Zethan and Alaric’s unease settled a few notches, releasing their stranglehold on my bond, letting me breathe easier.
“Give me a hug, Bossy Boots.” Slade tugged Mia out of her grandma’s arms into his, swallowing her with his massive body. “I’m gonna miss you bossing me around.”
I hiccup-laughed. He loved it, quipping back, sassing her, teasing her. It made me long for a girl of our own. Goddess, another one to wrap him around her finger. Instinctively, my hands went to my belly, rubbing it. My shifter heat set ablaze again, keen to serve my wish.
All my men came over to say their goodbyes.
“Thanks, Amanda.” Slade stretched out his hand, not expecting my mother to take it but she did, hesitantly. A peace offering. For now, at least. Better than I could have hoped for. My heart soared and my falcon shrieked at the first step in them reconciling their relationship.
Mom nudged Mia’s shoulders. “Go inside, sweetie. I’ll meet you in there.”
Mia obeyed and skipped in the front door.
“I want my grandbaby to know her grandpa and his legacy,” Mom started, my body turning to stone. “But I don’t want her to know about the war with the Wolves or what happened to Alexander.”
Slade scratched at his beard. “I would never dishonor Hellhound’s legacy.”
Cold filled my lungs at my dad’s memory and Mom swiping her tears.
“Danny killed Mia’s parents, didn’t he?” Fuck. Astute of her. I never took her for a perceptive woman.
Worst timing for this conversation but I knew it might come one day.
“What makes you say that?” I scratched the back of my neck. Damn dead giveaway.
“You don't always have to protect everyone, Aaliyah.” Mom’s voice broke the slowly repairing part of me. “I’m not stupid, sweetheart. This way of life has been a part of me for thirty years.”
Fuck. Facing the music time. I glanced at Zethan, his stony expression crumbling, giving me the strength to speak my truth. “Yeah, he did. To get back at me.”
Mom threw her hands in the air. “Jesus fucking Christ!” Tears came, heavy like torrential rain. “That fucking bastard is no son of mine. If he were alive, I’d kill him myself.”
Spoken like a true Heller, my mom the definition of a biker wife. Years with my father toughened her as they did with me. This life demanded strength and conviction, otherwise we’d never make it out alive.
My gaze flicked to the door, scanning for Mia, in case she eavesdropped. “Mom, keep your voice down,” I warned.
Dad might have thrown me headfirst into his world, but I wasn’t doing that to Mia. That might be his definition of hardening me up, but it wasn’t mine. I wanted my daughter to take her innocence with her as long as she could. Learn about the reality of her daddies’ world—of mine too, somewhat—when she was old enough and ready for harsh truths.
My mother’s breaths stuttered as she gulped in air. “Did he… did he kill your father?” Uttering her son’s name was like poison, burned to ash in her mouth.
Her eyes went to Slade, imploring for truth and freedom from the chains on her heart. A caged bird begging to be set free.
“I didn’t kill your husband.” Slade’s bond burned with integrity. “I can vouch that none of my men did either.” He took a moment to still the anger pulsing in his corded neck at being accused of the crime, and all the angst that went with it. “I’m sorry that I took the life of your son.”
Fuck me.My breath hitched and my heartbeat stuttered. Slade just took responsibility for a crime I committed. He left out any mention of Danny’s accusations of Jerry touching him inappropriately and Dad failing to protect him. For the best. Mom didn’t need her heart shattered three times today.
No. I wasn’t raised a wimp. Couldn’t let Slade take the blame. This was my doing, and Mom needed the truth… ninety percent of it. I tried to get the words past the quicksand in my throat but only a protested gurgle came out.
“I understand.” Mom sniffed and patted under her eyes to remove the streaks of mascara. “Danny was a bastard.”
Goddess.I never wanted this for my mother. For her grief to morph into hatred and disgust at her flesh and blood. Pressure on my chest restricted my breath as if a snake crushed me.
Zethan had my back, rubbing at it like a man polishing a car, buffing away my past, my anguish, my loss.
Mom smiled, bitter but at peace. “I better get inside.”
Good idea. Otherwise, we were both gonna lose it and turn into a mess.
“Wait!” I called out before she left.
