“But we just got here,” Frankie whined.
“Francesca,” Mom warned.
“You didn’t get the answer you were looking for, hm?” I asked.
I was a dick for asking, especially with the tone Iwas using, but I couldn’t resist the little dig.
“This is not over,” Mom hissed, jabbing a finger toward me.
“Maybe you should think about dropping it, Mamma. Otherwise, it really will never be over.” I cocked my head. “Don’t make me choose between you and the club.”
Four feminine gasps filled the space. And I say four, because Maisie had walked in without me noticing.
“Razor!” Maisie admonished.
“Fuck,” I breathed out.
Mom’s eyes filled with tears as she slid her purse over her arm, giving me a look that could kill before storming out of the house.
Angelica followed suit, while Francesca sighed, leaning down to kiss my cheek. “You’re a dumbass. I love you but you’re a fucking idiot and you know it. At some point, you’ll figure it out and have to come crawling back, but this time it’s going to cost you a lot more than your pride.”
With that, she thanked Maisie and walked out the door.
I dragged a hand down my face and sank deeper into my chair.
“Not good, darling,” Maisie said.
“Well, she needs to understand that I will not give up the club.” I met her eyes. “She’s trying to get Hatch involved like I’m an errant child unable to make my own decisions. She’s out of line.”
Maisie gave me a sad smile. “She’s a mother who has lost her husband and thought she might lose herchild.”
“Shedidn’tlose me,” I grumbled.
“She doesn’t know that, Razor. Give her some grace.” Hatch walked in but Maisie wasn’t done with her motherly lecture. She cupped my chin. “And trust that your president has your back.”
Kissing her man, she left us alone and Hatch sat in the chair across from me.
“What’d my mom want?” I asked.
Hatch leaned forward, setting his elbows on his knees. “Before we get into that, I need some assurances from you.”
“What kind of assurances?”
“The kind that entails giving your mother more fuckin’ respect.”
“Hatch—”
“I don’t wanna fuckin’ hear it, kid,” he snapped. “Outside of the fact she’s your goddammed mother, she’s been through it over the years, and she’s earned it.”
“Doesn’t excuse her—”
“It excuses all manner of things, Razor,” Hatch argued.
“She wants me out, Hatch!” I snapped.
“And you seem to forget she doesn’t have the power togetyou out.”
“Well, she has the power to make me miserable until I die.”
