“It’s filthy.”
“It’s his room.” Sasha waited until the bed dipped.
Her mother took hold of her hands, running shaking fingers over her wrist. She was going into withdrawal already, and it had been at least two hours since she last drank. Sasha was worried.
“Mom, you’ve got a problem.”
“I know I have, honey. Don’t you think I don’t know that?” She heard her mother sob. “When did things start to get so fucking bad? When did I mess up?”
“Mom?”She reached up and placed a hand on her cheek. “It’s not your fault.”
“Yes, it is. I’m the one who brought him into our home. I let him near you. If I’d been sensible you wouldn’t be sitting here blind.” She listened as her mother withdrew and started to sob. “It’sall myfault. I shouldn’t have taken the pills and started drinking. You needed me most, and I chose to look the other way. What kind of a parent am I if I can’t even look after my own daughter? When he told me you fell downstairs, I didn’t think it was possible, but I believed him.”
Sasha wished there was something she could say to make it all better for her. There was nothing. Kenneth entered their lives, built up some fantasy world for her mother, and then destroyed it just as quickly.
“You’ve got to stay away from Kenneth, Mom. He’s bad news, and he will hurt you if given half the chance.” She reached out to grasp her hands.
“Oh, honey. Kenneth doesn’t want to hurt me. He wants me all to himself. It’s you he wants to hurt, and I can’t let him do that.” Fingers touched her face, pushing some hair out of the way.
“What do you mean?”
“He’s making plans, Sasha.Plans that keep you out of the picture and take you away from me and here.I came with him in the hope of seeing you settled and happy, but I know he won’t leave you alone completely. The moment I saw you with, Pussy, I knew you were finally safe, but Kenneth won’t stop until you’re gone. You’re a lot braver than I am.” Her mother tightened her grip. “You’ve got to stay away from Kenneth now. He’s dangerous, and he will try to get what he wants.”
“Which is why neither of you are leaving this clubhouse,” Pussy said.
His voice came somewhere in front of her.
“What did you hear?” she asked.
“All of it. You’re going to need to tell me exactly what you told Sasha, and I’m going to need to know it all.”
Her mother stood, moving away from her.
“Wait,please don’t do this without me.”
“The rest of the club, do they need to hear this?” Pussy asked.
“Only if they think they can help. I don’t want anything bad happening to my daughter. She’s been through enough.” Sasha felt her mother’s hands shake. They were getting worse with every moment that passed. “I’m going to need to go to rehab. I’ve got a serious problem, and I’m not strong enough to get through this.”
“We’ll help you.” There was some more movement. “Baby, I’m going to touch you and help you walk downstairs. Are you okay with that?”
“Yes. I’m okay.”
“Go on ahead of us,” Pussy said.
She heard the door opening, and the footsteps started to fade. “You can’t marry me, Pussy.”
“Why can’t I?”
“Today must have shown you that I’m a bad choice. I couldn’t protect anyone. I’m blind, and you need someone strong.” She hated saying the words, and the thought of losing Pussy over it was tearing her apart.
He cupped her face, tilting her head back. “Now you listen to me, Sasha. We’re going to get married. You’re going to become my wife, and you’re going to do that because you love me. I don’t give a fuck about you being able to take care of yourself. That’s my job. I’ll take care of you.”
“Pussy?”She went to complain. He silenced her with his lips.
His tongue plundered her mouth.
Moaning, she circled her arms around his neck, loving the feel of his hard body pressed against hers. He slid his fingers into her hair, tightening on the strands. “So fucking beautiful,” he said, muttering against her lips. “Now, no more talk of what you can and can’t do. I don’t need a protector, Sasha.”