Page 26 of Bound by Desire
My mom releases me and looks up, wetness staining her face. “You’re really here.” Her words are like a faint prayer, one that I’m sorry to breakverysoon.
“Hi,Mom.”
She smiles hugely. “You’re home!” She pulls me against her again, squeezing me tight, as if she were to let go of me, I’ddisappear.
Princess’ eyes cut to me, still blazing. “You know who did thistoher?”
Well, hello to you,too. “Nope.”
Princess is still the same. Black hair with red throughout it, and still tough as nails. She doesn’t look like she’s agedaday.
Hell, the place in general hasn’t changed. It still looks like it did whenIleft.
“You didn’t think to find the bastard?” Her accusatory tone has my hackles rising. Fuck her if she thinks she’s going to talk to methatway.
“Nope.” It’s a lie, of course. It ran through my mind several times on the drive here. When I get back to Grayson, I’ll do somethingaboutit.
“Fucker. Can’t depend on you for shit,” she barks out, landing adirectblow.
I say nothing. There’s no point. They have their opinions of me, so let them be. I gave up fighting to change anyone’s view of me the day I made the decision to leave here. After all, if my father couldn’t see me beyond my addiction and mistakes, no one would. Seems it’s held true, even after all theseyears.
“Austyn,yougood?”
Her eyes flash to me, and she shakes her head. “Don’tgo.”
My mother releases me again and steps back. This surprises me, but as my father approaches, I cantellwhy.
The vein on his neck is ticking. He doesn’t want me here anymore than I want tobehere.
Men and women start filing out of clubhouse. Guess they all want to see the fuckup that is Deacon Alexander Gavelson. Too bad they’ll bedisappointed.
“Well, look who the cat puked up,” Nox says, coming up to thegroup.
I stare him down, waiting for whatever he throws at me next. I’ve learned a lot in the past four years. So much so, it would surprise everyonearoundhere.
“Nox,” Austynchastises.
“I don’t want to hear shit from you, Austyn. He the one who beat the shit outofyou?”
This suggestion pisses me off to a point I feel my temper about to slip. Refusing to let it, I suck in a deep breath. This right here … This is what myfamilythinks of me? That I beat the shit out of women. My younger woman cousin. Yep. That’s me,fucker.
“Nox!” Austyn shouts, getting up in his face. “He’d never hit me, youmoron!”
“Yeah right,” Nox scoffs, looking back at me and snarling, “Fucker can’t wait to get his hands on oneofus.”
“Shut the fuck up! You really are an asshole!” Austynshouts.
Nox stalks over to me, our heights rivaling. Our body types are similar, too, but he doesn’t have the years of fighting in the ring thatIhave.
“Fuck you,”hesays.
Again, I say nothing. I didn’t come here to start a fight. However, that doesn’t mean I won’tendit.
Nox swings his fist out, ready to slam into my face, but I grip his fist hard, stopping it in mid-swing. Using my power, I squeeze, crushing his fingers together as I step into hisspace.
“You raise a hand to me again, you’d better be prepared. This isn’t child’s playanymore,Nox.”
His face twists as he pulls out of my grasp. “Why don’t you just do what you do best and get the fuck out of here.” He steps back, the first smart move he’splayed.
