“And that I’m the one who’s going to teach them that lesson?”
He shrugs a shoulder. “I mean, if it’s going to bring a little excitement to your life, then I have no issue with it. I won't think twice about defending you to them because they can clearly see how I feel about you and they don't respect that. I'm not close to my mom or sisters. They’re bitches and I don’t want anything to do with them. If they're causing you hell, then go right ahead and throw it back at them, they deserve it. Besides, once they realize that they’re not going to get anything out of me, they’ll fuck off to wherever the hell they’ve been living and we can get back to focusing on us.”
I walk across the room and loop my arms around his neck. “That sounds really nice,” I whisper, looking over her room. “Now, how do you think Cora would feel about me sucking her big brother’s cock in her bed?”
His lips lift into an excited grin as his hands come to my waist and pull me in closer. “I think she’d absolutely hate it.”
I drop down to my knees and push his knees wide as my tongue runs along my bottom lip. “Perfect.”
Chapter 12
I sit at the dinner table on Tuesday night, across from Mom and Colton who are busily throwing around theme ideas for next month’s party and to be honest, I couldn't be less interested. Though I’m not going to lie, Colton coming here and eating dinner with us—instead of with his mom and sisters—gives me all sorts of thrills.
I love that in all this bullshit, he’s stuck by my side. It means the world to me and concretes the fact that what we are building between us is real. So fucking real.
I’m starting to see myself having a real future with him when only a few short weeks ago, I’d deny the fact that I had any future at all.
Moving to Bellevue Springs is quickly becoming one of the best things I’ve ever done. There’s a possibility that I might go to college, I’m all of a sudden saving money for a future, I have a boyfriend who cherishes and worships me as though I walk on water, and not to mention the incredible friends I’ve made along the way. It was certainly a bumpy start though, one that I’m more than happy to have moved on from.
Colton and I have had to do a lot of growing over the last two months, but we came out the other end so much better, stronger, and a hell of a lot happier. I wouldn’t change it for the world.
“You’re quiet over there,” my mother says, forking another mouthful of salad between her lips.
“Oh, I, umm … yeah. Sorry, just got things on my mind.”
Mom’s brow shoots right up. “Oh, really?” she questions. “Usually talk of elaborate parties is enough to get your mind whirling with great ideas.”
“Yeah,” I say, glancing at Colton. “I mean, while the parties are freaking cool and all that, every single one of them has ended in disaster for me, so I think I’m good. I might give this next one a skip.”
Mom blanches at me. “Okay, who are you and what have you done with my daughter?”
“I’m serious,” I tell her, fighting against the smirk on my lips. “The black and white party ended with me throwing drinks all over Colton and the boys, the masquerade ended with me … umm,” Fuck, I haven’t told her about this. “Well, I think someone slipped something in my drink.” She sucks in a sharp breath but I continue on. “The wake wasn’t really a party but that ended with Colton kicking Nic and the Widows out and the Gatsby party ended with Nic being Nic.”
Mom looks baffled for all of three seconds before she pulls herself back to today. “Okay, let's rewind a little and go back to someone slipping something in your drink. What are you talking about? This is the first I’m hearing about it.”
“It’s fine,” I insist, averting my eyes as I struggle to meet hers. “It was handled and I slept it off, but then all the Charles stuff happened and I guess I forgot to mention it again.”
“Oh, honey,” she says with a heavy sigh, reaching across the table and giving my hand a firm squeeze. “I wish you would have told me about this. Perhaps Colton can get one of his security guys to go back through the surveillance tapes and find out who spiked your drink. One less predator around here, the better.”
“I, uhh…”
“Of course,” Colton says. “I'll have them look into it first thing in the morning.”
Mom gives him a dazzling smile as though he holds all the answers to the world's problems in his hands, though if you ask me, all the answers lie deep in his pockets among the bucket loads of cash. One thing is for sure, she never gave her approval to any of my Widows like that.
We carry on with dinner and every few bites or so, mom glances up and watches me with concern all over her face. It isn’t until a text comes through on her phone that the silence breaks.
Colton and I watch as she glances over the text. “Oh,” she laughs, completely taken by the message as her cheeks flush the brightest shade of pink.
“Who’s that?” I question, watching her with curiosity as she tries to pretend that nothing happened.
She slips her phone off the table, allowing it to drop onto her lap, knowing damn well that I’m not above swan diving across our dinner plates and wrestling the phone out of her hand. Who cares about the mess and spilled drinks. When there’s information to be found, I'm going to get it one way or another.
“Mom,” I warn.
She lets out a frustrated sigh, knowing me better than I know myself. “Fine,” she grumbles. “It’s Roman Jennings.”
My mouth drops. “As in Hendrix’s dad? The rich sugar daddy from the Gatsby party?”
Mom rolls her eyes. “Oh, don’t pretend that you don’t know. You and Hendrix have been plotting ever since you saw us dance at the party.”
A grin tears across my face and I watch out of the corner of my eye as Colton conceals a smirk and shakes his head. “I don’t have any idea what you’re talking about.”
