Page 86 of Pumpkin
Carome’s nose was a bloody mess and the side of his face was already swelling. Pumpkin had to hand it to the man, though. He would have been in his right to defend himself, maybe even attack Aaron in return, but he’d done nothing.
No one moved to help Carome as he tried to wipe his face and staunch the blood flow. Bulldog pulled Aaron back, though the kid fought his much-larger uncle.
Bree, however, must have pushed herself behind the bar, grabbed a roll of paper towels, and come out the other side, because suddenly she was approaching Carome with the roll. He hesitated, but he also didn’t look away from her as he accepted the paper towels.
“Thank you,” he said before ripping off a handful and pressing them to his face.
Bree took back the roll so he had both hands to help clean himself up. “I’m surprised you’d willingly take anything from me. Last we spoke, you were too disgusted to touchme.”
Carome looked more pained by her words than by Aaron’s fists, but then half his face was covered by paper towels. The entire club watched as Carome carefully got himself cleaned up enough where he could lower his hands.
“I don’t know if you’ll believe me, and it doesn’t matter in the long run, but you weren’t supposed to be there.”
“Oh, so you were just supposed to rapeoneof us?” Bree shot back at him, her voice nothing short of a sneer. “Good to know.”
Carome’s face paled. “No, that’s not what I meant. When I was told to go with Snakeskin and Anaconda, I didn’t know what was planned. I naively thought we were just going there to scare,” his eyes flicked up to where Angel was standing and he paused. “It wasn’t until they handed me the taser and told me to knock your mom out that I realized this wasn’t just some vandalism. As much as I hated knowing what they were about to do, I knew my fate would be worse if I refused and I cowardly chose myself over your mom.”
He had to wipe his nose again as more blood continued to fall. “When I saw you, though, I realized they would hurt you too.” He shook his head, clearly ashamed. “I said those things, made it seem like I was disgusted by you and your,” he hesitated, “conditionin the hopes of protecting you. It might seem skewed, but growing up as I did, any form of weakness was considered unforgivable, a stain. I thought if I brought yours,” his cheeks flushed, “to light, they would leave you alone. I couldn’t…” His voice cracked. “You were so young. I couldn’t do that to you.”
The entire club held their breath, because little did Carome know, that fate had already befallen Bree long before he ever stepped foot in that tattoo shop.
Bree was silent for a long time. Pumpkin wasn’t sure what was going through her head, and as much as he wanted to join Aaron in pummeling the shit out of this kid, he refrained. But all Bree had to do was say the word and Sam Carome would disappear. The Marines would never find him.
“First,” Bree finally said. “My ‘condition’, as you so kindly put it, is not a weakness. If you recall, I still kicked your ass.”
Carome opened his mouth as if to defend his word choice, but Bree cut him off. He clamped his mouth shut and returned the bloody paper towels to his nose.
“Second, it took a lot of courage for you to come here today. More courage than you showed a year ago,” she added. “So clearly you’veused the second chance my mom gave you wisely and decided to grow a pair.”
Pumpkin wasn’t the only one who snickered at his niece’s wording.
“And third, I don’t forgive you. I’m not sure I ever can. You had the power to stop what almost happened, and while I can sympathize with your plight, I can’t forgive you for it. However,” she added when Carome stiffened, “I do wish you well. I don’t know where you’re heading, but I imagine no place overseas is a cakewalk and I hope you make it home safely.”
Carome stared at her over his bloody nose for several seconds before nodding. “I understand, and thank you.”
Bree gave him a small smile before saying over her shoulder, “Come on, Rocky, let’s go get your hand looked at.”
Aaron shook off Bulldog’s hold. “Can I hit him one more time?” he asked his little sister.
Bree snorted. “I think you messed up his uniform enough.”
Ollie came forward, squeezing his way through his uncles and parents to meet Aaron and Bree at the front.
Carome stiffened. “Oliver?” His eyes were wide as he took in the flamboyant teen in his sparkly pants and shirt that said ‘Team Edward’. Pumpkin didn’t get it, and figured it was a cultural reference he was now too old to understand. In retrospect, this was a tame outfit compared to Ollie’s standards.
Ollie held his head up high. “Sam.”
“They said you…” His eyes flicked around the room. “I asked about you. King said he…” Carome dragged a hand down his face. “I thought they sold you into the flesh trade.”
To his credit, Ollie didn’t flinch, because that could have very possibly been his fate. “Steel rescued me. He and his ol’ lady adopted me.”
Carmone’s eyes quickly found Steel and Jenna in the crowd. He no doubt remembered Steel from his captivity here. “That’s… I’m glad,grateful,” he added awkwardly. “I hated thinking about you like that. You look,” his eyes glanced around, “happy,” he decided on.
Ollie unabashedly took Aaron’s hand. The one that wasn’t bruised and cracked. “I am happy. And while others might not forgive you for what you almost did, I do. How we grew up? The things they threatened us with, the punishments we endured? It wasn’t normal. Out of everyone here, I understand. I love Bree and Aunt Angel, and what almost happened to them sickens me, but I understand your part in it, even if they don’t.” He pulled Aaron towards the doors. Holding it open for Bree and Aaron, he said over his shoulder, “I wish you well, Sam.”
“You too,” Carome said hastily, watching the teenagers leave. Then he turned back to face the adults.
They’d certainly had moresuccessful Church meetings. Just because the prosecutor decided not to pursue charges against Steel did not make Ollie’s mother any less dead or the suspicion that Steel was framed any less valid. Unfortunately, there was no news or update regarding Dixie’s murder. Until forensics processed the evidence, the club knew as little as the police did. Keys was going to keep an eye on DEA Agent Shitforbrains too. Steel wanted more than a fifteen minute head’s up if he wanted to come after him again.
