Gabriel’s nostrils flare, and he grinds his teeth. Before he can hit him again, my dad lunges, taking them both to the ground.
My feet move in their direction, but I don’t make it far before an arm hooks around my shoulders. JT stands over me. He shakes his head, and I let my eyes fall back to the blood bath in front of me.
Curses and grunts fly but nothing coherent as they twist and struggle.
JT reaches for Shane, but he’s already pushed through the crowd. His foot collides with my dad’s side.
He cocks his fist, but before he can throw the punch, Nik grabs his arm and throws her full bodyweight back. “Shane! Stop!”
He staggers.
He doesn’t hear her.
Pulling a gun from his waistband, he points it at our dad, and my stomach churns.
JT pulls me to his chest, but I can’t take my eyes off my brother.
Gabriel jumps to his feet, watching Shane, who’s trembling, fury rolling off him in waves.
“Big man,” our dad spits from the ground. “Gonna shoot your own dad?”
Shane stiffens.
“He’s not worth it!” Nik shouts. “Listen!”
He doesn’t move.
“You really are a worthless piece of shit!” my dad spits. “You boys are gonna get what’s coming for you. Mark my words.”
Shane’s nostrils flare, and the gun shakes inhis hand.
“Shane!” She places a hand on his bicep, her voice more of a cry than a scream this time. “Please! Stop!”
That’s when he hears it.
He takes a deep breath, turning his head to look at her as he lowers the gun. She places her hands on his face.
Something in her eyes has him coming back from the edge of that dark place.His face softens slightly, and his shoulders relax. He stares at her for a moment, sucking his teeth before glancing at our father who’s rising from the ground. “Don’t come back. You’re not welcome.”
He spits on the ground before stomping away with Nik on his heels.
One of the older members moves to help my dad the rest of the way up.
“Someone get him the hell out of here,” Gabriel shouts over his shoulder as he stomps back toward the clubhouse. When he lifts his eyes to JT, who’s on the phone with someone, he shouts, “What the hell!”
JT pulls the phone from his face, shaking his head. “I don’t know. My guy isn’t answering.”
“Fuck!” Gabriel runs his hands over his face as he disappears inside.
Racing inside to grab something from my purse, I come back in time to find my dad stalking toward his car in the parking lot. “Wait!”
They stop. My dad’s face softens like he thinks I’m coming to check on him.
I swallow, collecting all the courage I can muster. “Just so you know, I don’t hate you.”
He stares at me but says nothing.
“I might have even been able to forgive you for how you treated me.”