Mom sighs and leans back in her chair, deciding to make this conversation about my little white lies rather than the actual topic of her possibly being interested in another man apart from my father. “Out with it, Ocean,” Mom says.
My lips press into a tight line and I find myself sitting up a little straighter in my seat. “You know he’s completely smitten by you?”
“How would you know?” she scoffs. “Have you ever met the man?”
“Well, no … but I’ve met Hendrix and for some weird reason, I trust her instincts on this. She said that she’s never seen her dad like this before. Surely that must mean something? She thinks you’ll make a great couple and I’m inclined to agree with her.”
Mom fumbles over her words before stuttering out a ‘no’ and shaking her head. “It’s way too soon. Your father only passed eight months ago. I’m not even close to thinking about dating someone, especially a man like Roman Jennings. He’s so … successful. It would be very off-putting and intimidating.”
Colton scoffs under his breath. “Take it from me who’s looking at it from the other perspective,” he says, glancing at me with a slight cringe. “No offense, of course.” I roll my eyes and he glances back at mom. “Yes, he’s successful. He has a great business and from where I’m sitting, it’s only going to get bigger. Jennings is only a few years away from landing himself on one of the Forbes top ten under fifty lists, but just like me, he’s apprehensive about women and what they want from him. Every man in my position is, but you’re pure, Maria. You’re not the kind of woman who would date him for a step up in the world, you’re not interested in what he could give you and I think he sees that in you.” His eyes slice across the table to me. “It’s fucking rare and when you find it, you hold onto it with both hands. I can guarantee that if Roman thinks you’re something special, he won’t let you go. He'll wait until you’re ready.”
Mom watches Colton with tears glistening in her eyes. “I … I don’t know. It’s very soon after Lou died. I couldn't possibly entertain this idea. What would people think?”
“What does it matter what people think?
It’s not like you know anyone around here anyway, and besides, it’s none of their goddamn business. If he’s going to make you happy, then I say go for it.”
Mom cringes and I sense her pulling away which only sends a barbed wire slicing through my chest. She deserves happiness, and as much as I loved my father, it’s time she knew the truth. Otherwise, she’s never going to find the strength to move on and find the happiness she really deserves.
Guilt sweeps through me and I look to Colton only to find his heavy stare already on me. Am I really going to break her heart like this and tell her the truth about dad?
Colton nods as though he can read my thoughts and I cringe a little harder. He reaches over and gives my hand a gentle squeeze. “It’s time,” he tells me before standing and collecting our empty plates. He looks down at mom. “As usual, thank you for dinner. It was delicious.”
Mom gives him a tight smile, too overwhelmed by her own thoughts to be completely on her A-game. “Always. Thank you, sweet boy. Have a good night.”
Colton places the dishes in the sink and doesn’t bother with a goodbye for me, knowing damn well that I’m going to end up back in his room as soon as I’m finished here.
I wait until he’s walked out before looking back at mom and feeling my stomach twist with nerves. How am I supposed to tell my mother the man who she loved for the last twenty years wasn’t the man she thought he was at all? This is going to crush her, but she needs to know the truth. She needs to know that it’s okay to move on.
Mom looks at me expectantly. She’s no fool, Colton’s hasty exit was anything but ordinary, but naturally, she’s far too polite to have pointed it out while he was still in the pool house. “What’s going on, Oceania?”
I cringe at hearing my full name and let out a heavy sigh. “There are some things you should know about Dad.” Mom’s brows take a dive and I continue on before my courage has a chance to fade away. “He’s not who he always led us to believe,” I explain. “I found out the other week when I went into Breakers Flats.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You know how I was there during the drive-by when Kian was killed?” Mom nods and I let out a shaky breath. “Well, the reason I was there in the first place was because I found a file in Charles’ office with the Widows mark on the front and all this information on dad.”
“What information?” she demands, cutting me off.
“He was a Wolf, mom,” I say, feeling my insides twist with guilt. “Nic and the boys knew all along. He was a wolf.”
She shakes her head. “No. They’re lying. Your father hated gangs. They’re dangerous and only cause problems. He was in no way affiliated with them. He stayed far, far away from them. You know that.”
“No,” I say. “Trust me, I wish it weren’t true. I wish so badly that I could tell you that he was an innocent and loving man like he always made himself out to be, but he wasn’t. He wasn’t just a Wolf, Mom. He was second in command and their exterminator.”
Her face pales and in a flash of lightning, her hand smacks across my face with a sharp sting. I stare at her in horror, holding a hand to the side of my face and desperately trying to dull the ache. She’s never hit me before and it comes just as much as a shock to her that it is to me.
“Don’t you dare talk ill of your father like that,” she cries, standing in a panic and looking at me in horror for not only what she’s just done but for the truths I'm telling, fearing that I could be right.
I stand, brushing off the sting from her slap, knowing that the longer I hold onto my face, the more she’s going to hate herself and on top of what I’m telling her, she doesn’t need that too. “I swear to you, Mom. He was a killer, and apparently the best one on this side of the planet. They told me that he was ruthless, he killed for sport and not for a payday which made him the most sought after killer the Wolves and Widows had ever seen. Kian told me that he tried to recruit him all the time but he denied. He was loyal to the Wolves.” I let out a sigh and look straight into her eyes, letting her see my pure devastation. “He wasn’t a good man. He fooled us both.”
