She wants revenge, and I won’t put her in danger.
“I have to do this,” I whisper, and she sobs. “Mama doesn’t want the club to know, and this is the only way to pay off her debt,” I finish.
“She’s being selfish, Ivy!” Raya snaps, and I flinch. She shakes her head and states, “You are her daughter, and I get it, she’s been through hell because of Glock. She’s gone through cancer, but surely Glock knowing that, is a lot better than her daughter selling her soul. She is selfish and your allowing her to get away with it, with your life.”
I look down, not able to say anything because she is right.
Mama has basically sold me.
When the asshole said he wanted me, Mama looked almost relieved, like her secrets could be safe for a little while longer. Honestly, I don’t know how to feel about that just yet. But when he said marriage, she panicked because all it would take was Dad to have Venom search Hayden up. He’ll know who he is and what he does, and questions will be asked, and her secrets will be spilled.
Mama was conflicted, but in the end, was selfish and asked this of me believing the brothers would think I fell hard and fast for a gang leader.
“She deserves to be selfish,” I whisper, and she scoffs, “At the expense of her daughter? She knew the stories of the brotherhood, Ivy, yet she chose one. She knew what could happen, yet she stayed.”
I flinch because again, she is right.
“What about Psycho?” she asks, and we lock eyes. Hers race between mine and she reminds me, “He declared his love. Whether he slept with Misty or not still remains to be seen, something I find hard to believe after he finally had you but a brothers love is all consuming. You know this and you know he will fight for you, you know his fear of hurting you because of the brotherhood but don’t underestimate him, he’ll do everything he can to stop you from marrying someone else meaning your mothers secret will still come out. A secret that doesn’t need to be one.”
I blink several times, trying not to wipe my hands on my face, knowing I still have some grease on them. I admit, “I’m hoping he will step in so I don’t have to break Mama’s trust Raya, I’m kind of banking on it, but right now, this is something I need to do. It is the right thing to do.”
Raya looks at me sadly and says, “You are punishing him for not fighting for you,” she shakes her head, “This will kill him and you know it and it’s just cruel.”
“I’m not,” I deny then admit, “not intentionally,” as more tears falling, “but I also don’t know what else I can do without breaking Mama’s trust and yeah, I know she’s being selfish but she’s still my mother.”
Raya’s tears fall before she takes me back into her arms, and I sob, “I don’t know what else I can do.” And she holds me tightly.
This is a side of Mama we haven’t seen, but it makes me wonder if this is what happens when a brother claims you.
Do you change?
Do you become heartless, a liar?
Maybe Psycho did me a favor by turning me away, yet my heart disagrees. He’ll always be my one and true love, and knowing I’ll never find anyone else is probably why it was so easy to accept Hayden’s deal.
Mama’s debt for my hand…
Chapter 8
Ivy – Nine Days Later
“It’s time Ivy. We need to announce our engagement and in four months we’ll get married,” Hayden sneers with glee as he sits on Mama’s flowered couch, leaning back with his arm over the back like he owns the place eyeing me then mutters, “And I’ll finally be able to fuck you.”
I swallow hard and cross my arms over my chest, hoping to hide from his leering eyes.
When he mentioned marriage and Mama kept silent with a gun to her head, I managed to wrangle a no sex before marriage rule. His dad agreed, believing I’m some club princess virgin, which is a laugh, especially now, but it worked in my favor.
I sigh. Mama called and said it was urgent, so I rushed over only to find this slime ball waiting for me meaning she set me up, my own fricking mother.
Shaking my head at his impatience I state, “It’s been barely two weeks, no one will believe I’ve fallen for you this soon,” hoping to put him off a little while longer so I can try and come up with a plan. Besides there is no way anyone within the club who knows I have been in love with my best friend for years and not long ago slept with will believe I’ve decided to get married on a whim and Mama should know this yet she’s keeping quiet…yet again.
He shrugs as Mama hands him a cup of coffee, and I narrow my eyes at her.
Why in the hell is she waiting on him?
Why in the hell isn’t she helping me knock him back?
Shaking my head, I look back at Hayden as she moves towards the fireplace and wrings her fingers together, but I look back at her when she says, “If you don’t announce your wedding, sweet girl, they’re going to go to your dad…”
