He freezes, hardly breathing.
“You weren’t around when we needed you. You worked, and we felt like we were second to that.”
His brows furrow. “That was never…”
“No, Dad. It’s my turn to talk and your turn to listen.”
His mouth clamps shut, and for once, he doesn’t argue.
I swallow down the nerves, knowing he needs to hear this. “I did everything I could to make you happy, because I thought if I did, you’d be proud of me and give me your attention, give me more time with you… more time that I craved. I was always on my best behavior… I always got good grades. Even when you sent us away to private schools, I kept trying to be who I thought you wanted me to be.”
His face falls. His eyes swirl with emotions, but I’m not so sure which ones.
“But it was never enough.” I keep going, though ripping the stitches out of the wounds he caused hurts. “So, I started drinking alcohol, but you still never noticed how much I was drowning.” I take a deep breath. “After school, I couldn’t take it any longer, so I left.” I chuckle, though it’s flat. “I modeled to keep myself busy, but no matter how far I traveled, that pain stayed with me. Hell… I even started a business. I did it for myself, but that need for your approval… for you to be proud… is still ingrained in me…”And I hate it… I hate it so much.
“Your overprotectiveness to keep me safe is the only real love I’ve felt from you, so I’ve let you… all this time I’ve let you be overbearing.” I shake my head. “I understand why, but that stops now… Viper is my breaking point. I love him, Dad.” My voice splinters at the end.
With a pale face, he stands and takes two steps toward me, but I take two steps back.
“You need to understand that I love you and your brothers,” he says with conviction. Though my ears hear him, my heart struggles to believe him. This conversation with him is the first time he’s said the words.
He shifts on his feet. “Working is all that I knew… it was what I was good at. Being a father… raising four kids…” He pauses, looking away, deep in thought. “I didn’t know how, so I did what I thought was right by you and your brothers. I had others look after you… do what I didn’t know how to do.”
His words cut deep. My eyes burn, but I try to keep my composure.
“I was stern about your safety because I couldn’t let what happened to your mother happen to you,” he admits sadly. It’s the haunted look in his eyes that makes the tears fall down my cheeks. “Being with Viper is dangerous… I can’t…”—he shakes his head—“I can’t have you in danger like that.”
I stand tall. “But being with Viper makes me feel safe. He makes me feel loved, Dad.” I stare at him, letting him see the pain in my eyes. “The only thing Viper loves is the club, and even when you threatened that, he still risked everything to be with me.”
Dad’s mouth pinches… he knows I’m right.
“I’m not Mom. I’m asking you to let go… I’m asking you to trust me…” I swallow. “I’ve chosen to be with Viper… if he still wants me, considering all the pain I’ve caused. And…”—my eyes narrow—“if you do anything that harms Viper… harms the club… the thing that you’re afraid of will happen… you will lose me… forever.”
Viper
It’stwo days after the wedding. I’ve been exhausting myself at the gym, and when I’m not there, I’m sitting at our bar in the clubhouse. I bring the beer to my lips and gulp some down. I feel shitty. I’m sure the alcohol isn’t helping, but it eases the crushing feeling in my chest.
I faintly hear a squeal, then whispers, but I don’t have it in me to turn around.I’m tired… so very tired. There’s a tap on my shoulder, but I stay where I am. “Yes?” I grumble, not feeling like myself anymore.
There’s a tap again, making me grind my teeth. I spin around to see Sophie’s beautiful face, with those bright blue eyes. My breath quickens. “What are you doing here?” I ask. I thought we were going to spend time with each other before she went back to New York, but I never heard from her.
I stand, then notice a lot of luggage by her feet. “What’s all this?” I ask. I force the excitement down. She could want me to take her to the airport.
She steps closer to me, then slowly loops her arms around my neck, and stands on her toes. Her piercing eyes study mine. “I’m here to stay married to you.”
My smile grows until my cheeks hurt. I wrap my arms around her, pulling her in tight, nuzzling my head into her neck, then inch back. “What did your father have to say about it?”
“We had a good talk about everything. I told him how much he’s hurt me and how much I love you and that if he doesn’t honor my decision to be with you, he’ll lose me. He knew I was serious, so he said he won’t cause any more issues with you and the club.”
I give her a chaste kiss on the lips. My heart could burst from happiness.
“But… I have a few provisions if I stay married to you,” she says in a professional voice.
I laugh. “Of course you do. Well, go on… do tell me.” I know I’d give her anything she wanted.
She clears her voice. “Just because I’ll be living here doesn’t mean I’m giving up my business. I’ll be still working from home, but I’ll be going back to New York once a month or when they need me.”
Easy. “I can handle that. I respect your decision to run your business.” I wouldn’t let her give it up anyway. It makes her happy, and my life lights up when she smiles.
