Page 23 of Bart (Hades Rejects MC)
Shit that was one of the hardest fucking things I’ve ever had to do, but like I said, for Bliss I’d do anything. I still wasn’t entirely convinced that I wasn’t to blame for what happened to both of them, but having Bliss holding me, made me believe it a little. If she could forgive me, maybe eventually I could forgive myself. When she’d reached out to me, first holding my hand in a gesture of support, and then holding me while I lost my shit, I’d gut myself in front of her a million times if this was how it ended. I knew what I wanted to ask her, but to be honest, I wasn’t sure if I could handle the answer. Steeling myself, I wrap my arm around her shoulders, ready to comfort her when she needs it.
“She’s right you know, what happened to me, what happened to her, it’s not on you. You were just a kid when she got sick, no one could have expected you to save her. It’s not your fault she died, just like it’s not your fault Vic kidnapped me, or that he attacked me. You need to stop blaming yourself for things that were out of your hand.” Hearing her say it wasn’t my fault, that no one could expect me to save Isabel, made me love her that much fucking more. “Now go ahead, I deserve it, ask me a hard one, it’s only fair.” Did I mention I love her?
“Are you sure? You don’t have to if you don’t want to...I mean I want to know...but if it’s too hard, I mean I’d understand.” Shit I sounded like the biggest pussy alive. She nods at me as she grabs my other hand, squeezing it. “The night we huh...the night before I left for Italy why didn’t you stop me?” It wasn’t the exact question I wanted to ask, but I figured I’d start small and work my way up. She’s smiling, rubbing her thumb over mine.
“Why do you keep asking questions you know the answer to Bart? I’ve wanted you since that first day, hell, probably before that. I would see you in school, always so cool, walking the halls like you owned it. You’d always been nice to me though, unlike the majority of people who made me feel like shit on a regular basis. Then when I came to live with you it was like a dream come true, except you were pissed, like you hated me, it about killed me. I heard you that first night with Pops, telling him I couldn’t stay there, then how you avoided me every chance you got, it sucked. When you tried to give me your gift and I was such a brat, I figured I’d fucked everything up for good, so when you crawled in bed with me that night I wasn’t about to turn you away. Especially considering you called out my name, I knew you didn’t think I was anyone but me. I don’t regret what I did that night, I just wish you’d stayed instead of run off afterwards. That shit hurt, you asshole.” She punches me...actually punches me in the stomach, she catches me by surprise, but it doesn’t really hurt me, her on the other hand.
“Fuck, fuck, fuckity fuck, why the hell do you have to have fucking abs of steel you jackass. Jesus, I think I broke my damn hand.” Reaching for her hand I kiss it, smiling at her.
“Sorry Babe, but you like those abs, admit it.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah they’re kind of cute on you.” She’s laughing, and my day has been made. We weren’t fixed, but we were going to get there.
“Wow, this has been a very interesting session Bliss, I think you’ve both made some good progress. I’d like for you to start joining us regularly Bart, it might be good for Pops to join us occasionally too. The key to Bliss’s healing is to have everyone in on it, only then can she feel whole again.” I have to admit, I was pretty impressed with this doctor, even though I disliked pouring my soul out, she had clearly worked miracles with Bliss.
“I’ll talk to my Pops; I know if it will help Bliss, he’ll do it. Thanks Dr. Diaz, I’ll be here next week with her.” Dr. Diaz walked us out, and we headed towards the truck, holding hands. I was so busy enjoying the feel of her hand in mine I wasn’t paying attention to anything else until she stopped dead in her tracks. I almost took off her arm when I kept moving, looking back at her, all she’s doing is staring ahead scared out of her mind, turning back around I see the cause of her fear.
“Fuck! How the hell?” My truck was covered in red paint, made to look like blood, and a lovely little note written in black spray paint“You still belong to me, I’m coming to collect you soon.”How in the hell had he found her? He hadn’t bothered her since she’d been home, only she hadn’t really been home, she’d been staying with Holland. Fuck, he’s been watching my house, watching me to get to her, this was my fucking fault. Bliss looks like she’s about to lose it, but when I have her look at me she nods she’s ok.
“It’s him, it’s my father, I know it. Why is he after me now? The last time I saw him was high school graduation, I don’t understand.” I feel like an asshole for not telling her that it was Jack who put Vic up to his shit, but neither had Holland or Pops. My time was clearly up with keeping that secret from her though, damn it.
“Baby, I should have told you this a month ago, but I swear to you that I only did it to keep you from being hurt more.” She’s giving her patented shut-up-and-tell-me look. “Your father and Vic, honey. They were working together; Vic was one of your dad's...well he worked for your dad. He had Vic go to school with you, so he could manipulate you into going back to your father, his job was to make you into...into what your father wanted you to be. When you broke up with him, your dad was going to make him go back to doing tricks, or worse, that’s why he panicked and took you. The agreement was as long as he had you, he didn’t have to go back.” She’s backing away from me, all the progress we just made gone, poof, motherfucker. No way was I going to let her fucktard father screw up what we’d already accomplished.
“How could you not tell me? All these months and not a word, how am I supposed to trust you?”
BLISS
Son-of-a-bitch, all these months, and he’d kept this shit from me. I wanted to scream, to throw something at him, but mostly I wanted to rip my father's balls off and shove them down his throat. That sick, twisted, sorry sack of shit actually found a way to fuck me over again, after all these years. I knew there was someone else, but to find out that the whole time Vic was working for him; I was going to be sick. Sinking to my knees, I hurl up my whole breakfast and lunch. I refuse to cry, I refuse to cry, fuck I’m crying, sobbing so loudly I don’t even hear when Pops and the cops show up. It’s not until Bart is lifting me up into his arms that I register any of it. I wrap my arms around his neck and don’t let go, I soak in his strength. Even though I’m pissed at him, this is exactly where I need to be right now.
He doesn’t stop on his way to Pop's truck, not even when the cops try to make him so I can give a statement, or when Dr. Diaz suggests bringing me back into her office for a few. Apparently she’d come out to join the party at some point, guess I’d been pretty out of it for a while. I snuggle in tighter to his chest, wanting the rest of the world to disappear for it to be just the two of us. Pops stroked my hair and kisses the top of my head as he holds the door open for Bart.
“It’s going to be alright sweetheart; it’s going to be alright.” No one says a word all the way home, I don’t even argue when it’s not Holland’s place they take me to, I just know I need him to never let me go. I’ve been strong, I’ve fought so fucking hard, but this shit was like the straw that broke the camel's back.
Chapter Nine
BLISS
