Page 42 of Property of Big Daddy

“She’s not going to take pity on you, so don’t even think about trying to use her to butter me up this time.”

Gwynee looks at her shoes as Sissy marches out of the room.

“You got something to say?”I ask my woman.

“I think you need to keep Lucie away from Sissy before she sinks her claws deeper in and ruins her life.”

“I know.I should have sought Lucie help years ago.I mean hell, I’ve tried.”

“That’s why you were so good with Daisy,” she notes.

I plop down in a nearby chair and Gwynee fetches me a beer.“Thanks, baby.It’s been a helluva week.”

“Does this mean the current troubles are over?”

“For now.For now.”I take a hearty swig and scrub a palm over my head, feeling grimy as hell.I need a fucking shower and to sleep for about five years.I’m getting too old for this shit.

Gwynee eases my cut off my shoulders and lays it over the back of the chair next to me.Coming to stand behind me, she makes quick work of her fingers to massage the pressure at the base of my neck.

The Juarez brothers were happy to receive their shipment that will no fucking doubt be going to the prison system.As long as they keep their poison off the streets of Anarchy, what they do with them is none of my business.Except that shit has hit home.Too fucking close and I’ve got to find a way to get out from under them.

The easiest way would be to take them out or turn one of them on the other.The shit they pulled months ago was my first warning that this business arrangement wasn’t going to be a mutual one.

The more I think about this shit with the Depraved Sinners, it makes me think they brought the Depraved in to see which club would come out on top.We fucking won this battle, but what about the next time they decide to test us?How far will they go to keep us in line and to remind us we work for them?

“Don’t bother packing your phone.They won’t allow you to have it.Don’t think you can sneak it in either.They’ll be very thorough,” I warn Lucie.

Gwynee, Sissy, and I are driving her to the rehab facility Daisy went to.Sissy doesn’t want to go, but I’m forcing the issue.Want her to witness the price of Lucie’s selfishness and mistakes because if she keeps on this path of blindly following in her footsteps, she’s going to be in the bed right next to her.

Lucie makes a mocking expression I’d love to slap off her face, but it would do no good.

“Gwynee put this together for you.It’s got all the approved items from the list.Comfy sweats, new socks, underwear, and toiletries.”

“I’m sure that was to get some brownie points from you.”

“Believe it or not, Lucie.I don’t care if you don’t, but Gwynne cares about you and wants you to get better.You’ve done nothing but be a goddamned bitch to her and she cares more about you than you care about your damn self.It’s fucking pathetic.If my brother could see you now, he’d be ashamed of you.Is this how you honor his memory?Is this what you want to do with your life?Fuck sleazy men and shoot drugs into your veins?I raised you better than this.It’s time to grow up.There’s a child in your belly that depends on you to give them everything you wished you’d had.Do better.”

“You don’t know what it’s like for me.”

“You’re right.I don’t know what the fuck goes through that head of yours that has your thought process so fucked.You’re gorgeous and could have any guy in the club you wanted.”

“Except Hero.”

“I swear to fuck,” I grumble.“It didn’t work out and wasn’t ever going to.You need to make your peace with that, whether or not he is with Ophelia.It was never going to happen, and I shouldn’t have pushed you so hard toward each other.I’m sorry for that.I can’t go back, and you can’t either.All you can do is put one foot in front of the other and try like hell every day to be better than you were the day before.You don’t.”I shake my head.“I’m afraid I’m going to get a call that you’ve been found dead in a ditch somewhere.Discarded like fucking yesterday’s trash.Is that what you want?”

“It doesn’t matter what I want.You’ve all already condemned me.”

“This conversation is pointless.Grab your shit.It’s time to go and I swear on everything if you fuck this up or give me any shit on the drive.I’m washing my hands of you.Blood or not.This is your last fucking shot at getting your fucking life together.”

“I understand.”

“You better.This is the end of the road, girl.You’ve got to decide if you want to forge a new path or die on this one.”

“Do you think she’ll make it?”Sissy questions on the drive back.

“I don’t know, Sis.Wish I had a crystal ball to answer your questions, but it boils down to whether or not she’s willing to do the work.”

“And her baby.What happens to her baby if she can’t?”

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