Page 31 of Bound by Desire
My truck is calling for me to get thefuckout.
“You’re worthless!” he yells, giving a direct hit. But, like the others, nothing makesmefall.
“Good to see your opinion of me hasn’tchanged.”
“Stop bein’ a dick,” Cooper says from the chair across from his father. “It’s time youcomehome.”
Oh, so Cooper suddenly wants me around? When he turned eighteen, he couldn’t be seen with me since I was younger. What the fuck ever! Always in his shadow and then tossed aside like yesterday’s newspaper.No thank you, Cooper Cruz. I am fine in life whereIam.
Inside, I laugh. My family. Yeah. No, wait. Emery isn’t here; she’s the only one I consider family. Maybe my mother a bit. Okay, andAustyn.Fuck…
“I’m not comin’ back here. None of you think any different of me than when I left. I’m not livin’ like that.” Every damn one of them turned their backsonme.
“You’re missin’ out on all the shit you need to be a part of,” Coop continues. “Let thepastgo.”
“Bud, I already let it go a long damn time ago. I’m leavin’.” I turn to the door, reach for the handle, andturnit.
“Your mom’s sick,” my father says, making mestill.
I turn around to find all eyes on my father. Some are in shocked horror. They’re damn goodactors.
“Bullshit. Emery would’vetoldme.”
He smirks. “Good to see you at least talktoher.”
“Don’t act like youdon’tknow.”
“Emery doesn’t know. Angel didn’t want to tell anyone until her appointmentnextweek.”
Cruz rises from his seat as Cooper and Nox get closer. “Brother, don’t you think you should have told me?” Cruzaccuses.
Either my father is pulling a scam on all of us to get me to stay, or he’s telling the truth. I hope to Christ he’slying.
“It’s new, alright. Like I said, she didn’t want anyone to know. She hasn’t even toldPrincess.”
“Fuck. What is it?”Cooperasks.
My father falls into the chair, threading his fingers through his hair then pulling hard. The tension is there, but it’s not directed at methistime.
“Found a lump. Doctor had her do a mammogram. Tests didn’t come back good. Now, she’s doing chemo trying to get the shit out of her body. We’re all hoping for thebesthere.”
He’s not shitting me. It’s thetruth.
The anger begins to bubble. I’m not sure if it’s at the situation, or if I’m pissed at myself. Nevertheless, it hits in aheatedrush.
My fists clench, and my body gets tight. The urge to hit something comes hard and fast. I turn toward the paneled walls and crash my fist through the wood. Pulling out, I see the blood drip. I don’t give a fuck if I bleed. This is so fucked up. Between my mother and Austyn …fuckinghell.
A hand comes to my shoulder, and I turn in a rush, fist up to make contact. Any reason to fight, just give ittome.
Cooper holds his hands up. “Calm your shit. We got kids out there who don’t need tohearthis.”
My body heaves for air as the carefully constructed walls of my life begin to bend. No, that can’t happen. No bending. No swaying. Noneofthat.
Air. Ineedit.
Darting to the door, I get the fuck out of there, my father, uncle, and cousins yelling my name. Down the hall and into the clubhouse, the need to hit something grows. I need to get this anger out, and I need to doitnow.
“Deke?” I hear my mother’svoice.
