Page 40 of Capone
As Capone pulled up to the gate, I saw several brothers standing in front of it, arms crossed, as Derek’s mother, Whitney, screamed like she was deranged. Derek’s father, Dennis, wasn’t far behind her as he ranted as well.
I could already feel the migraine coming in. My day had started off so great, too. Derek’s family had always been like a small dark cloud in my life. Any time I was genuinely happy and in a great place, they managed to rain on me.
Now, here we were in another state, and nothing had changed.
Before I could exit the truck, Capone grabbed my hand and kissed the back of it. “Together,” he reminded me. I returned his smile, happy to know that he was going to be behind me every step of the way.
As I hopped out of the truck, Whitney and Dennis whirled around and scowled at me.
“Where the hell is my grandchild?” she hissed and stormed over to me, followed by Dennis. He was watching Capone with disdain. “You clearly aren’t fit to be a mother. You’re out here whoring yourself around while my grandbaby is God knows where!”
All the air seemed to leave my lungs. I'd tolerated Whitney’s disrespect for far too long. She was in for a rude awakening. Those days were long gone. I no longer held any desire to get along with this woman. If she couldn’t respect me, then it would be a two-way street. I’d done nothing to deserve the way this woman had treated me all these years and I’d had enough.
“Hey! There’s no need to talk to her that way.” Capone stepped forward, pulling me slightly behind him. The way heprotected me melted my heart every single time. He cherished me in a way my husband didn’t.
“Who the hell are you?” Whitney pointed a finger in his face.
“None of your business. Now, you can calm down and stop with the insults and have a conversation, or you can get in your car and leave. When you address Giovanna, it will be with respect, or it won’t be at all.” His voice was stern and dominant. Whitney's mouth hung open as he effortlessly shut her down.
“Now, wait a damn minute. You don’t talk to my wife like that!” Dennis barked as he stepped up to Capone and poked his chest.
Capone chuckled as he closed the space between him and Dennis. “I suggest you ask your son what happened the last time he thought it would be okay to touch me. I’m trying to keep the peace for the sake of Gabi, but make no mistake, you being her grandparents aren’t going to stop me from knocking your teeth down your throat.”
Dennis took a few steps back in fear while Whitney watched me in disgust. “I wish my son was still here to see what you’ve become. I always told him you didn’t love him and look. You have my granddaughter around a group of bikers who probably aren’t anything but a bunch of criminals.”
I stood flabbergasted at the audacity of this woman. She said it with so much conviction that I knew either she hadn’t learned the full truth of Gabi’s kidnapping, or she really was delusional.
“Lady, you are off your rocker. I don’t owe your son an ounce of loyalty.”
“Excuse me?!” She placed her hands on her hips.
“You heard me. A man who has cheated on me for the majority of our relationship doesn’t get a damn thing from me.” My revelation caused her and Dennis’s eyes to widen. It was then I knew Danny probably hadn’t told his parents everything. “Andyou really should be the last person talking about someone’s judge of character.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” she snapped as spit flew from her mouth.
“You introduced your son to his mistress just for her to kill him and eventually kidnap Gabi.”
“That’s a lie!” she screamed in disbelief.
“If you don’t believe me, call Mercury. Your precious Asha is currently in custody as we speak.”
She shook her head vehemently as her eyes watered. She stared up at Dennis, clutching his shirt. “That can’t be right. I talked to Asha almost every day that Gabi was missing. She told me she needed some time away to properly grieve Derek.”
I scoffed at how ridiculous this was. Her granddaughter was missing and instead of calling her mother to check on her, she was calling her son’s mistress, not knowing she was talking to the source for all her pain.
The more I sat here and thought about my life back in Washington, the more I dreaded the mere thought of returning. It had crossed my mind a few times, but each time, I decided I would go back when I felt like it. I honestly didn’t think that moment would ever come.
The second I return there, the peace and happiness I found here will quickly be destroyed. I have no intention of keeping Gabi away permanently, but I know I want nothing to do with them.
“Look, Whitney, I understand you’re her grandmother, but right now, I need time. We can set up a lunch or something. But the days of you bulldozing your way in my life are over.Iam her mother. The quicker you get that through your head the easier this will be,” I stated.
I grabbed a hold of Capone’s hand and began to walk toward the gate. Whitney’s next words stopped me dead in my tracks.
“If you don’t return home, I will sue you for custody.” Whitney threatened. “I refuse to let you have my grandchild around a goddamn motorcycle club. Derek is probably rolling over in his grave,”.
At this point, any thoughts of keeping it cordial with them had flown out the window. Threatening to take my child was the last straw. Her threat might have scared some women, but not me. I wasn’t naïve or dumb. I was a damn good mother. Gabi was my world. There wasn’t a single thing she could present in court that would make me look like an unfit mother.
If she did bring up the club, that wouldn’t help her either. Capone had told me about all the businesses the club owns. Plus, I’d spent my own time with them. This club was like their own family. All the guys did was work, come home, and enjoy their bikes, beer, and women. And that wasn’t a crime.
