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With a small, tired sigh, she grabbed her plate of food. I smiled at her. “That’s my girl.”
And her beautiful eyes brightened for me.
27
DINNER
Ally
Caiden cupped my face in his hands once I stepped out of the car. Swallowing nervously, I locked my eyes on his. “Remember, if you get overwhelmed, all you have to do is let one of us know. We’ll get you out of there,” he reminded me. “Your dad is the one that fucked up, Ally, not you,” he stressed. “I know you want to rebuild your relationship with him, but make sure you rebuild it on your terms.”
Drawing in a deep breath, I nodded my head. “Okay,” I whispered. “I think I can do this.”
“Not think,” Christian corrected as he grabbed my hand in his. I looked over at my other rock, the man who had been trying his best to hold me together since day one of us meeting. “You can do this, baby. Just take a deep breath. You’re not alone.”
I looked over at Axel as he made his way over to us. He had Meghan’s hand in his own, and Julian was trailing along behind them, talking to someone on his phone—most likely his agent, judging by the scowl on his face.
“Who has Holden and Lana?” I asked, thankful for the distraction from what I was trying to prepare myself to walk into that restaurant and face.
“The neighbor,” Meghan answered. She wrapped me up in a hug. “It’s going to be okay, Ally. We’re all here for you.”
“You ready, Little Sis?” Julian asked as he walked up, pocketing his phone. “Just remember that we’re all standing behind you, ready to defend you if something happens.”
“I’ll be okay.” Caiden’s hand found mine, and he laced our fingers together, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze as Christian placed his hand on my lower back, leading me toward the restaurant.
We were immediately led back to a private room, and my blood drained from my face, my steps faltering. I stared at my mother who was sitting next to my dad—the woman who had always hated me for being so different.
“What the fuck?” Axel seethed once the door was shut behind us, giving us privacy. “I thought it was just going to be you, Dad—not her.”
Mom stood up from the table. “Your father told me he was having dinner with you and Ally, so I thought that I would join as well.”
“I didn’t want you to come,” I blurted, drawing her eyes to me. She narrowed them at me in a warning to shut my mouth, but I steeled myself, remembering that I had both Caiden and Christian backing me. I knew neither of them would let her do something stupid. “I wanted to see Dad.”
“I am your mother, Ally. Sit down and stop acting like a petulant child,” she reprimanded.
Caiden wrapped an arm around my waist, tugging me against his powerful frame as he glared at my mother. “You sit the fuck down,” he snapped at her. Her eyes widened in shock. I honestly couldn’t remember a time anyone had spoken to her like he just had—not even my dad. “You intruded on their dinner. Frankly, I don’t think Axel wanted to see you, either. So, sit down like a good wife and shut your mouth unless you’re directly asked a question.”
She glared at him. “Do you have any idea—”
“Sit down, Mom,” Axel snarled as he pulled out a chair for Meghan and gestured for her to take a seat. “Caiden is right. I didn’t want you here, either. So, you can sit there and be silent, or you can leave. I frankly don’t give a fuck as long as I don’t have to listen to you.”
She moved back from the table and snatched her clutch up. “I thought that perhaps your little sister’s ex-boyfriend had been lying, but since she nor you have apparently changed, I’m safe to assume that he’s telling the truth. I’ll be paying for Randall’s attorney, and we will be fighting tooth and nail for him to be released.”
My mother spat on me, and Julian physically restrained Caiden from lunging across the table at her. I closed my eyes, my hands trembling in my lap as tears slid down my cheeks. I could feel Christian cleaning the spit off of my face. “Three years later, and she still can’t get her act together.”
I heard her storm out of the room. I sobbed, my entire body trembling with fear. Christian wrapped his arms tightly around me, holding me against him.
“Dad, is this true?” Axel asked.
“I had no idea about her talk with him,” my dad answered, and I could hear the sincerity in his voice. “I have no idea what she’s even talking about.”
“I want to go home,” I cried. I looked up at Christian through my tears. “Please, Christian, take me home.”
