Page 46 of Blackbeard
Torch bullied into his personal space, just shy of shoving Blackbeard in the chest.
“Then we’ll fucking take him from you.”
My legs felt like melted butter. I leaned against the wall, head spinning, gritting my teeth against the burning pain in my side.
“This is unforgivable,” Dad said, jabbing a finger at Kingpin. “How do I know you’re not screwing me over? I'm voiding our contract."
My heart stuttered. This was the first time I’d seen or heard from Dad since the marriage. And so far, he didn’t even know I was in the room, let alone said hello. He never returned my call, never texted me. But he was here now, ranting about the terms of that damned contract…
I learned a long time ago that Dad’s number one priority was his club. Always. That would never change. And I managed to live with it. But sometimes, I hated it. Like I did now.
“Dad?” I rasped.
No one noticed. They kept fighting amongst themselves.
I took a deep breath, bracing the muscles in my side for the inevitable jolt of pain that was about to hit me.
“Dad!” I snapped.
Yep, that hurt like hell. I stifled a groan.
Silence descended on the living room and everyone turned to look at me.
“Leigh, sweetie,” Dad said, crossing the room to my side.
When he wrapped his arms around me, I squeezed my eyes shut.
This. This is what I needed, what Icraved, for so long. When was the last time he hugged me? I couldn’t remember. Maybe when I was ten years old…
A sob lodged in my throat, but I never cried in front of anyone. I couldn’t break that record now. Pulling back, I mustered a smile and tried to smooth my tangled hair. I couldfeel my dry, cracked mascara, which was probably a smudged mess around my eyes, but it was too late to do anything about that now.
“Quit your squabbling,” I said. “I need my beauty sleep.”
“You’re coming home with me,” Dad replied."The contract is done."
I shook my head and crossed my arms. With everyone staring at me, I felt vulnerable, exposed in my thin robe. Under normal circumstances, I knew how to use all that attention to my advantage, but my side hurt, and I was still a little bruised, resenting that Dad had left me high and dry until the threat of breaking his precious contract brought him crawling out of the woodwork.
“I’m not going anywhere,” I said. “As you can see, I’m perfectly fine—”
Torch scoffed.
“You look like death warmed over, Leigh.”
I glared at him.
“Well, you certainly know how to make a woman feel sexy, don’t you?”
Torch snapped his mouth shut, only mildly chastened. His eyes still sparked with other things he chose not to say.
Dad grasped my upper arm and started pulling me to the door.
“This is not up for debate. We’re leaving.”
I twisted out of his grip and waded through the bikers, praying my knees wouldn’t give out. Blackbeard’s dark eyes locked on me, watching as I approached and stopped at his side. I looped my arm through his elbow.
“I’m staying here. With my husband.”
A tense hush fell over the room.
