Page 25 of Inflame Me
I take the bottle. “Thanks.” I set it on the bed next to me.
“I’m heading out. Call Doc,” Princess addresses me and I nod. “He’ll need to do whatever it is he does and make sure she’s good, but from the looks of it, she’ll be fine.”
“Thank you.” I feel like all I’ve done with Princess is thank her repeatedly, but she’s helped my mom out so much, so what else can I do?
Once she gives me a soft smile and leaves the room, Dagger pulls up a chair, moving it close to the bed and me. Is it unusual to feel this uneasy with your long-lost father? I hope so because it’s there, and it sucks.
“Mearna, tell me,” Dagger presses.
I would really like to hear this myself. What she told me in the car had to be the short version of it. So much more seems to have gone on here.
“I found out I was pregnant after I left, Cameron.” She closes her eyes and breathes out. “I mean Dagger.”
“And you’re sure she’s mine?” he asks, causing my back to stiffen.
My mother opens her eyes and narrows them at Dagger. “What do you think? Think long and hard about your answer.” He takes a bit, and Mom doesn’t let it rest. “You want a paternity test to prove it? Fine, do it. But you know she’s yours. I never messed around on you, and after I had her, I wasn’t with anyone for over three years.” That piece of information surprises me, but when I think back, I don’t remember ever seeing my mother with anyone, not that I would remember at that age. It was just me and her, and we were happy with that.
Something flashes in Dagger’s eyes then dissipates. “You didn’t think to tell me?” Dagger presses, the gruffness in his voice changing from questioning to pissed, but his body stays pretty relaxed, given the topic of conversation.
“No,” my mother answers evenly. “I wasn’t going to tell you.”
“Why, because of the club?” Dagger’s voice rises.
“You didn’t love me, Cam—Dagger. I had already decided to leave. There was no need for you to know.” Mom shuts her eyes like the memories are too powerful to bear.
“You’re dead fucking wrong. I loved you, so don’t you dare throw that shit at me.”
I suddenly feel like I shouldn’t be here for this intimate conversation. I feel like the odd man out, but my mother’s steel grip on my hand tells me I’m not going anywhere.
“Second, you know, if I knew I had a kid, I’d want to be a part of her life.”
That statement hurts a bit, but I suck it down. I always wondered whether my father would have wanted to be a father to me or if he would have ignored me if he had known about me. I’m not sure how I feel about the answer he gave, though. Part of me aches for all the time I’ve missed getting to know him and the other part is so confused.
“What, Dagger? Going to bring her to club parties? Drink with your friends? Come on.” My mother’s annoyed voice catches me off guard. Hell, she doesn’t have enough strength to get to the bathroom by herself, let alone go toe to toe with Dagger.
“Bullshit. This isn’t on me, Mear.Youdid this shit. You fucking hid my kid from me.” Dagger’s fists clench, and I go into protective mode, immediately moving closer to my mother.
His eyes flash to mine in recognition of my stance. “I’d never lay a hand on her. Even though I’m pissed as shit that she kept you from me, I’d never hurt her.” He turns back to my mother who nods. I relax a little yet stay on guard.
“It was the best decision, Dagger. You have to admit it.”
“Bullshit. You didn’t tell me, because you didn’t want to come back. You wanted to stay away from me; that’s why you didn’t tell me. You knew that, if I knew about the baby, I’d have taken care of you, and you would have been stuck here with me. You wanted out, so don’t try this holier-than-thou bullshit on me. It doesn’t work.” Dagger’s tone is clipped, making my heart break for my mother. She still loves this man, and I have no doubt that what he says is one hundred percent true from the way my mother’s acting. How differently would my life have been?
My mother turns her head away from us, the sound of a sniffle entering the room.
“Okay,” I say, breaking this up. She’s been through too much, and this is not helping the situation. “I need to give Mom her medicine and check her bandages. Can you give her a break?” I ask him—well, more like demand, but he doesn’t seem like the type of guy who takes to demands very well.
“Mearna, this shit is not done.” Dagger stands from the chair just as the door to the room flies open, all of our eyes moving to the sound.
“Dagger!” a light-brown-haired woman shrieks. “Where in the hell have you been?” she says to him.
The woman is wearing a leather vest like the one Princess wears, but it’s her pissed off face that grabs my attention.
“Flash, get the fuck out of here.” Dagger’s tone is impassive.
My eyes widen as Rhys moves in the door behind the woman, his eyes intent on me then on the woman.
“You haven’t even checked in. You always check in so I know you’re not dead.” The woman puts her hand on her hip, jutting it out in a bitch stance.
