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I blinked as I came back to the moment, my eyes on Creed. “Just try, okay?” I asked of him. Creed was a stubborn man. Not hot-headed, but he hated authority. He respected my brother and father, but I wasn’t sure if that was because the club expected that of him.
“You two coming?” Mum asked as she walked past, holding a whiskey glass. God, Dad was on the spirits. That answered my question to how he was coping with West out, and I couldn’t lie to myself and say that I wasn’t a factor of why Dad was drinking straight tonight.
Following Mum out, I saw Dad working the barbeque grill. His gaze left the meat and looked to Creed and me. My dad was many things—a biker, a ruthless man, quick to react, but he loved hard and always protected his family.
I couldn’t stop the smile as I walked to the outdoor table, which was set for dinner. I have learned that my dad is my strength. He got me through the dark days. He got me through what I thought I couldn’t survive. All my family did.
Dad’s expression showed shock at my smile, and he gave me a smile in return, but it disappeared when his eyes landed on Creed.
“Where’s the vest?” Dad barked from the barbeque
Oh, shit. Why the hell didn’t I remind Creed! I opened my mouth, ready to explain.
“Went to the valley. Didn’t want to bring extra heat on Holly by wearing it.” Creed didn’t back down from a confrontation. “Thought a couple of hours without it outweighed the trouble.”
Dad’s eyes remained locked on Creed. It was as if he were debating whether to make this physical. Kobra was standing at Dad’s side, and due to history, he was ready to get in the way of Dad and any target.
“Well, you’re not in the fucking valley now,”
“I’ll get it.” I was quick to speak before anyone said another word. I turned and walked back inside because I knew it was going to be tense until I got back. I opened the front door to head to Creed’s car, only to find the last person I wanted to see.
Fear flooded my body. I swallowed sharply. Dad and Kobra’s bikes weren’t out front, but I couldn’t stop thinking how West was fucking bold coming here. I wanted to scream. I went to slam the door in his face and lock it, but instead, he grabbed my wrist, pulling me out the door.
“Dad’s here.” My words trembled.
His grip on me tightened. “You fucking cost me everything.” It was as he pulled me down the porch that my fear kicked up a notch.
So I fought, trying to get out of his grip.
Just as I went to scream, the front door opened. It took Creed two seconds to react.
“Get your fucking hands off her.” As Creed’s words came out, he could see the tears in my eyes. I was quick to wipe them away, but Creed snapped. Before I could step in and tell Creed not to react, he had West by the shirt collar, forcing him against the boot of the Chevy.
“Maybe Hades hasn’t said anything, but I fucking will. Stay the fuck away from Holly.” Creed had this murderous tone in his voice as his knuckles went white and his grip tightened on West’s shirt.
“Creed, stop,” I said to him. But he wasn’t going to back down.
“I don’t answer to you, little boy.” West fought back, shoving Creed. My stomach dropped at West’s words. He didn’t know Creed, but I did, so I wasn’t even surprised when Creed’s fist connected with West’s jaw, and West being West, didn’t back down from a fight, either.
“Stop it!” I roared at them.
But these two, they were punching each other like they were trying to prove something and like they were made of steel because they weren’t stopping.
“Fucking stop it!” I screamed this time, but they didn’t listen. However, when a gun went off, they were forced to stop.
Dad was standing on the porch step, his eyes on both men. Then his expression tightened when he saw West. He lowered the gun, but I stepped into the path.
“Dad, he’s not worth it,” I said quickly, hoping and praying he’d listen to me and not his raging mind right now.
“Creed, Holly, head inside.” Dad’s eyes were locked on West. But I saw them flick to me, and for a split second, I saw it—pain and guilt blended into one appeared in my father’s eyes. The tears were gripping me, emotions flooding my body. The shame I felt in those moments was unexplainable.
I turned to look at West. “You said I ruined your life. Yet it’s my life that was torn to fucking pieces.” I said it low, hoping only he would hear me. I felt the tears burning my skin, and I knew this was as close as I was going to get. “You nearly killed me,” I added, and then I stared into West’s eyes. “And you know what is worse? Some days, I wish Dad hadn’t found me. Because what I feel every day is suffocating, and that’s all thanks to you.”
I turned, and I saw Creed’s eyes on me, but I couldn’t look at him. I knew Creed had heard my peace with West, which left me unable to look at him at all.
I spun on my heels and headed inside. Pausing beside Dad, I reminded him, “Kill him, and you kill this family.” Dad’s eyes didn’t lift from West as I spoke. I hoped he listened. But as Kobra stepped out the door as I headed in, I knew there was no chance they would handle this with a level head.
* * *
