shorts and we all rush out of the room. “You there, Momma? You’ve got to hide.”

“They’re getting closer,” she whimpers.

“Hide, Momma. Don’t let them find you,” I say as I start crying.

“I’m so sorry, Delaney. You deserved better than me,” she says quietly. “I love you, baby. Always.”

“No, Momma. Please hide!” I yell at her. All of a sudden, she starts screaming as I hear the phone drop to the floor.

“Oh fuck,” Talon says as we get into the SUV.

“Momma!” I scream at my phone. “Stop it! Goddamn it, stop!” Jude pulls me to his chest as Talon speeds down the road, but my phone starts making a noise to tell me that a video request is coming through. I immediately accept it but keep my camera off. “Please, don’t kill her. Please.”

The video loads and I nearly throw my phone when I see a man in a mask holding my mom down on her couch. Her screams are muffled as her face is pressed into the cushion. I recognize Vince right away as the man. “Her blood is on your hands,” a deep, almost distorted voice says.

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