“Blind? You told me when I was at his place you didn’t believe I was using drugs. But you still left me there!”
“I needed to get your father. By the time I did, we went back and both you and John were gone.”
She did come back. But that was hours later. Who knows what John could have done. Wait, I do because he drugged me again.
“You took hours. I needed you then. But that doesn’t explain why you reacted the way you did when we came to see you.”
She sighs. “Before you came over, I was planning to talk to your dad about everything you had told me. If you recall, it was your dad who thought you were exaggeratingabout what had happened. It wasn’t until after you left that I was able to get through to him.”
Not this exaggerating shit again. “I’ve never been one to exaggerate, despite the fact that you both have accused me of it a lot. I don’t understand why you refuse to believe me. The bruises on my face should have spoken for themself.” I’m tempted to end the call, but the fact that my mom said she’s sorry has me curious. My parents never apologize.
“You’re right,” she says.
What is going on?
“The more I thought about everything you said, the more I wondered if we were too clouded by our own interests. After you left, I spoke to Millie, and let’s just say she didn’t hold back.”
“Millie? What did you say?” I ask.
Millie sighs. “I told Mom and Dad that they ruined my life for their business and now they are ruining yours. They thought I was happy. Can you imagine? I let out everything I’d been holding in.”
I blink back the tears. They finally hear us? “Wait. Why now?”
“What do you mean?” my mom asks.
“I’ve told you before that John isn’t right for me, and you wouldn’t listen. Hell, I told you he shot me, and you were still okay with us getting married.”
Someone sniffles through the phone, and I can’t imagine it’s my mom. I haven’t seen her show any emotion in years. “I was blinded by what it would mean for our families to come together. I’m so sorry.”
All the emotion I’ve had pent up the last couple of days comes out. Before I can stop it, I’m sobbing. I end the call.
“You okay?” Ozzie says from behind me.
I turn around, and more tears fall. “No.”
He wraps me in his arms, and I let it all out.
CHAPTER 21
Ozzie
Piperand I spent the last two nights and two days together. I’m about to lose my mind. Each night, I go into Durango’s bedroom and convince myself to stay there. I haven’t masturbated this much since I was a teenager. But I’m keeping quiet. Luring her into the bathroom to watch was a mistake. Hell, watching her masturbate was hot as hell, but I almost lost all control and pushed her up against the wall. Seeing her like that? It will live in my fantasies forever.
Reed has kept me in the office doing paperwork so I can watch Piper. He’s fully aware of the situation and will likely alternate Durango and me on assignments until it’s resolved. Can’t ask for a better boss than that.
Lightning steps into my office, grinning. I lean back,and he continues to stand there, grinning. Thunder steps in behind him, shaking his head.
“No,” I say.
But if he’s back, Durango must be back too.
Lightning frowns. “No, what? I haven’t said anything.”
“You don’t need to. That grin tells me all I need to know.”
Lightning turns to glance at Thunder, who wears no expression. “Asshole.”
Thunder shrugs.
