“Okay.” He nods. “And why do you think we didn’t tell you?”
“I don’t know!”
Am I losing my mind? Because it feels like he’s not hearing himself. After all the shit he’s done, he’s really going to act like my actions were so unforgivable. I have a kid! No excuses can justify him hiding that from me.
“Because we were all trying to look out for that little girl! All any of us wanted was to keep her safe!”
“Yeah? You don’t think I would’ve felt the same way?”
That’s all anyone keeps saying. Like that wouldn’t have been my number one priority. I was petrified after what happened to Ash. I wouldn’t put my kid in aposition to be hurt, but what’s it say about me that they all think I would’ve?
He shakes his head.
I add, “I didn’t ask about her because you told me not to. Meanwhile, you lied to my face every goddamn day!”
My hands tremble, and I think if it was possible, smoke would be billowing from my ears. I stomp toward the bar before throwing over my shoulder, “You’re fired, and you’re done with the club. Get out.”
“She’s my fucking sister!” he screams, his voice coming out strangled this time. “Gabe! My baby sister! You can’t expect me to choose you. I’m supposed to protect her! That’s my job, and I let her get hurt! None of this would have happened if you’d just stayed away from her!” He deflates, his arms dropping to his sides. “Why couldn’t you just stay away from her?”
“Because I loved her!”
“Yeah, and that almost got her killed!” he says, approaching me. “Is that what you want for Maggie too?”
I swing.
He stumbles back, covering his mouth as blood trickles down his chin. I close in on him, my fist landing on his cheek this time, knocking him to the floor.
I climb on top of him and rear back again.
JT grabs my wrist and yanks me backward.
I flail. “You’re a fucking piece of shit.”
“Yeah, I am, but I think you need to look in a mirror because so are you,” he snarls, wiping blood from his mouth as he stands.
“Well, if I wasn’t before, you all made sure I was when you made me a fucking deadbeat, didn’t you?” I try to lunge, but JT doesn’t let me free.
“Yeah, blame us all you want, man, but you played your part in this shit storm too,” he says.
“Fuck you!” I scream.
“Enough!” JT booms, flinging me away from Shane.
I shrug him off, storming toward the bar.
“Get him the fuck out of my club,” I growl over my shoulder.
Pulling another bottle from behind the bar, I pour one more glass of whiskey. Shane walks behind me as I glare at him until he’s out the door.
I lay my head down on the bar, sucking in breath after ragged breath. Nothing has ever come close to making me feel this much fucking rage. Not the night I found Max with Ash or the night I took her home from the bar. This is a different level entirely.
A hand falls on my shoulder, and I lift my head ready to fight. When my gaze lands on JT, I say, “Get the fuck away from me.”
I yank my arm away. Fuck him too. He should have let me beat Shane to a pulp.
“No,” he says firmly, leaning closer and sitting in the stool next to mine. “You’re my best friend. I know this sucks. But you can let me help you and be there for you, or you can deal with it alone. Either way the situation is the same. You don’t have to push everyone away.”
I grind my teeth, letting his words sink in. Staring down at the bar, I try to get a handle on my emotions, but it doesn’t work.
