Page 3 of Healing His Darkness
“Please promise me you won’t do anything stupid when it comes to Rodney.” Dom was the stubborn one out of my three brothers, Brody was the peacemaker at least most days, and Cole was the responsible one. Somehow, Dad kept them all in line when Faith, our mother, passed away from cancer eight years ago. They adopted me when I was ten; my own parents had abandoned me.
They dropped me off at a fire station in Broken Bow, Oklahoma, and never looked back. As soon as Faith saw me, she said she fell in love with me. Having a house full of boys, she’d craved a little girl, but couldn’t have any more children of her own. She used to tell me, “I may not have birthed you, but you were hand-picked just for me. Fate sent you to us.” Gripping the steering wheel, a little tighter, I pushed down all those feelings of loss I had for her.
“Chill sis, I promise. You don’t gotta get your panties in a wad over it. I know he’s dangerous. I just wish Dad would stop taking his shit.” I wish I’d never suggested he take the money from Rodney in the first place. Guilt washes over me again, it’s my fault our family is struggling, maybe fate got it wrong.
“Oh, my word, please use proper English. I swear some days it’s like you don’t even go to school.” Dom looks down at his hands, guilt marring his features.
“You are going to school?” He just shrugs. He’s got to be fucking kidding me.
“Right?” Another shrug. I’m going to kill him.
“Dom!” I slam on my breaks as we get to the school parking lot. Other teenagers, who have cars of their own, are milling about as I turn a murderous glare on my baby brother.
“I’m going to school George, I’m just not that good at it. There, happy. Thanks for fucking up my morning.” I’m just about to tell him I’m sorry, when he grabs his book bag and jumps out of the car.
“Don’t bother picking me up, I got football practice after school, I’ll hitch a ride with one of the guys.” He slams the door closed, rattling my teeth. Rolling the window down I’m about to yell an apology but he sprints off toward the school without a backward glance.
Way to go George put your family in debt up to their eyeballs with a loan shark and now pissing off your little brother. What’s next, fucking one of your brother’s best friends? Nope, that is definitely not happening all their friends are assholes with a capital A. One of these days they’d figure out that Mom was wrong, fate didn’t send me to them, more like the fucking devil himself. When that day comes, I’ll do the right thing and leave, because you do whatever you have to make the people you love happy. If that meant giving up the only family I’ve ever had, then so be it. Until then I’d enjoy having my family.
Pulling into the bar parking lot I notice Rodney’s town car sitting in “his parking space”. It doesn’t have his name on it. There are no markers indicating it’s his, but no one ever parks there, because the last guy who did still walks with a limp. Yeah, Rodney had his kneecaps busted with a steel pipe by one of his goons. Said goons are currently relaxing against his town car waiting.
Getting out of my car, I avoid looking at Goon One and Goon Two, I have no idea what their names are. Rodney had different goons every time he took me out. Again, one of those red flags I ignored. The more I look back on our time together, the more red flags there are that I missed. How had I been so blind, so fucking naive, so stupid? He was handsome, he gave me attention, and he showered me with gifts. I fell for his act hook, line, and sinker.
“Hello there beautiful.” Goon One steps in front of me, giving me a once over. He’s a big dude, definitely in the six-foot range, stocky build, haircut cropped short to his scalp, pretty green eyes, and a decent looking face. Too bad he worked for Rodney.
“Goodbye.” I sidestepped him and started walking toward the door once more, but I only made it a few steps before Goon One decided to grab my wrist.
“Woah there, beautiful all I want to do is talk. Can’t you spare me a minute of your time?” Not really, but it’s clear he’s not going to let me walk inside without saying his peace.
“Fine, you got one minute. Make it fast.” I sigh crossing my arms under my breasts, which in hindsight only makes them perkier. Which is apparent when Goon One can’t take his eyes off them. I clear my throat to get his attention, and suddenly his eyes jump to mine.
“Uh, what. Oh right.” He stumbles out and his buddy, Goon Two, chuckles.
“Fuck you asshole, do you see what I’m working with here.” Using his hands, he makes a circle in the air in front of my breasts. Like that explains why he’s being a complete douche.
“You got thirty seconds now.” I’m so ready to just stomp off, but if I don’t do this, he’ll just keep stopping me from going into work.
“What’s your name?” Before I can answer him, the door to the bar loudly bangs against the wall. I don’t look to see who it is, thinking it’s one of my brothers, but of course I’m wrong.
“Her name is Georgia May Crenshaw, but you can refer to her as the future Mrs. Rodney Churchill. Isn’t that right baby?” He’s glaring at his now cowed goon with murder in his eyes. Congratulations dumbass you just signed your death warrant. Yeah, if Rodney couldn’t have me anymore then no one could according to him. He was delusional enough to think that once I “calmed down” I’d take him back. Liked I’d gotten pissed off over nothing. Yep, dickwad.
“You know I hate being called Georgia. And no, I’m not your future anything.” I put my hands on my hips, determined to make him see reason finally.
“Go ask Skanky McSkankerson to be your bride. She looked good with her ass in the air while you were pounding into her. I’m sure she’ll be thrilled for you to put a ring on it.” Rodney growls before he grabs me by my hair pulling my neck back to look him in the eyes.
“I told you, that was a debt being paid. It meant nothing to me.” Yeah, well it meant something to me.
“When are you going to forgive and forget?” Not in a million fucking years, not when hell freezes over and the devil gives sleigh rides, not even when my father finally dates again will I ever forgive him.
“Not gonna happen.” I hiss out at him through clenched teeth.
“Let her go Rodney, we had a deal.” Suddenly Rodney releases his hold on my hair and I almost fall. I look over at my father standing on the entryway to the bar, his jaw is tense and the muscles in his arm are flexing. He looks close to shifting, but my dad was always as cool as a cucumber.
“You are correct Clay; we do have a deal. And a deal, is a deal. As long as you hold up your end of the deal, I’ll hold up mine.” He glares back at my father before spinning around and getting in his car.
“Dad, what is he talking about? What deal did you make?” It can’t be good, because any deal with the devil is never good. And that’s exactly who Rodney is, the devil incarnate.
“Don’t worry about it George, I’m taking care of everything. Come on now, let’s get this place ship shape to open.” He’s lying, I may not have a shifters abilities, but I can tell he’s lying. Whatever deal he made with Rodney is bad, really bad, and it’s all my fault. Dad puts his arm around me as he steers me toward the door, hugging me close to him. Maybe I could get answers out of my brothers later, once Dad went home for the day.
