Page 28 of Bound by Desire
“No,” my mother says. “Come home for dinner, or we can go out—something. Justdon’t—”
“Mom, I’m leaving as soon as thisisover.”
Tears fall fromhereyes.
“Swear to Christ, you make your mother cry one more damn time, I’m takin’ it out ofyourhide.”
“Really, ol’ man? Good luckwiththat.”
“Now, both of you,” Cruzinterrupts.
As I walk to the clubhouse, my eyes connect again with the blonde. I feel as if she’s assessing me, trying to figure me out. Good fucking luck with that one,sweetheart.
ChapterEight
“I’m sorry,but we got family shit goin’ down,” Princess says, walking up with a pretty young woman around my age, maybe a bityounger.
The girl has a busted lip, and her eye is a bit swollen, but I also notice her knuckles are red and swollen. Whatever happened to her, she fought back. Good. And from the fire breathing in her eyes, she’s not one to back down easily. Tough woman. Ilikeit.
“Understand. When do you want me tostart?”
“Wait. What’s going on?” the young woman asks, looking between the two of us, curiositybrimming.
“This is Rylie. She’s taking over security at X. Get used to seeing her.” Princess looks at me. “Rylie, this is my daughter Austyn.” Ah, so this is the infamous Austyn. Word has it Princess taught all her kids how to fight, how to defend themselves. Seems like she did a bang-up job with herdaughter.
“Hi. Youalright?”
Austyn’s back straightens. “Of course. My mom taught all herkidswell.”
“I bet she did. When?” I prompt Princess, ready to get the hell out ofthere.
Something big is going down. The damn tension in the air is so thick and weighted it’s liable to suffocate everyone if they stick around. It all centers around the gorgeous man who pulled up with Austyn. Deke, theycalledhim.
He didn’t look happy one bit to be here, so I guess there’s bad blood somewhere. It was strange, though, for that split-moment when our eyes connected. A pulse ran through me, like he was pulling me to him. It was unnerving. I don’t need that shit in my life. It must be hormones, and it’s been a damnlongtime.
One asshole ex is enough forrightnow.
“Let me call you. I don’t know how this is going to go.” Princess gazes at her daughter who meets her intense eyes full-on, even liftingherchin.
Gotta say, I’m impressed. Most people would crumble under that kind of stare, but not her. It’s all interesting. Veryinteresting.
“Soundsgood.”
“Mom, tell them to leave Deke alone. Seriously. He did me a favor, and now they’re going to treat him like an enemy. He’s not,” Austyn starts as I try to make my exit from thescene.
I’m blocked by a damn table, which I don’t like. Two options: one, hop over it, or two, toughitout.
“Why does he have all the cuts on his face,Austyn?”
“He’s a fighter, Mom. You know this. It’s not new. He didn’t know I was coming and just got done with a fight. That’s why his face isbusted.”
“And why the fuck is my daughter’s face busted up? That was a stupid ass move.” Princess gets in Austyn’s face, but the girl still doesn’tbackdown.
“I wanted to get away. I got jumped, took care of it, and went to Deke’s. End ofstory.”
I can’t help watching Austyn’s eyes. They’re strong and determined. In the far recesses, though, something is wrong. For Austyn’s sake, her mother better not pick up on that small tell. She’ll nail her ass tothewall.
“Don’t bullshit the bullshitter, Austyn.” She sees it. Sucks forAustyn.
