Page 66 of Blade

“Princess, I don’t think this is a good idea,” Leo says, and I look at him. His eyes soften as he whispers, “You tried to end everything. I don’t want them in there to put you back.”

I give him a half smile as my heart skips seeing the worry he has for me, but instead of answering him, I grip his hand and pull him towards the door because, as he says, I need closure, and whether I have a family after this will determine how my family handles my truth, the truth they have ignored for years.

“Axe,” Trinket shouts as we walk through the door and everyone looks our way, quickly quietening when they see me and then who’s holding my hand.

“Luna Lottie, where on earth have you been?!” I hear my mother snap, and I roll my eyes and look toward her usual table to find her standing with her hands on her hips glaring at me, her top way too low cut for a woman in her late forties.

Damn, even the club girls are dressed more appropriately than her.

She’s sitting with Screwball and Cleo, and I must swallow my scoff. What kind of bitch forces her‘lover’to sit next to her with his old lady, Mama obviously.

“Answer me, young lady!” she demands like I’m some kind of child, “What the hell are you doing with a Dark Angels brother? They have caused a lot of problems for this club Luna Lottie, and the fact you are whoring yourself out to them is not fucking acceptable.”

Leo growls and steps forward, but I squeeze his hand, keeping him with me. I look at my mother, locking eyes, and nothing but hate fills me.

“Pretty brave of you to accuse the Dark Angels of stuff in front of their presidents mama,” I say, and she freezes, looking at Leo again before her throat bobs as she eyes his patch. I continue, ignoring everyone, only focusing on my mother, and state, “Have you not noticed a certain brother missing, mama?”

She frowns and looks around the room, and everyone else does too.

“Your VP was trying to start a war with the Dark Angels,” I announce, and Mama laughs like I just told the funniest joke while the brothers frown, looking towards their Pres, who hasn’t denied me instantly like Mama is.

“Let me guess, he also attacked you again?” she mocks, and I squeeze Leo’s hand tighter, hoping his strength will get methrough this as he tenses. “Is that the road you were about to go down, Luna?” Mama asks as she shakes her head and sighs, “I am so disappointed in you, girl. For years, you’ve had a thing for that man, but because he didn’t pay you any attention, you decided to try and ruin his life like the little whore you are.”

Ouch. I turn my head and look towards the bar, looking for a certain person, and within seconds, Axe and I lock eyes.

“Have I been punished enough for your liking now, big brother?” I ask, and he frowns and opens his mouth, but I don’t let him speak. I ask, “Is hearing my own mother call me a liar in front of your club punishment enough for me to choose to stay with Leo instead of coming back to the place that holds too much trauma for me?”

“Luna –” he starts, but I cut him off, step forward, letting go of Leo’s hand, and snap, “No, I tried to kill myself, Taylor! I swallowed a bunch of pills begging for the darkness to take me and had to have my stomach pumped after they gave me CPR because I nearly succeeded.”

The brothers stand, some chairs falling over while they demand, “What the fuck?” “What is she talking about, Axe?” and shout in outrage when their pres doesn’t answer their questions, looking between us and Leo steps up behind me, his front heating my back and wraps his arm around my waist.

See again, he’s showing I’m his, basically claiming me before my brother’s club, yet his actions over the past few days have shown otherwise.

I look around the room, ignoring my thoughts, and look at the brothers, the anger and pain shining off them for me, before locking eyes with my mother. I state, “Brock wanted to start a coup but knew none of the brothers would go against Axe, that he was well respected, so he got new prospects to do his dirty work to try and start a war.”

“But a war wouldn’t convince us to vote your brother out,” Dirty says, and I look at him. He gives me a slightly crooked smile and says, “Not only is your brother one hell of a president, but it was your family that began the club, and only family will continue its legacy.”

I tilt my head at him, showing him my sadness, and his mouth drops as he mutters, “Including if a brother made you theirs…Fuck.”

I shrug and admit, “I wasn’t lying when I was thirteen.”

Everyone stills, and this time, instead of me speaking, my brother stands and moves to the middle of the room. All five brothers who witnessed everything stand behind him, gaining everyone’s attention.

“Seems we were all fooled, brothers,” he begins, “For years, we were made to believe my sister had an obsession with our VP, my sister who I should have taken more seriously,” he looks around his brothers and admits, “Turns out, the obsession was his.” Axe swallows hard and looks towards me before speaking tohisfamily, “Over the years, while we were refusing to listen to her, to see her pain, my little sister was raped nearly every day by Brock.”

“Taylor, she is lying!” my mother snaps, “How can you stand there and allow her lies to be heard against your own friend, your right-hand man?” Mama scoffs, “You’re lucky he’s away on club business instead of hearing this crap.”

“Fucking bitch,” Leo mutters and tightens his hold around my waist while I try my hardest not to burst into tears.

My own mother…

My brother glares at her as the brothers look between all three of us, not knowing who to believe while also being very aware of a certain man behind me. Some are skeptical. I can see the denial in each of their eyes, while others look ready to kick off for mysake, which I must admit is kind of nice to know they believe me. The club girls sneer my way, Brock being their favorite brother.

“Funny, considering I fucking heard the truth from the dick myself!” he snaps, and Mama’s mouth shuts instantly, and my body deflates because damn.

One word from her precious son, and she listens. Yet I pleaded with her, begged her to hear my words, and she didn’t. Instead, she degraded me in front of everyone and made the club think I was a liar.

Jokes on them, though, because I wasn’t.

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