Page 35 of Sassy Pants
Isaac escorts me to my brother and goes to the trailer to check on my dad while Jesse is arrested. Chaser wraps his arms around me in a bear hug. “Glad you’re okay, brat.”
“Me too, but Dad.” I choke back a sob.
“Easy now. I’m sure he’s okay. I told him to hang back when he called it in.”
I shake my head. “He saved me. Jesse was threatening me, saying what he wanted to do to me, and Dad busted in. He told me to run so I did.” I bury my face into his chest. He rubs soothing circles along my back, but it does nothing to ease the anger and pain I’m feeling. I glance back as one of the cop’s shoves Jesse into the back of his cruiser. The other approaches usas Isaac exits Jesse’s trailer with a somber expression on his face.
“Gonna need you to come down to the station to give your statement.”
I nod and look back to my man. His gaze drops to his shoes and back to me. He shakes his head once, and I would collapse if my brother wasn’t holding me. “Best call the coroner. Two bodies inside.”
My head jerks. “Two?”
“Old lady in the back bedroom. I’m guessing she’s been there a long while and explains the smell.”
Some of the neighbors have come closer to investigate what’s going on. I hear them murmuring but have no clue what they are saying.
Chaser shuffles me to Isaac. He tells the officer he’ll bring me by the station. It’s the lastthing I want to do but I know the sooner I do the sooner this will all be over.
**
One Week Later
“Babe. It wasn’t your fault. Your father knew what he was doing, and he did it to save you because deep down he did love you even if he had a bad way of showing it.”
I sniffle and press the tissue under my eyes then to my nose. “I know.” I know what he says is true, but my father wouldn’t have been fighting with Jesse if it weren’t for me. Jesse blamed me for everything bad that had gone wrong in his life, and while I know he was wrong I can’t help but shoulder some of that guilt. I don’t want to think this way, but I do.
I have an appointment with a grief counselor later this week, but today I have to bury my father.
Jesse didn’t last one night in his holding cell. They found him hanging by his bed sheet in his cell the next morning at the jail. I’m not sure if Chaser, Isaac, or their club had anything to do with that or not, but I’m glad he’s gone so he can’t hurt anyone else. I never liked Donna but even she didn’t deserve what he did to her. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.
Isaac gives me a sympathetic smile. He’s all sexy in a pair of black dress pants and a matching black button-down shirt. I smile when I take in his riding boots. My badass biker.
“You ready to go?”
I let out a breath and nod. We had my father cremated and Chaser and I are holding a small vigil for him at the lake where we are spreading his ashes. He used to love to drink his beer and fish all day long when we were kids. Some of my favorite memories are with him and Chaser at his favorite fishing hole. I’d screamand squirm as my brother would chase me with a worm. Dad would laugh and crack open another beer. My mom was still around back then and even she’d go with us. That was back before she cheated on him with his best friend and skipped town. Back before he started to drink from sunup till sundown.
We were a happy family. I wish things could’ve gone differently, but I’m thankful my Dad saved me. He gave his life for mine, and I hope that I continue to make him proud. When Chaser and Jelissa went to lock up the trailer they found a box with my name on it. I thought my dad didn’t go to my pageants. He’d say he was there, but I never saw him, and eventually I gave up searching for him in the crowds, but he was there. He recorded every single pageant with commentary. I only made it part way through the first tape before I broke down. I’m not ready to view them yet, but one day I will be strong enough.
I can only hope that he knew despite all the bad between us I did love him.
Chapter 19
Stud
Gianna kicks off her black heels, and I go for the zipper at the back of her dress. It’s been a long emotional day for her. She had to put her father to rest, and I know she wasn’t ready to say goodbye. Part of her had hoped one day she would be able to forgive him and have a second chance at a relationship with him. Now that will never happen.
It’s my job to take her mind off the sad shit and give her something to look forward to. Maybe the timing is all wrong, but I know what I want, and I want it with Gianna. Her dress pools at her feet. She steps out of it and goes to the bathroom. The moment the door shuts I go to the closet and pull the box out of my jacket pocket. I bought this ring the day after we met. I knew she was the one for me, and I want tomake it official. I don’t give a damn what anyone has to say about it being fast or lust. When you meet the one you just fucking know. There are no rules in love and war, and this is definitely all love.
Gianna was made to be loved by me. I feel it and I know she does to. I palm the ring and slip it into my pocket. I’ve hardly gotten my shirt unbuttoned when she returns from the bathroom in nothing but her panties. Fuck me she’s a sight to behold. Her arms snag around my waist from behind, tits pressed to my back.
I grab her left hand and hold it palm to my heart. I fish the ring back out of my pocket with the other and slip it on her ring finger. “What are you doing?” She snatches her hand away, holding it out to stare at the diamond sparkling on her finger. I turn to face her.
“Babe, eyes on mine.” Gianna gazes up at me with unshed tears dancing along the creasesof her eyes. “I know the timing might be all wrong, but I promised you if that meatloaf was as good as you run that mouth, I’d put a ring on it. So what I’m saying is I don’t want anyone else’s meatloaf in my kitchen but yours.”
Her lips tip into an adorable smirk. “Honey, are you asking me to marry you?”
“Nope, I’m telling you this is it. Real deal. You and I are done deal. Want you forever and a day. I’m claiming you for keeps as my Old Lady. Want my baby in your belly if it isn’t already there. So no I’m not asking because we both know if I were asking you’d say yes.”
