Chapter Fifteen
“Why can’t they stayhere?I get the feeling there’s something you’re not telling me.”Dad turned and demanded as soon as Smokey closed the door to his father’s den, ensuring it was just the two of them.
“You saw what that fucker did to her, or at least part of it.She’s covered in bruises.And did you miss the imprint of his fingers around her neck?”Smokey shook his head.“I’m not giving him a chance to get a hold of her and finish what he started last night.And I’m not giving him a chance to get to my son either.”
Smokey forced himself to take a deep breath and let it out slowly.His father wasn’t his enemy, but he had to make him understand that fucker was dangerous and the clubhouse was the best place for them.There were people around who were far more prepared for the kind of violence Tania’s soon to be ex seemed to like to deal out.After a second deep breath had him calm, or at least as calm as he would be getting for a while, he tried again.He couldn’t stand still, he started walking back and forth the length of the room as he spoke.
“I had her make a list and sent a couple of prospects over to get the things she wanted, hoping that if we got it done before the fucker got off work, then we could get in and out clean.But while they were there someone showed up and shot them.”
“Fuck.”
“Yeah.One of them was just grazed, he was able to get the other back to the clubhouse and they’ve both been treated and will be okay.”He glanced up and caught Dad’s gaze.“This guy is crazy.I don’t know how far he’ll go and I can’t put you and Mom at risk.I can’t risk that he comes in, kills the two of you then he has Tania and Carter to do whatever he wants with.”Smokey shook his head and went back to pacing the floor.“I can’t do it.At least at the clubhouse there’s all the guys.They know what’s going on, they’re prepared.Over the last few months, we’ve surrounded the property with a fence, added a gate with someone manning it 24/7, we’re working on building houses so we can be certain our homes are secure.”
“Okay, I see where you’re coming from on this, but long term.What are you going to do?”Dad went to the small cupboard where he kept liquor and poured himself two fingers of scotch.“Want some?”He lifted the bottle.
Smokey shook his head.“I need to keep my head clear, just in case.”
Dad carried his drink to one of the leather chairs in the corner and sat.“What’s going to happen to that baby?”
“I’m going to raise him.”Smokey knew what his father was asking, yet he couldn’t keep the tone of that was a stupid question out of his voice.
“And his mother?You know this is going to cause problems with the Bussards.”Dad watched him as he took a sip of his whiskey.
“I don’t give a flying fuck if it makes Minton Bussard’s head explode.He picked that loser for her.He chose the man who beat her.Do you know why she didn’t go to them?Why her first call wasn’t her father, like it would be for most women?Because her father would tell her it’s her duty to stay with her husband, no matter what.At least that’s what she’s telling me.And I don’t doubt her.Did she not tell me about Carter?Yeah.I’ll give you that but when I saw him I recognized the eyes.The eyes are hard to miss.I asked.She didn’t lie.She didn’t tell me no or try to make excuses.”
Smokey realized he was shouting.He stopped pacing for a moment, ran one hand through his hair, and forced himself to take several deep breaths.“I’m going to do my damnedest to make sure she’s happy and that she stays with me.”He looked up and met Dad’s gaze.“I love her.I always have.Watching her marry that asshole was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do.I’m not letting her get away again.”
“If you don’t give her the choice, you’re no better than he is,” Dad spoke for the first time since mentioning her parents.
If looks could kill, his father would be a dirty smear on the back of his seat.
“Do you think I don’t know that?I’m not going to force her.What kind of man do you think you raised?”
Dad shrugged.“I didn’t think one who would surprise me with a grandbaby before we even knew he was dating someone.”
Smokey narrowed his eyes at his father.He loved the man, but sometimes he wanted to knock him on his ass.
“Do you think I didn’t want to be there?That I didn’t care about watching my son grow?Or come into this world?If I’d known, you would have.I have known less than twelve hours myself, and look where I am!”He threw his arms out to the sides, motioning to the room around them.Smokey realized he was yelling again and that wasn’t what he wanted to do.He scrubbed one hand over his face while he counted backwards from ten.
“I’m not going to force Tania to do anything.Well, nothing that’s not directly related to keeping her safe, at least for now.We’ve had that discussion and what goes on between her and I is just that, between the two of us.I will do everything I can to make her want to stay with me.If you can’t get on board with that, then that’s on your conscience.”
“What do I tell Minton?You know he’s going to come demanding answers when he finds out.”
