Her jaws tightened. “It’s still not an excuse for that day.”
“I know. I’m sorry I hurt you. It’ll never happen again.”Can she say the same to me? Because she hurt me too. Shattered me.
She didn’t speak, but she put on the helmet and straddled the bike. That was enough for now.
CHAPTER 15
Tirone
“Where are we?” Jo held my hand as I led her into the forest by the lake.
“Lake Conroe.” Cherishing every second her hand was in mine, I filled my lungs with the calm breeze, leafing through memories. “I used to come here when I was a kid. The only thing I missed about Texas. That and Sammy.”
“Your aunt?”
“Yeah. She used to come here with us, too. Have you met her yet?”
“Haven’t had the chance. Laius told me they made her stay at the hospital the last time she was there and hasn’t been out yet. I asked to go visit, but he said she preferred to meet me for the first time outside hospital walls.”
“Sounds a lot like her.”
Jo smiled as she glanced at the late afternoon sun, taking in the picturesque view of this side of the lake next to the forest. “It’s beautiful.”
“The MC used to have barbeques and bonfires here all the time. All the kids gathered and played together. Sammy played with me all the time. She’s just a few years older. Furore taught us how to fish. There was music and dancing…and lots of beer.” I chuckled.
“Good times.”
“The only ones I can remember about my childhood with Furore.”
“You should hold on to them then.”
“No amount of fun can erase the sight of my mom battered and bleeding or the sight of him cursing at her, threatening to kill her at the courthouse when they convicted him.”
Her head lowered with a sigh as she rubbed my arm. “Ty, have you ever considered that your father might be innocent?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I saw how badly she was beaten up with my own eyes. She said he did it, and the court ruled in her favor. How could he be innocent?”
“She said he beat you, too. Do you remember that?”
“I was too young.”
“But you vividly remember coming here with your parents at the same age. If you can remember something that nice for a man you hate, do you not think it’ll make more sense if you remember the terrible things that made you hate him in the first place?”
My gaze narrowed at her. “My mom isn’t a liar, Jo. He is. What fucking lies has that monster been telling you?”
“He never gave me any details, but he mentioned Delilah always wanted to marry someone richer. She tried to run away with you, but he wouldn’t let her. That was why she put him in prison so she could leave and be with someone else.”
“That’s bullshit. If that’s true, who beat the shit out of her that day?”
“I don’t know, but why don’t you ask him? Perhaps if you listen to his side of the story, you’ll—”
“I’ll what? Forgive him? Love him?”
“Yes, Ty.”
