AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I don’t,” Barrick announced. Gently, he turned my head and pressed his lips to the center of my brow before carefully placing me in the empty chair beside his. Jerking to his feet, he crossed to our moms. “If you’ll excuse me, Emmie, I’ll show these two out.”
I sat there, fighting the knot of emotions trying to choke me. I had no doubt that Barrick always put me first, even with his parents, but that didn’t stop it from hurting when his mother took jabs at me. Normally I had tougher skin, but where she was concerned—the woman who had given birth to the man I loved—the arrows didn’t bounce off like they would with anyone else.
Chapter 7
Barrick
I could feel the top of my head ready to explode as I firmly grasped my mother’s arm and carefully pulled her to her feet. She had a bruise forming on her forehead from where Emmie had smashed her face into the table. Honestly, I was surprised that was all she’d done to my mother. Emmie had shown true restraint; that was for fucking sure.
As I led my mother out of the restaurant and onto the sidewalk, I knew Seller was behind me. Wherever Meredith went, he followed, but he was oddly quiet.
It wasn’t until we were down the street a few yards that I finally released my hold on my mother’s arm. She’d kept her mouth shut the entire time, but as soon as I let her go, she turned to me with fury on her face. “How could you—”
“Enough!” I roared. “From the moment I first introduced you to Mia, you’ve been nothing but a heinous bitch to her. You are the thing in-law nightmares are made of. Well, I’m not going to sit back like some husbands and allow you to treat my wife like shit. That kind of toxicity won’t touch my family.”
“If anyone is toxic, it’s that girl and her entire family!” she cried. “Drug addicts and drunks. Violent pieces of filth who think it’s okay to put their hands on anyone. Look at my face.” She hissed as she touched the growing bruise on her forehead.
“The only filth I saw in there was you and your disgusting attitude. Tonight and tomorrow have nothing to do with you, Mother. This is Mia’s and my time. We’re celebrating our wedding. The two of us are making a family, one I refuse to let you be a part of if you can’t stop being such a toxic bitch.”
She balled her hands into fists at her sides, but she turned tear-filled eyes on Seller. “Charles, say something! He’s being unreasonable.”
My stepfather surprised me when he looked down at his wife in disappointment. “You went too far tonight, Meredith. The way you acted in there is beneath you.”
Hurt filled her eyes, but she quickly switched gears. “We shouldn’t have even been in there. That girl is all wrong for Charlie. He deserves someone like Darcy Hamilton, who Braxton is going to marry.”
“He’s not marrying her, Mother. That was just Belinda and Miles trying to control Brax. And I sure as fuck won’t let you do the same to me.” I stepped back from her and shifted my gaze to Seller. “She’s not welcome at the wedding tomorrow. Until she’s ready to sincerely apologize to Mia, I won’t allow her in our life. Keep in mind that Mia is pregnant with our first child, your first grandchild. If you can’t respect my wife, then you sure as hell won’t respect our baby. Until you change your attitude, don’t expect to see them or me again.”
“What about the company?” Seller tossed at me out of the blue.
A tired laugh escaped me. “That’s all you’re worried about?” He shrugged, and I stepped into his space. “The company is mine. It was always going to be mine. My father owned more shares of it than you. Those shares came to me upon his death. You were just in charge until I came of age. Fuck, you even changed the name from Barrick & Seller to just Seller. When I get back from my honeymoon, you’re going to be gone. I’m finally going to use my extra pull and kick you off the board.”
Turning to go, I called over my shoulder, “I suggest you speak to Braxton while I’m gone. Get him to buy you out while you still can. Because if you’re still part of my company when I return, I’ll make sure you’re left with nothing.” I paused with my hand on the door to the restaurant and glanced back at them. “I’ve always wondered about something, Seller. Did you start fucking my mother before my dad died, or did you wait until he was in the ground before you started screwing your supposed best friend’s wife?”
“Charlie!” Mother shouted in outrage.
“I’m sure you can call for a town car if you don’t want to take a taxi home.” I opened the door and stepped inside.
I didn’t expect an answer to the question, but it sure as fuck felt good to finally ask it.
As the door closed behind me, I noticed the others had gone back to enjoying the evening. Laughter echoed off the walls while everyone ate their dinner. My gaze zeroed in on Mia, who was sitting where I’d placed her, picking at the food on her plate with a fork. The joy that had been on her face earlier was gone, and my rage tried to rear its head again, but I pushed it down. My mother wouldn’t hurt her anymore. I’d make fucking sure of that.
I made my way through the tables, and as soon as I reached her, I scooped her up. With a squeak, she wrapped her arms around my neck. “Emmie, I’ll bring Mia to the hotel later,” I announced without looking away from Mia’s green eyes.
“Before midnight!” Lyla and Nevaeh said in unison.
“Just be careful on the road,” Emmie told me as I carried Mia out a side door.
I didn’t even glance to see if my mother and stepfather were on the street as I walked toward my SUV. Keeping Mia tucked against me, I opened the door and placed her in the passenger seat. Snapping her seat belt into place, I kissed her forehead before finally stepping back. “Your smile is gone.”
“Give me a few more minutes,” she said with a slight tilt of her lips. “It will make a comeback soon.”
“Sit tight. I’ll get that sassy mouth happy again in no time.”
Her eyes began to glitter. “Will it be because it’s wrapped around your cock?”
“That can definitely be arranged, firecracker.”
****
