Page 60 of Maddox
“Mom?” Did she drop her phone?
After a moment, she clears her throat and says, “Your dad made mistakes but he’s not that man anymore.”
What man would that be? A biker? The same affiliation Peter hates and apparently Mom dated back in the day.
What the actual hell?
When tears clog my throat, I drop back to the mattress. I don’t know my family at all. Where does that leave me?
“Stay away from those boys, Delaney. You hear me?” she says.
“Why?” I ask. “What happened to you?”
The silence that follows presses at my chest and I brace for the evasion.
Unfortunately, I’m not wrong because she says, “Some things are better left alone, sweetie.”
Whatever the fuck that means.
“Seriously?” I mutter. “Why is everything a goddamn secret?”
Again, silence is her answer and shaking my head, I groan, “Are you really clean?”
“Sweetie, I’m in a locked treatment facility. Of course, I’m clean,” she mutters before clearing her throat. “Look, the only thing that matters is you. I want you safe.”
Shaking my head, I wipe a tear from my eye and mumble, “I have to go, Mom.”
After ending the call, I roll over and curl into a ball.
While I’m grateful for what she shared, I can’t help but wonder why she refuses to tell me more.
Does it have something to do with Joey’s affiliation with the Aces?
How do I fit in with that though?
Chapter 12
Delaney
To my amusement when I came through the doors at school this morning, I found Micah hanging all over Jackie Simmons.
No doubt orchestrated for my benefit, I merely smiled when he pulled her close and whispered in her ear as I walked by.
His attempt to make me jealous shows me just how clueless Micah is, the poor bastard.
During lunch, I step outside for a little fresh air and find myself out back by the bench where it’s quiet this time of day.
The conversation with Mom still circles my brain but I don’t really know what to do with the information.
Visions of her in her sweater set and loafers, complete with pearls, do not jive with what I’ve seen of the MC.
Granted, I’ve never been invited to a party amongst the older crowd but I’m quite sure the women aren’t sipping wine while the men discuss their last round of golf.
Ha!
Although maybe the woman I know now is a glimpse into the past of its own, thoughts of which make me shudder.
Either way, it just goes to show how much someone can change, which leads me to Joey.
