Page 19 of The Biker's Hidden Obsession

“Not enough,” I groan, landing a punch square on his jaw.

The woman in black gasps and steps in, holding her husband’s arm as though he’s permanently damaged. Dramatic, everyone is so fucking dramatic.If I wanted him permanently injured, he would be.

Sienna lands her hand on my back and a rush of guilt swells my chest.

Fuck! I don’t want her to see me like this. I’m supposed to be a better man.

“It’s okay.” She rubs my back softly and holds my hand in hers, guiding me toward the bathroom. “Let’s go take a break.”

The second the door closes between the two worlds, I apologize. “I don’t know what happened. I’m so sorry. They interrupted us, and there’s all that past shit, and it just came rushing back. I—”

“It’s okay.” She tips up onto her toes and kisses my lips gently as though she’s the softest baby bird that ever lived. “He’s hurt me enough times, too.”

Blood pokes at me from beneath my skin. “What do you mean? He hurt you?”

“He’s not a good man. I put a lot of blame on my mother because she’s the puppet master, but my father goes along with it. I’ve never been good enough for either of them. Never prettyenough, never smart enough, and they let me know. I spent years saving money to start this business, and I thought I wanted their approval,” she drags in a deep breath, “but I was wrong. They’ll never change.”

I sweep my fingers through her hair and kiss the top of her head. “I need to be honest with you, sweetheart. I’m not a good man.”

“Yes, you are.” Her eyes meet mine as though she wants me to hear her, but I know I can’t leave the room until she knows the truth.

“Your dad and I were in our junior year of college. We had this thesis to write,” I round my shoulders, “and I had everything to prove. I was raised by a single mom, and I was at school on a scholarship. Your dad and I became friends. We were always fuckin’ around together, until one day, late in the semester, I found out he stole parts of my thesis and turned it in as his own. I lost my scholarship, went home, joined the military, and well… ended up here.”

She shakes her head, twisting her long blonde hair to the side. “Why would you lose your scholarship? You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Honey, your dad is rich. Your family is rich. Rich people get what they want. It’s that easy. They always do.”

She huffs out a heavy breath and wrinkles her brows. “Why would I have thought you were the bad guy for that story?”

I drag in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “When I got kicked out, and he got to stay enrolled, I got really bitter. My mom had worked so fuckin’ hard to keep me in all the best programs at school so I’d get that scholarship. Ihatedyour dad after he did what he did. So, I followed him out to the bar one night, dragged him out into the street, and beat the shit out of him. He was in the hospital for a few months. It was before cell phones, so no one had any proof it was me, butheknew.”

She bites the inside of her lip as though she isn’t sure how to take everything I’m saying. I don’t blame her. This isn’t my highlight reel.

“I don’t know what to say,” she finally whispers.

I scrub my hand across my beard, the scent of her body still on me. “I’m not proud of myself for any of this. I’m a different man now.”

She stands from the bed and walks toward me slowly as though she sees parts of me that I no longer do. “I know you are, Tennessee. You don’t have to live in the past anymore. We can build a future together.”

I land my hand on her face, my chest warm from the words of understanding she spills from her innocent heart. “I’m not a good man, Sienna. I’m not. I think that punch a few minutes ago proves it. But I’d never lie to you, I’d never hurt you, and I’d burn the whole fuckin’ world down to make sure you’re safe.”

“Sienna, we’re taking your father to the hospital. That beast broke his jaw!” her mother hollers through the bathroom door.

I stare down at her. “Do you want me to handle them?”

“No,” she kisses my chest and opens the door slowly, “I’ve got it.”

The door is barely open when I see her father staring at us. His jaw is definitely not busted. It’s red and bruised, but it’s not busted, and he doesn’t need a fucking hospital. He should know that with the medical degree he has.

“Does she know who you are?” he groans, staring up at me with heavy, untamed eyebrows.

“Of course I know who he is. I know whoyouare, too,” Sienna says, landing her small hand in mine as she steps beside me. “You’re a monster. You steal money from the hospital, you lie to people who care about you, you ruin lives, and you smile while you do it.”

“And you think your trash boyfriend is any better?” her father says with a smirk.

Fuck this guy!

Sienna smiles and leans against my chest. “Yeah, I do. I think he’s the best thing that ever happened to me, and if you and Mom walked out that door right now, I’d be just fine with never seeing either of you ever again.”

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