Page 31 of Tattooed Love

“Amber sweetie,” my father said, wrapping his arms around me.

I took the tears up to another level and wailed into his arms.

“What the devil has happened?” My father asked openly.

I quickly answered before my brothers or Jax had a chance to ruin my performance.

“They...” I broke off, adding a few more tears before I continued, “are going to leave again dad,” I whispered with fake heavy sadness.

I heard dad take in a deep breath and his body stiffen a little.

Now time to put the icing on the cake.

“They are abandoning me again,” I choked.“Leaving me with no support.”

They wanted to ruin my life and make sure I didn’t have one; well they could suffer with me. In fact, they could watch my life turn to shit first hand.

Thinking of coming here, ruining my life, and then leaving to watch from afar. Hah!

I snuck a small glance at their faces from under dad’s arm.

They looked stricken. Score!

Jax just sat there with a knowing smirk.

My dad let go of me and turned to face the boys. I didn’t have the willpower to control my laughter, so rather than facing them, I stood behind dad like a coward.

“You boys will NOT be leaving,” my father commanded the room.

Troy cleared his voice.

“We have commitments,” he pointed out.

“We can’t stay here and babysit,” Cole added with disgust.

“Family comes first!” My dad roared.“I expect each of you boys to have fully moved back into this house by the end of today. And no arguments or mention of prior commitments. Your commitment is to this family.”

Even the boys knew how strict dad was on family. He had let them leave, but he wasn’t going to let that happen again. Not if he thought I needed them.

Which I didn’t. I just wanted them to suffer.

A small smile played on my lips as I stared at the marble tiles.

But, as I noticed my father’s feet turn, I completely masked my face with sadness once again.

“Now Amber, you go upstairs and rest sweetie. I promise you they won’t be leaving,” he said slowly.

He then turned his attention back to my brothers.

As I walked towards the door, I cocked a look at my brothers.

Cole was glaring at me and I sent him a sweet smile, and I watched his hands curl into fists. Satisfied, I walked out the door and then skipped up the staircase.

Let’s see how long they’ll stick around and follow through on the threats. My guess was, they’d be gone, and for good, sooner than I could even imagine, far away from this house that they hated so much.

Chapter 8

My plan backfired. Badly. It had been weeks and my brothers were still here, making sure my life was nothing but miserable.

---