Page 65 of Diesel
“You were always such a disappointment, Ellie,” my father said to me and my mouth fell open in hurt and shock. “But this is above and beyond.”
Diesel started to open his mouth but I reached out and stopped him. Call it morbid curiosity, but I wanted to know what my father had to say.
“Why couldn’t you just do what you were told?” he asked, not at all looking for an answer. “Here is a check for one hundred thousand dollars. I need you to stay gone. As far as everyone is concerned, you are dead.”
“But—” I said, then cleared my throat. “But you are my parents. I’m having a baby. Don’t you want to get to know your grandchild?”
“You get pregnant by some biker filth and you really think I want to have anything to do with it?” His tone was cold, all business. I looked over at my mom, but she was submissively standing by his decision. I shouldn’t have expected anything else. “Just take the money and never contact us again.” He set the check on the table beside him.
“She doesn’t need your fuckin’ money,” Diesel spat out. “She doesn’t need you. So go back to where the fuck you came from, you worthless sack of shit.”
I almost smiled. Diesel was standing up for me. He was protecting me and our baby.
“No, I didn’t suspect she would, not with all your outlaw ways of doing things. Tell me, does she know what it is that you do for money?” My father smirked at Diesel like he had just thrown the last punch.
“You’re no better than me.” Diesel tilted his head to the side as he talked. Then his gaze shifted to my mother. “But you knew who you were marrying when you said yes, didn’t you? You think you’ve got my number, but let’s not forget that I have your’s, too. And I’m sure it wouldn’t be good if all those side projects were seen in the light of day.”
It was becoming hard to breathe. I wanted this all over so I could move on. Searching deep inside, I found my backbone for once in my life. I was going to stand up to the man who had made me. The one that had used me.
“Stop,” I said firmly as I squeezed Diesel’s arm. He shifted a little to the side, so I could fully see them, but he was still close enough that I felt his warmth. “I don’t need anything from you. Except for you to be gone. You want me to be ‘dead’ then I will be. You don’t have to worry. I have everything I will ever need, now. And no thanks to either of you.”
My father narrowed his eyes at me, clearly angry that I got the last word. I turned my head, removing them from my vision and my life. I vowed at that second to do my best to let them go and never think of them again.
Only after I heard the clink of the door, did I breathe again. To my surprise, I felt lighter, like a huge dead weight had been lifted off of me and I was finally free. Diesel and I didn’t speak. He climbed onto the bed and pulled me tightly into him. I ran my fingers through his hair. I loved that such a simple thing as having him close calmed me down.
This was us, two broken and lost people. Maybe we could glue our parts together and make something whole. Something new. Because that was how I felt with him by my side, I felt complete.
