Page 34 of Patch's Bride
“All you do is lie,” Beth says. “She died because of cancer. You know that.”
“She died because of you,” he says. “You can dress it up however you like, but she chose to stop treatment. She was just too tired to keep dealing with you.”
Beth takes a half-step back, but the pillar catches her shoulder, bringing her up short. He steps forward.
“You think that biker can save you? He can’t. He only wants what every man wants. You’ve always been hungry for attention.”
Beth shakes her head. “Stop it! You’re always lying and twisting the truth to suit your own ends. I know what you are, I know what you wanted to do with me! Why do you think I ran?”
“Watch it, young lady,” her stepfather says in a menacing tone as he leans in close.
“Step the fuck away from my wife,” I say, raising my voice.
He turns, surprised I’m this close. I stop just behind Beth and repeat my warning. “I said to back the fuck up.”
He straightens and frowns at me. “You think that because you’re married to my daughter you can tell me what to do?”
“It means I’m responsible for her safety,” I tell him in no uncertain terms. “And you’re threatening it.”
He scoffs at the very idea that he could be a threat. “I’m her father.”
He takes half a step back, but he wants the last word. “She’s a liar. She seduced you to keep her place in that club of yours. You people think rules don’t apply to you.”
Beth starts to speak, but I lift a hand slightly. “Please go wait by the door,” I tell her. She hesitates, then walks away.
“You will not text, call, or approach her in public ever again. You will handle everything through our legal counsel.”
He folds his arms. “Or what?”
“If you contact her again by any means, I will consider that harassment and file for a restraining order. That order will be public. Your name will appear in that record. Your family, friends, fellow churchgoers, and clients will see it. You will answer every question that follows.”
His expression tightens. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“Try me,” I say.
His lawyer coughs softly behind him, looking a bit nervous. Good, I think to myself. He should be wary of my response.
“Walk away before I make that call right now.”
He looks in Beth’s direction before saying, “Do you think this is over?”
“It’s over for today,” I say roughly. “Don’t fucking test how far I’ll go tomorrow.”
He studies my face, searching for some weakness to exploit, then turns and simply walks off.
Beth stands by the exit with her arms folded. She looks like she’s about to break. I cross the distance and stop in front of her. “He’s gone. Don’t let him live rent-free in your head.”
She shakes her head. “I try not to, but he said my mother died because of me.”
“I heard. It was all lies, from a sick, twisted excuse of a man,” I reassure her.
Her bottom lip trembles. “I know, but it still hurts. What does he get out of hurting people?”
I reach for her and pull her into a tight hug. “It doesn’t matter. He’s your past. I think you’ve been through enough for one day. Let’s head home.”
She nods and we walk out to the parking lot and get on my bike.
***