She shakes her head, tears pouring from her eyes. “No, that’s not the man I married. I would have known. If he was a Wolf, he never would have allowed those Widows to befriend you the way they did. He would have got rid of them as soon as they stepped into your life.”
“I know,” I tell her. “But he wanted to keep it secret. He wanted to protect us from that life and keep the target off our backs. You know my guidance counselor, Miss Davies? Her family is involved with the Wolves and when I had my meeting, she recognized my name and said that she knew my father. I didn't believe her at first but the more digging I did, the more I realized that she was right.”
“That meeting was weeks ago,” she says, her voice hitching up higher. “How long have you known about all of this? How long have you been keeping this from me?”
“I … I’m sorry. I just … I didn’t know how to tell you. I knew it would be hard and I didn't want it to crush you like it crushed me. Please don’t be mad at me.”
Mom stares at me, the horrified look still etched heavily into her features. “I just …” She shakes her head, looking at me with disappointment. “I can’t with you right now. I just … I can’t.”
With that, she turns and walks to her bedroom, closing the door behind her as my world crumbles around me.
I drop down onto the couch and lean onto my knees, allowing my head to fall forward. How could I do that to her? I should have let her go on remembering him as the man he wanted her to know.
What kind of monster am I? She'll never forgive me for hiding this, or for being the one to tell her. I lose no matter what.
What am I going to do?
I sit on the couch for at least an hour, hearing nothing but the broken sobs coming from my mother's bedroom, each and every single one of them tearing me apart. So, I do what any other loving daughter would do and I face the music.
I suck up my pain, realizing that it's nowhere near as great as hers and pick myself up off the couch. I lock up the pool house and turn off the lights before making my way into Mom’s room and slipping into her bed. I wrap my arms around her and pull her into me, letting her cry out her pain while struggling to hold it together.
It’s not easy seeing the woman you’ve looked up to all your life breaking down. She’s always been so strong and has always concealed this side of her, but now that I’m grown, I'm realizing that she’s not the superwoman I always saw her as, she's just a regular, fragile human being, just like the rest of us. She feels pain just as I do and tonight, I’m the reason for that pain.
I don’t move an inch, holding onto her until we both fall into a fitful sleep and finally call an end to the night from hell.
Chapter 13
I sit in the cafeteria, ignoring the sharp glares from Cora. At least, I think it’s Cora. She’s a little too far away to see the finer details of her face. It's only been a little over a week since they’ve been home but I’m starting to tell the slight differences between them. For example, Cora is the ring leader. She’s the first to glare and the first to bite. Casey just goes along for the ride and to be perfectly honest, I think she’s starting to get bored of the whole ‘takedown Ocean’ plotline that they’ve got going on. Either that or she’s found someone else to keep her mind busy.
Hendrix laughs beside me as Jess continues to sulk. She’s been sulking all day and from what I can gather, things didn't go so well when she tried to push a relationship on Milo. The poor girl, falling for Milo wouldn’t be hard. He's so freakin’ sweet and adorable. She probably thought that she’d found the one. Though, that reminds me that I should probably give him a call to discuss this after school. I’ve sent a few texts demanding answers but he’s suspiciously ignoring them, and a guy like Milo is never far from his phone.
Hendrix turns to me, more than ready to have the word vomit come pouring out of her mouth with her thoughts on the bitch
twins when the cafeteria doors slam open, making the whole student body turn to face the extremely scary looking dude with loud, shocked, and terrified gasps.
My eyes bug out of my head.
Oh, no.
Fucking Nic. What the hell does he think he’s doing?
His eyes scan over the girls and for a brief moment, I consider hiding behind them, not ready to face this bullshit.
Some of the girls look with interest, more than willing to jump on the daddy issues train. Others look around for the closest exit, terrified of the massive black widow spider tattoo that creeps around the side of his neck. I fucking love that tat. I was there when he got it done and thought it was the sexiest thing I’d ever seen, hell, it still kinda is. His whole body is covered from head to toe, he’s literally a work of art. Add in the few piercings and the red bandana, he looks like someone who should be locked behind bars.
I scoff to myself. Considering he's in the heart of a high school with a gun tucked in the back of his jeans, prison is exactly where he belongs. What the hell does he think he’s even doing in here? If he wanted to see me so bad, he could have waited until after school. Common sense, right? Though, I never claimed that Dominic Garcia had any.
I wonder if these girls even know who he is. The tattoo kinda gives it away, but that would just lead them toward the Widows, they’d have no idea that this scary-ass mother fucker is the leader of one the most feared gangs in the country. They’d have absolutely no idea that this guy standing in their cafeteria, looking so deliciously inviting, could kill them with his bare hands. They’d have zero chills if they learned that Nic Garcia is the kind of man that nightmares are made of.
Barbie B*tch: A Dark High School Bully Romance (Rejects Paradise Book 3) Page 12
