Dad’s face reddens as the storm cloud builds. “What?”
“Yep.”
He doesn’t say anything, so I go on. “Jack is in an MC too. And his people know the other clubs that Austin and David worked with. He tried to get them ousted from the club—and succeeded.”
“And then they . . .?”
“Got so pissed that they turned on the club.”
“Why didn’t either of you call me? Why didn’tJackcall me?”
My hands and knees bounce as I get closer to the part that could irrevocably cast me out as Dad’s daughter. “There’s one last thing I haven’t told you.”
Dad slaps the table. “God. What more?”
I take a deep breath. “Throughout this, things changed between Jack and me. We became close. Jack had me move in with him to protect me from Austin and David. Things slowly shifted between us, and . . . Jack and I are together now.”
Dad’s face turns beet red, and he slams his fist on the table. He jumps up with so much force that the chair falls back. “What do you meantogether?” He starts pacing. “I know you cannot possibly mean what I think you are trying to say.”
My lip tremble as I hold back tears. “I do, Dad.”
“No. No. He tookadvantageof you. Did he touch you? I swear to all that is holy, if he did, I’m going to kill him. For God’s sake, I trusted him to look out for you.”
“Dad, stop! We fell in love. He was there when you weren’t. You couldn’t be bothered. He could.”
“That doesn’t mean he gets to manipulate you.”
“He hasn’t.Ipursuedhim. He turned me down over and over because he was worried about my age, but I’m nineteen.” I steel myself, refusing to back down. “You can fight this, but you won’t win. I love him and he loves me. If you want a place in my life, you need to accept us, or you’ll not be a part of our life. I love you so much, Dad, and I want you in my life, but I’m done being a pushover. I’m done putting everyone else’s feelings and concerns above mine and doing everything to avoid confrontation. I’m done stepping on eggshells to not remind you of Mom.”
He props his chair upright and sits down. “What has happened to our family? I thought bringing Shannon and Austin into our lives would be a good thing. You needed a motherly figure and a sibling, and I needed a wife. But I clearly fucked itall to hell. I’m so sorry I made you feel like you’re the echo of your mother. I am so sorry. I’m supposed to be the one to love and protect you, and I have made a mess of it all.”
“Dad, Jack is a good guy. He takes care of me and loves me, and I love him. I’m going to go home, back to Jack’s, because that’s where I live now. You can find me there if you want to talk more.”
I hug him and walk out before he can say anything else.
When I close the door behind me, my heart cracks. I’ve never seen my dad so broken, but I can no longer pretend that my feelings don’t matter. I made myself clear. Now it’s up to him to make peace with the decisions he’s made in his life. At the end of the day, we can all simply look in the mirror and take accountability for the life we choose to live. I refuse to wake up one day and not recognize myself or lament the life I created. I choose to live on my terms with those who matter most to me.
I hold my head high, knowing I am choosing happiness. My life won’t always be sunshine and rainbows, but it will me mine, with Jack and the MC—no matter what.
CHAPTER 69
JACK
Afew days after the arrests, Jessi came forward and told the full story. Her bravery gave a few more girls the courage to tell theirs as well. Austin and David have charges that are a mile long. Their attorneys advised them both to take a plea deal. David is going away for twenty-five years and Austin for fifteen.
I’m thankful Jessi no longer needs to be afraid of them. But I know that she still worries about her dad. He kicked Shannon out when she got home, and when he did, she tried to blame everything on Jessi. It took Jeremy almost a month after Shannon moved out to extend an olive branch to Jessi. Jessi hates the idea that Jeremy’s alone, so the two of them are trying to mend their broken relationship. I hope they can, but I won’t let her fall into the responsibility of bearing the burden of everyone’s problems.
Today is the grand reopening of the shop and club. Everyone in town pitched in to help get it back and running quickly. But it’s been a mad dash to the finish. Still, it’s comforting to know we have everyone’s support. Over the years, I’ve questioned some choices I’ve made while working at the club. Sometimes you need to be the villain to protect the ones you love. But Iwouldn’t change my path for anything. It all brought Jessi into my life, and for that I’m grateful.
Becky flew in for the event too, though I suspect she also wanted to see Kade, considering he’s with her today. Turns out Kade might be more than a weekend fling for her after all. I understand attraction doesn’t judge and love can smooth rough edges, but Kade is involved in some of the most violent shit with the club—shit that can bring danger to people close to him. He has to end things with her if he wants my vote to patch him into the MC.
Jessi is running around the club, trying to make everything perfect. My heart stops when she looks at me and smiles. God. I never knew that I could love someone so much.
Through the window, I spot her dad wandering the parking lot, so I head out to him.
“Jessi invited me,” he says before I can get a word out.
“Listen,” I say, “if the situation was reversed, I’d want to punch me. However, I love your daughter. I’d do anything to protect her and make her happy. I’ll take care of her for as long as she’ll let me. I want to ask her to marry me tonight. I know that it’s soon and she’s young, but she’s it for me. I think and hope she feels the same. I’ll support her and give her anything she wants. I want nothing more than for her to enjoy her twenties, however she chooses. But still, I’d love if you could give me your blessing. It would mean the world to her. To us.”
