I ran down to the living room where Crickett was sitting on the couch sipping on a glass of red wine. “Oh,Raine.”
I fell into her arms, crying. “I love him, Mom. I really do love him. Why can’t Daddy just let me be with who I want tobewith?”
“He wants more for you than this life, baby girl. You know that.” She started to run her hands through my hair. “Do you reallylovehim?”
I choked out through sobs, “I really do, and he lovesmetoo.”
“Well, then. I willhandlethis.”
Ryder
Abel’s gripwas getting tighter around my neck and he screamed within an inch of my face. “I should fuckingkillyou.”
I locked my eyes with my president’s, waiting for his punch to connect with my jaw. One sharp breath in and then a saving grace busted intoRaine’sroom.
“Abel! Stop!” I heard Crickett’s loud voice boom into thestillness.
“Go back downstairs, this is for me to deal with.” Abel growled at his wife in a more sinister tone than I had everheard.
Crickett put her hand on her husband’s shoulder. “They love each other, Abel. You need to talk to yourdaughter.”
Abel’s fingertips loosened their grasp slightly. “Do you love mydaughter?”
I nodded; his hand was crushing my throat a little too much for my wordstoform.
“Then you’ll do the right thing and not be with her. She deserves more thanthislife.”
He finally let me go and I fell to myknees.
“Leave.” He turned his back on me and made his way down into thelivingroom.
With pleading eyes, I silently begged for Crickett to do more, but she just shook her head andfollowed.
I trotted down the stairs, eyes locked on the floor. I knew that if I looked into her eyes she would know sooner than I was ready to tell her. Abel was right: I loved her more than keeping her in this life—my life. I was nothing more than a deadbeat biker, and that was the way things were going to stay. I hadn’t chosen this life, it had chosen me, but that didn't mean that I was going to drag Raine down into the gutterwithme.
As she called after me, crying, I got on my bike and pulled away. I knew I was breaking her heart, but it was for the best. I drove down the mountain to my dad’s house where I knew he’d bewaiting.
With not even one foot on the bottom step on the porch, I heard my father yell, “Get your fucking assinside.”
“Dad,please.”
A beer gripped in his hand, he spit on the porch in front of my boot. “You’re lucky Abel didn't kill you, son. What were youthinking?”
I walked through the front door, heart on my sleeve, preparing for the worst. “I loveher,Dad.”
Holt sank onto the couch, staring at me. “This ain’t just a chick that you fuck and pretend to love, son. She deserves more than this. Morethanus.”
“Fuck.” I paced around the living room. “Don’t you think I fuckingknowthat?”
“Then why would you ever think a guy like you could be with her?” I could see his nostrils flaring. Raine was like a daughter to him and he was going to feel just like Abel did, and I knew they wereright.
“Didn’t you hear me? I fucking love her. I’ll give it up, all of it. I’ll turn in my cut. I’ll walk away, takeheraway.”
My dad took a long swig, glaring at me. “Do you know what you’re really saying,Ryder?”
I nodded and sank onto the couch,defeated.
“Then prove it. Fight for her and prove to Abel that you mean it. Win her and show youdeserveit.
