Page 64 of Sin Wagon
Her eyes flicker with a dark, twisted satisfaction. “I won’t be a bride left at the altar. It would tarnish my reputation. But beinga victim of domestic abuse and escaping before we were tied together in matrimony… I’m a survivor.”
My stomach churns at her callousness. “You’re sick.” I curl my lip in disgust. “I expect to hear about dropped charges in the next few days or I’m going to show up at every country club and high society function within a twenty-mile radius and shout from the rooftops: I’m a stripper and your daughter.”
Before she can say anything else, I storm past her. As I walk away, I take one last glance at her, pity and disdain settling over me. She’s a lost cause, a twisted soul trapped in her own web of lies and manipulation. I refuse to let her drag me down any further. She'll tell the truth or I’ll tell mine. The cards are in her hands.
I get to the car where Wells is patiently waiting still, just scrolling on his phone.
As I slide into the passenger seat, I can’t shake the image of Claudia’s pale face, the desperation in her eyes. I take a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart.
“Everything okay?” he asks, putting his phone away, giving me his full attention. His eyes are so full of understanding and care.
“Yeah. Getting the meds was the easy part. Running into my mother… not so much.”
“What!” he hollers, his voice rising in alarm. “Did she hurt you? Did she say anything?”
I shake my head, though I know it won’t fully ease the worry written all over his face.
“Oh, she said plenty. I’m used to dealing with her. So while I’m sure I should have hurt feelings, I don’t. However, I believe she will recant her story about Jonas hurting her and the charges should be dropped soon.”
His brow furrows, confusion flickering in his eyes. “How?”
A small, satisfied smirk tugs at my lips as I recount the confrontation.
“I threatened the one thing she can’t stand to lose: her reputation. Told her I was going to go door to door pretty much and tell everyone in her bougie social circle I was her kid. Don’t think a stripper, carrying her uncle’s baby will go over too well with them.”
“Step-uncle,” he growls.
I shrug, trying to suppress the laugh that bubbles up.
“Either way. You guys should have called me in earlier. You needed a master in Claudia to fix this. I will accept an award of one-foot rub every night until this baby comes out.”
His expression shifts from worry to amusement. “Deal.” He winks, and for a moment, the tension eases from my shoulders. “Now, let’s get you home. I have feet to rub and a brother to call to tell the good news.”
The confrontation with Claudia, while stressful, has given me a sense of control and closure. I’m more than capable of handling her, and I’m ready to move forward with my life. I glance at Wells, feeling a surge of gratitude. His support, his presence. It’s everything I need right now.
When we pull onto the street, I turn to Wells, my heart swelling with affection. “Thanks for being here,” I say softly.
He glances at me with a tender, reassuring smile that makes everything feel okay. “Always. Now, let’s get inside and get you comfortable. You deserve it.”
Chapter 29
WELLS
I follow Delilah into the house, carrying all her bags, and I laugh at how much she got. It didn’t help that anything she touched or even smiled at, I bought. It's a small price to pay to see her happy, to make her feel loved and supported.
The woman has done this all alone so far, minus Derek, so I wanted to show her I’m here now and not going anywhere. I plan on spoiling her and the baby for as long as she’ll let me.
“You can just set everything in the corner over there.” She motions to the wall the closet is on. “I’ll deal with it tomorrow.”
I watch as she peels her clothes off and pulls a baggy t-shirt over her head. I stifle a groan as she crawls into the bed, her panty-covered ass wagging at me, teasing me with its perfect shape.
Undressing so I’m in just my briefs, I join her on the bed. Instantly, she snuggles up against me.
“Today was fun but I’m fucking beat.” She yawns.
“Rest, Little Doe. I’m going to call Jonas and tell him about Walgreens and Claudia.”
She closes her eyes, and I pull out my phone, dialing my brother’s number, putting it on speakerphone so Delilah can hear his response when I tell him about their standoff. The events of today still buzz in my mind—running into Claudia. I feel a surge of protectiveness for Delilah.
