Trevor spoke of legacy, heritage, and loyalty. But Chase felt divided. The loyalty he once thought was hundred percent centered on his racist beliefs, was now leaning toward the vision of brown beauty, who had curled up against him last night. Smiling.
Her lips full and juicy, reflecting a heritage he should revile, had whispered in his ear, caressed his skin. Tenderly kissing his symbols of hate as if they were bruises. Horrible bruises she wanted to help him heal. Chase pinched his forehead and asked, “When do you want to exchange leadership?”
Trevor shrugged. “Well, it ain’t like I’m keeling over tonight. We got some time to sort it all out. Not like I gotta worry about you not stepping up.”
Chase nodded. He also understood everything Trevor said and didn’t say. Him stepping up or taking over as leader of AR wasn’t really a choice. It was pretty much a guarantee, because as he and every other kid who grew up in Lee’s Fortress understood–Antebellum Resistance was bigger than them. This was about securing the right future. Their personal goals and feelings didn’t count for shit.
Trevor lit up another cigarette and leaned back in his chair. Chase groaned silently as his stepdad regarded him with a smirk while shaking his head. He knew what was coming. And not surprisingly, the older man switched to his favorite topic. Women.
“You still ain’t got yourself a girl?” Trevor asked this question every couple of weeks. “I ain’t talking ‘bout some random bitch to screw. A proper girl. You know, the kind you wanna settle down with. Knock up and start having some young’uns.”
Chase chuckled despite his annoyance. If Trevor knew the kind of girl he was thinking about fucking all the time, the man would drop dead from a heart attack long before cancer took him out. He shook his head and relaxed in his chair. “Nope. I damn sure ain’t in a rush to attach myself to one girl, much less be anyone’s daddy.”
Trevor grunted. “Meh, you ain’t too wrong there. Sometimes kids turn out to be the biggest disappointment. Take the son I had before I met your no-good mother. Biggest piece of shit ever.” He lit up another cigarette and propped one elbow on the table, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “I tell you what. Couple of years ago–you were just a kid then–I got a letter from my…” He made air quotes. “Son. Brainwashed garbage is what he is. Begging me to renounce myracistways and come out to California to meet him and his Jap wife. Pathetic fool even got her pregnant. Wanted me to meet his little mongrels.” He made a sound of disgust. “Can you believe that shit?”
Chase curled his lips and said what he knew the man expected to hear. What any white supremacist would say to another who was dealing with race mixing within their own family. “Sorry you had to deal with that, man. Must have been real tough.” He knew it wasn’t much of a response, but damn. It was the best he could muster.
Trevor nodded, obviously pleased with Chase’s response. “That’s life. At least I got one son who won’t pull some race mixing shit like that. Your gramps and I raised you with sense.”
Chase had stopped listening. All he could focus on was getting away. Far from Lee’s Fortress, where he didn’t have to see Trevor’s face or hear his hacking cough ever again. But that wouldn’t happen. The only refuge he had was the small house he’d bought a year ago, over an hour’s drive away.
Sitting upright, Chase cleared his throat, suddenly bolstered by the thought of leaving. “Listen. I’m gonna be out of town for a couple of days. Don’t bother to call my phone or email me. I’m not checking any of that stuff. Need some days to relax.”
Trevor chuckled and held up his hand. “You’re going away with a bitch. Yeah. Yeah. I got it. You won’t hear me calling. Said what I had to, anyway. We’re done here.”
Chase nodded. One thing was to be said for Trevor. The man was good at reading between the lines and despised awkward small talk as much as he did. Chase stood. He made it halfway out the door when Trevor called out. “Hey, Chase. Remember what I said. Stop messing around with them sluts and get yourself a good woman. A real dedicated female with enough pride who’ll give you what you need.”
Chase tightened his fist around the handle of the door, fighting the urge to rip it off and shove it down Trevor’s corroding throat. Grinding his teeth, he said nothing, only issuing a single, curt nod. Now his dick was expected to be on AR duty, breeding precious white babies.
He powered down the hallway and out of the building. Life was a teasing bitch. If he wasn’t so frustrated, he would’ve laughed; because the sad thing was, a month ago he would’ve given serious thought to Trevor’s words.
Seated inside his truck, Chase clasped his hands together. He struggled to maintain his calm.Always so much damn pressure.He drew in a deep breath and reached for his phone. There was a missed call from Larke, followed by a message.
Saw your note. No prob. Hope I didn’t hog the bed last night!
The tension began to drain from his body. Chase smiled. His conversation with Trevor was now a distant memory.You did,he wrote back.But I liked it. Can I call u?
Not now. I have a friend over.
Who?
Why do you want to know?
Chase stared at the phone. His smile vanished. Was Larke teasing him or was she serious? He’d never made a habit of texting anyone unless it was something real important.
He didn’t get the chance to reply,before another message came through.Chase. Are you scowling?
He was. She knew him.I was joking with you. I’m sorry if it didn’t come across well.She inserted a smiley face at the end of her apology.
Good. But he still wanted to know who she was with. Anger crept into him. It had better not be that asshole who he’d seen her with inside the bowling alley. The one who’d slapped her ass. His scowl deepened as he asked again.Who’s with u?
Riva. My only friend. Apart from you. But Chase are you still scowling?
Relief made him grin.Yeah. Real nasty too. You wouldn’t wanna see it.
I knew it! Forgive me?
Maybe.
Maybe? I want you to say yes.
Okay. Yes. Only if you let me see you again today.
Of course. I want to see you too.
His chest felt tight again.Where?
Same park. In an hour. Near the duck pond.
Chase held the phone inside his hand. Two things suddenly occurred to him. He’d actually texted a girl and could’ve continued doing so if they hadn’t just agreed to meet.And,he was still parked outside the main building, smiling like he’d won the lottery.
