Page 56 of Bound by Family
“The decision is made. My car is already packed with everything I own. The files are all up to date. Numbers and contacts are all on the desk. I’m not changing my mind.”
“Fuck.” Regg runs his hands through his hair, pain and other emotions playing on his face. I’m happy he feels like shit for what he did to Bristyl. It’s the least he deserves. “We’ve got shit to clean up. Pops, we’ll have to do this another time.”
“Fine by us,” Pops says.
“I’m not givin’ you up. You may be movin’, but we’ll be up there to see ya. Family is goin’ back to the way it was, not the fucked-up mess it’s become,” Regg says.
I feel Bristyl lean into me harder, and I take her weight willingly.
“Let’s head out,” Pops announces while my father slaps me on the shoulder.
Bristyl pulls herself out of my arms, and I reluctantly let go. She runs to her father, his gun still in his hand, and wraps her arms around him. I don’t know what she says to him, but his shoulders sag. She does the same with her brothers, while each one gives me the eye of death.Bring it, motherfuckers.
“Come on, beautiful.”
She takes my hand, and I get her the hell away from all this shit.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
BRISTYL
Ryker drives my car while I ride on the back of Cooper’s bike, helmet firmly in place. Ryker mumbled something about going to get his bike later, but I really didn’t it pay it much mind. As we pull away, my heart breaks a little more. The ride is short to the hotel that’s just outside of town. It’s a mom and pop shop that’s been around for years.
Cooper tells me to hop off and I do, numbness seeping through me. I don’t know what to think. It’s all a clumped up clusterfuck of emotions at once. I’m pissed at my father and brothers. I’m even more pissed at Wolf. I’m scared to death my father will go to jail for killing Wolf. Not to mention, I saw it. That’s a torment in and of itself. The blood everywhere on the floor, just running to the floor drain like it’s an everyday occurrence.
Wolf came around a lot back when mom was alive. Over the years, he changed, and I made it a point to steer clear of him. He wasn’t a man who liked to have his hands in everything, so he left me alone. It’s bad, but I don’t feel sad that he’s dead.
On the flip side of the fear and anger, I’m happy to have Coop in my arms. Part of me wishes we could just hide away somewhere for a while and block everything in the world out. I know better than that, but a woman can dream.
His warm hands grip mine as we walk up the rickety stairs to the top floor where he opens the door. The smell of musk instantly hits my nostrils. I’m pretty sure the only time this place gets business is when bikers come to town.
Sitting on the bed, I stare at my hands. Cooper has to be pissed at me for not telling him I’m a Sinisters’ daughter. I never lied, but I didn’t tell him the truth, either.
I blow out a deep breath. “I should have told you about my father and brothers. The reason I didn’t is because I liked that you didn’t know they were in my life. Every time a guy came around, my brothers would scare them off or beat the hell out of them. We are new, and I didn’t want my affiliation with them to affect us. Not that I’m a part of them—they’ve made that perfectly clear—but …” I trail off, knowing that I’m rambling, yet unable to stop myself. “I know the life. I know my place. Well, I thought I did. What my mom taught me isn’t what has happened to me. Everything is confusing. It’s more of a mess because they want me back, and I’m not going.”
Cooper kneels on the ratted carpet in front of me, cupping my knees as I look into those beautiful blue eyes.
“No, I’m not happy you didn’t tell me, but beautiful, we’ll work that shit out. I need to know you’re okay after what you saw.”
I shake my head. “No, I’m not, but I love my father. He did some fucked up things, but I love him and know him. He wouldn’t have done that unless he didn’t have any other choice. I don’t know how to feel about Wolf being the one to call those shots about my life. I don’t know how to feel about a lot of it right now. I need time to process it.”
Cooper brings his hands to the side of my face. “You take all the time you need.”
When he rises, fear hits me that he’s going to leave me. Instead, he pulls me onto the bed with him, my back to his front, his safety and warmth surrounding me.
I let it out. The swirl of emotions that come from the pit of my stomach and roll like a tidal wave all around me. Tears fall, then sobs, then hiccups, and it all continues for much longer that I would like to admit. At some point, I cry myself to sleep.
* * *
I waketo voices around me. Soft murmurs, actually. My head feels like I swam in the clouds for a while before it all comes back to me. Everything that was said. Everything that happened. Wolf’s opened eyes staring up to the ceiling while blood ran from his forehead.
My body jackknifes out of bed as my eyes fly open, looking around in a panic. Then strong arms are surrounding me. I tug and fight, my senses not clear.
“Shh … beautiful.” The words are soft, and I instantly sag upon hearing Cooper, who pulls me closer to his body. He maneuvers his legs out in front of us, me in between them, his arm wrapped around me, and my back to his front.
As my eyes dart around the room, I see several of the Ravage MC standing in front of me, including Pops, the guy who hit on me at the rally, the scary guy, Ryker, and the guy who helped Leah—Green. Turning my head, I see a couple of other guys, all looking at me intently.
“What’s going on?” The question is intended for anyone in the room at this point, but I prefer Cooper to answer.
