Page 126 of Property of Stone
“He mistakenly thought he could simply leave his family and never have to deal with me again. I wouldn’t let him do that. I was holding him to his responsibilities. And that’s what pissed him off.”
“Thought he wanted custody of Baby Bird?”
“Only so he could avoid paying child support. Since hewasn’t paying at all, I filed for full custody instead of partial and that’s why he confronted me in the parking lot. He knew if I got it, what he owed would’ve increased.” Meaning he’d owe even more back child support if he ever got a job that didn’t pay him under the table like his brother did.
“Guess he thought usin’ his fists would get you to change your mind.”
“It didn’t work. I was granted full custody after he went to prison.” Thankfully.
“As someone who pays support, gonna say that it can be cheaper than raisin’ the kid yourself.”
“It’s also more work to do the actual child raising, as I’m sure you’re learning now that Sunny’s living here full-time. It doesn’t take much of an effort to write a monthly check. Or have it automatically deducted from your pay. How did the court know what your monthly payment should be when you don’t have a job on record?” Getting cash under the table was one way deadbeat dads got out of paying child support.
“No courts needed. We negotiated. I threw out a fair amount, Sheena countered with some fuckin’ crazy amount and, surprised the fuck outta me, somehow we met in the middle. Probably the only time we agreed on anything. No matter what the amount ended up bein’, planned on makin’ sure my girl didn’t go without. Whether she’s with me or her mother.”
“Do you think Sheena will fight to get Sunny back once she’s released?”
“She can fight all the fuck she wants. Sunny ain’t ever goin’ back. Already told Sheena that.”
Just because that was what he believed didn’t mean it would pan out that way. “What if she takes you to court?” With no income on record, that would be a negative checkmark for his case.
Stone snorted. “She ain’t takin’ me to court ‘cause she ain’t payin’ for no attorney. She also don’t got any real job. When it comes down to it, she’s a greedy bitch, so all I gotta do is throw some scratch at her and that’ll be that.”
“Until she needs more money.”
“Drug addicts always do.”
“Since she’s a drug addict, weren’t you concerned about Sunny not being taken care of properly?”
“Yeah, but like you said, don’t got a job on record, so never woulda got custody in the first place if I took her to court. Got no proof how I can financially afford to take care of my girl. Did the only thing I could fuckin’ do by checkin’ in with Sunny daily when she wasn’t with me to make sure she was good. Got clothes. Was fed. Got to school. Any issue, I stepped in. No longer gotta worry about that shit. Now just gotta deal with her miserable attitude twenty-four-seven.” His mouth twisted.
“I wish she was happier.”
Stone sighed and shook his head. “Yeah, me too.”
“Is it because she misses her mom?”
“Doubt it. She don’t like the fact I’m stricter than Sheena. She let her get away with too much fuckin’ shit. Bottom line, don’t want her endin’ up like her mother. Anyway, back to Vic the Dick. Motherfucker’s gettin’ out so I need to go over those rules again.”
Taryn mentally groaned. The man was like a broken record.
“Don’t want you goin’ anywhere without me knowin’. Not you. Not Baby Bird. You gotta go somewhere, I’m gonna be with you or one of the prospects will. If a prospect can do the errand you need done, then we’re gonna keep shit simple and send one of them instead.”
“What about school? I’m worried Vic will find out where Wren’s attending and snatch him from there.”
“Hope to have him handled before that ever happens.”
Taryn blinked at that response. He had mentioned something along that vein before, but he never explained how he planned on doing that. That worried her. “How are you going tohandlehim? And will whatever that entails land you behind bars again? If you get caught doing something you shouldn’t be, Sunny will have lost both parents to the prison system.”
Stone rolled onto his back and pulled in a breath. “Yeah. Ain’t gonna do shit that puts Sunny in foster care.”
That was a relief.
She rolled toward him and traced one of his chest tattoos with her fingertip. He had so damn many, she swore it would take her a week to trace them all.
Bikers sure liked their tattoos.
And leather.
