Page 48 of Seeking Peace

I pull out my phone and smack it against his chest. "You do that," I dare him, rage sweeping through me like wildfire. "By the time they arrive, it'll be too late." A look of fear blooms across his face, his eyes growing round.

Ember's mother gasps. "How dare you threaten my husband!”

I keep my eyes fixed on the bastard in front of me. "You are not welcome here. If you ever disrespect my woman in my presence again, I'll make you wish for death." I get right in his face. "And in case you don't get my meaning; if you ever cause Ember to shed one more tear, I'll have you digging your grave before I put a bullet in your head." Glaring at him, I watch my promise take root, then I release my hold on the piece of shit and back away. Ember comes to stand at my side, her hand slipping into mine.

Her mother shuffles toward her husband, trying to tend to him, but he brushes her touch off, his lip curling in a disdainful sneer. "This isn't over."

"This motherfucker isn't too bright, is he?" Gabriel huffs.

"Get the fuck off my property," Jake booms, his voice laced with annoyance, "and get the hell out of Polson." Jake looks over at Gabriel. "See to it they do."

"You've made your choice." Ember's father glares at her, and she grabs my hand tighter.

"You're damn right I have." She straightens her back and holds her head high.

Her dad cuts his eyes to Scarlett, standing close to Ember's other side. "If you stay, don't bother coming home again." His words cause Ember and Scarlett's mother's face to fall.

"I'm staying." Scarlett stands her ground.

Their father's face tightens, and his nostrils flare, but he doesn't utter another word. Gabriel strolls over to Ember's parents, looming over them. "Move it," he growls, and sees them off the property.

I turn, facing Ember, and embrace her. She melts into me, burying her face in my chest. The emotions she was keeping at bay become too abundant to hold in. Her shoulders tremble, and she begins to cry, her tears dampening the front of my shirt. I spread my arms, welcoming Scarlett into my embrace, too, and hold both women as they cry.

16

EMBER

It's been two days since the blowup with my parents. My sister and I expected them to cause a problem, but never in a million years thought they'd show up at the clubhouse. However, I did get a sick satisfaction seeing Blake hit my father. Yet Dad's words continue to play on repeat inside my head. Every time I remember the disgust on his face and the venom-laced words that spewed from his mouth, a piece of my heart chips away. Because no matter how long I have been estranged from my parents and how unhappy I was living at home, I still love them. I'm angry at myself for just standing there and allowing my dad to say everything he did. I'm even more furious for allowing myself to believe them. I can't control what others say or do, but I can control how I react. At that moment, my father managed to hold all the power. The bitter taste of jealousy found its way inside, causing my stomach to knot at the fact that my parents flew across the country for my sister, but they had not once done that for me. When I decided not to return home, no one showed up at my doorstep to fight for me. Am I that disposable? Am I not worth fighting for? These are just a couple of the thoughts that have been plaguing me.

Sure, on the outside, it looks as though I don't give a shit, but the battle I'm fighting on the inside is real. Words hold power, and they sometimes knock down even the strongest people. Especially when the ones wielding those insults are the people who are supposed to love you unconditionally. Too bad my parents' love comes with conditions. Never mind being happy. To them, life is keeping up with the Joneses. God forbid you go off script. Why can't they be glad I'm happy?

"Baby." Blake's raspy voice pulls me out of my inner turmoil. I look over at the bed where he's been asleep for the past few hours. "It's four-thirty in the mornin'. What are you still doing up?"

"I couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd crank some words out," I lie. The words aren't coming, and I've been staring at the blank computer screen for hours.

Blake studies me momentarily, and I can tell he knows I'm lying. Luckily, he doesn't call me out on it. The last thing I want is to talk about my parents again. My sister means well, but she constantly asks if I'm okay or want to talk. Same with Bella, since she was there to witness the showdown. Jake pulled me aside not long after they kicked my parents off the compound to ensure I was okay too. I'm thankful Blake senses my mood and knows me well enough not to push. Instead, he climbs out of bed, picks his clothes up from the floor, and gets dressed. Striding over to where I'm sitting, he kisses me. "Get dressed and meet me outside."

On his way out, he grabs his cut and snatches his keys and phone off the top of the dresser. I stare at his back as he leaves. I'm left confused, but I shake it off and do what I'm told. Walking to my closet, I grab a pair of black jeans, a tank top, and a purple flannel. Once I'm dressed, I step into a pair of boots.

When I leave the clubhouse, I find Blake straddling his bike with a cigarette hanging from his mouth. His eyes never leave me as I make my way toward him. "Where are we going?" I ask. Instead of answering me, he passes me a helmet. Wordlessly, I take it from his grip and secure it on my head before climbing on the bike behind him. Neither of us says a word as he fires up the engine. I slide my arms around his waist as he peels through the open gate of the compound. We pass by Grey, who jerks his chin when Blake tosses up a one-finger salute.

At four o'clock in the morning, the streets of Polson are still empty. Blake hits the main road, and we pass by Kings Custom. Making a right turn, we soon pass the bakery. We clear the city limits and make our way up the mountain. The temperature drops the farther up we go. With the moon lighting our way, we ride the winding roads, and a sense of calmness settles through me. Before I know it, the tension I was feeling melts away. Soon the smell of fresh, crisp air caresses my face. Then it hits me. Blake knew I didn't want to talk, but he knew I needed an escape. Since moving to Polson, my favorite place to be has always been the mountains. I could spend hours driving up here with the windows down and my hair blowing in the breeze. Now, my favorite place to be is riding the mountain roads on the back of Blake's bike. Leaning forward, I kiss the nape of his neck.

The sun rises over the mountain when we reach my favorite lookout spot. Parking the bike, Blake climbs off, faces me, and straddles the bike once more. He then grabs my legs and drapes them over his thighs, bringing my center flush against his. I smile at him. "Don't you want to watch the sunrise?"

"Yes."

"You're facing the wrong way."

"No, I'm not."

"But you're looking at me."

"I want to watch the sun rise in your eyes, Vita Mia."

My breath catches in my throat, leaving me speechless. With nothing left to say, I watch the sun peek over the mountain's top, bringing a new day with new possibilities.

17

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