Page 57 of Blue

“I thought you wanted some sort of custody of those kids?” His mother folded her arms over her chest.

He stared at her blankly, just like he had done all those years ago.

“I have done my best to stay out of your life decisions when you became a grown-up and a dad, but—”

“You have butted your nose—”

“Don’t you dare.” She pointed a finger at him as the anger burned brightly behind her eyes. “I’m essentially their second mother and a mother to Angela too. I raisedyouand everyone else you brought with you.”

He couldn’t argue. She’d been his stable rock his entire life. He’d relied on her far too much. Keeping his mouth shut, Mooky shifted in his seat.

“What are you doing?” she asked as she sank into the chair opposite him, sounding defeated.

He shook his head. How could he explain it to her? She hadn’t so much as dated since his father left her. She had no way of understanding the depth of crazy he felt when around Blue or just how insane Angela could drive him. Add in all the club complications and she’d be completely lost. There was too much and not nearly enough time.

“It’s not entirely his fault.” Angela’s weak voice came from behind his mother.

A flare of rage ignited instantly. He jumped from his chair, knocking it backward with a clatter.

“Get out.” He pointed to the front door, glaring at his rather gaunt wife.

If he were in a better mindset or was even a better man, he might have been concerned about the bags under her eyes.

“Charles.” His mother stood as well.

“I’m here to apologize.” Angela stepped farther into the kitchen.

When she did, he could see the baggy clothes she wore as opposed to the skintight couture meant to accent her waif-like figure. She’d thrown her hair up into a haphazard bun, rather than attempting any sort of styling and without accent pieces.

She didn’t look good, but he was far too pissed to care.

“You have the balls to come in here.” Seething, Mooky marched toward her. “After everything you put me through.”

Shaking from restraint, he fought the urge to throttle her or throw a chair, possibly punch a wall. None of those would be productive.

He had always been taller than her, and the amount he outweighed her had increased over the years. In that moment, she seemed downright tiny compared to him. Perhaps he should have felt some sort of sympathy for her, but she’d destroyed that possibility a long time ago.

“I didn’t mean for this to get out of hand.”

“What is going on?” his mother demanded.

“You ratted me out to officer McFuckface!” He wanted to rip her apart.

“Who?” His mother tried to force herself between them.

“I didn’t tell him anything. I swear. I didn’tknowanything to say.”

“You told him enough, and now he’s stalking the fucking kids.” He slammed his fist against the table.

Mooky’s mother planted herself between them. With one hand on his chest and the other on Angela’s, she whipped her head back and forth. “Who is doing what now?”

Angela stepped back and wrapped her arms around her thin frame. She’d never looked so fragile before. It almost made him feel sorry for her.

Almost but not quite.

“She’s pissed I want to divorce her. She had me thrown in jail because she had to fuck a cop. She won’t sign the goddamn papers. What, did those wannabe talent agents not do it for you anymore?”

Angela shook her head. “It wasn’t supposed to go down like this.”

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