Page 52 of Bound by Family
“I’m leaving.”
“What do you mean you’re leaving? You can’t leave,” he argues, his brows turning down in frustration.
Giving him a soft smile, I say, “I am. I’m not going to become a part of Sinisters. At least, not the way y’all want me to be.”
“I can hold them off for a while,” he tries.
I’ve always loved how big his heart is. It feels good, too, that he’ll go to bat for me and try to push back a bit. The thing is, I know he can only do so much. At this point, there’s not much left.
“I’ve met someone, and I’m going to move closer to him.”
His face changes in a heartbeat, his grip tightening to the point of pain, anger creasing his features. “So, what? You met some dickhead and that’s the real reason you’re leaving? It has nothing to do with Sinisters?”
“The ultimatum gave me a push. Now let go of me. You’re hurting me.” The pain isn’t really horrible, but I don’t like it, either.
He shakes me hard then releases me. I stagger, but keep upright.
“I can’t fuckin’ believe you. You’ll go off and be someone else’s whore, but won’t stay here with your family?”
My family has lost their minds. Seriously, they all need to be committed or given meds or something.
“This isn’t how I wanted to say goodbye.” I feel the tears burn the back of my eyelids, coming to the realization that I won’t be telling my other brothers or father goodbye because they’ll probably have the same reaction. Damn, this guts me, but I have to tell them bye.
“Fuck you!”
“Fuck you back!” I scream, having enough with feeling the pain in my heart. “You think I’m going to become Sterling’s ol’ lady just so I can stay here and be part ofyourfamily? Fuck that! That’s not an option. And the fact you all thought this is okay is beyond my comprehension! I can’t believe you think so damn little of me. Yes, I’ve met someone. Yes, I want to be with him. Yes, that does mean that I have to leave, but you pushed me to leave a lot sooner than I planned. You, Racer, Stone, Dad, the Sinisters—all of you!”
“What’s goin’ on?” My father’s voice comes from behind me, and my body stills at his authoritative tone.
Pissed? Try livid. He told me not to make a scene anywhere and definitely with anyone around, but fuck it. I’m leaving, so he has no authority. Angry or not, he’s just going to have to deal. I just have to get outside these gates, and I’m gone.
Straightening my shoulders, I turn around slowly, knowing he’s going to rip me a new asshole and ready to take it.
Then I stop dead.
“Bristyl? What’re you doin’ here?” Cooper asks, coming from behind a few of his brothers to stand next to my father.
“Cooper,” I whisper, not really believing he’s here. With my father. At Sinisters’. Holy shit.
“Oh, man, laundromat girl is a Sinister. This is hilarious!” Ryker yells from behind with a huge laugh.
“I’m not Sinisters,” I state firmly. “Today’s my last day here.”
“What the fuck you talkin’ about?” My father takes a step forward, and my brother grips my arm, pulling me back to him. The sneer on his face takes me aback.
“Let her the fuck go, or I’ll show you exactly how I’ll make you.” Cooper’s tone is rough, edgy, and downright scary. I don’t fear him because he would never hurt me, but a chill snakes up my spine as I rip my arm away from my brother.
My other two brothers come in and join the party, along with all the men who look like some of the guys from the Ravage MC, and of course, Sterling. Lord.What a way to tell everyone you’re leaving.
I step away from my father as he stands by my brothers, who appear in a flash by his side. Cooper’s on one side of me, shock written on his face, while my father has anger on his.
“Dad, I’m not staying. You told me what I had to do, and I’m not doing either of those.”
“What did he tell you?” Cooper asks, and my face flushes as I turn to him, really not wanting to tell him and all the people around us, but it is what it is. Nothing can change that.
“He said that, in order to stay here with the Sinisters, I have to either become a—”
“You shut your mouth, Bristyl.” My father’s tone makes me jump and swing my head to his. “That’s club business, not for anyone else’s ears.”
