Page 69 of Bombshell (Whiskey Dolls 1)

“You know exactly what brings me by,” my mother declared acerbically. Her focus shifted over my shoulder and her face pinched with so much anger and hatred it took me aback. “What I want to know is what in the hell isshedoing here,” she spat, jabbing her finger toward Marin. “And what in the world is she doing carting my grandson around town like it’s her right?”

“Sheis here because itisher right,” I stated in a flat, cold voice. “And she’s cartingmy sonaround because, one”—I lifted my index finger in the air— “she’s his babysitter. And two”—my middle finger joined the first— “because Eli loves her and enjoys spending time with her.”

I felt Marin edge closer to me, and when she spoke, her tone was soft and soothing, attempting to ease the situation. “Suzette, would you like to come in for a cup of coffee? We can sit and talk about this like—”

“Don’t you dare invite me into my own son’s home like it’s your place!” my mother barked. “You have some nerve, young lady, moving on to my other boy after what you did to my poor Frank.”

What she did the Frank? What the hell was she talking about? Before I had a chance to ask, my mom’s narrow-eyed gaze returned to me. “And as for you. I’m absolutely ashamed. Where’s your family loyalty, huh?”

“My loyalty lies with that little boy upstairs right now,” I gritted out. “That’s theonlyplace my loyalty lies. Frank’s a fuckup. He’s a piece of shit, and you’ve allowed him to remain that way. He thinks the world owes him something simply because he exists. Newsflash, Mom, the world doesn’t owe him shit. I’ve got no loyalty for someone who’s done nothing to earn it.”

She jerked back, placing her hand on her chest in affront. “Do you even know what she did to him?” She seethed. “Your brother will walk with a limp for the rest of his life because of her!”

“Okay, that’s enough,” Marin said just then. “It’s obvious you’re geared up to do this, so let’s do it. But we’re moving this outside, because I’m not going to allow Eli to overhear what I have to say.”

Marin shoved past me, a ball of fury and indignation.

30

Pierce

She didn’t give either of us a chance to speak as she stormed onto the front porch. My mother and I had no choice but to follow, and by the time we did, it was clear Marin was geared up for a fight. Her hands were on her hips. One was cocked, and she was tapping her foot in agitation.

“Who do you think you are, bossing me around like—?”

“Shut it,” Marin snapped so sharply my mom went silent. “What happened to Frank was his own goddamn fault,” Marin hissed. “He earned that shattered knee because of what he’d done to me.”

“He got a little carried away,” Mom defended like she always did, but I couldn’t even be annoyed by that because what they were saying was starting to seep through my skin, turning the blood in my veins to sludge.

“He made a mistake and he took things too far, but he didn’t mean anything by it,” my mother insisted, her voice sounding like it was coming from the end of a long, dark tunnel.

Marin reared back. “Are you kidding me? Suzette, your son beat the hell out of me because I told him I was leaving him!”

“He made a mistake!” my mother cried.

“He hit you?” My voice came out in a growl so ferocious the two women on the porch jerked their attention to me.

Seeing the rage simmering beneath the surface, Marin’s face wiped clean of all her anger. In its place was worry. “Pierce—”

“Frankhit you?” I repeated, barely hearing my own voice over the blood rushing through my ears.

“He was just upset,” my mother started, but swallowed the rest of her pathetic excuse when I cut my eyes to her.

“There isnevera reason for a man to put his hands on a woman. Not. Fucking.Ever. There is no excuse, and the fact that you would stand here and attempt to make one for him blows my fucking mind.”

“Pierce, sweetie—”

“Get off my porch.”

She staggered back at the impact of my words. “What?”

“You heard me. I want you off my porch and off my property. Your relationship with Frank is toxic, and I’m done sitting back and watching it. The fact that you’d not only excuse him taking his hands to a woman, but place blame on the woman he hit?” I shook my head, completely dumbfounded. “That makes me sick to my fucking stomach. I don’t want that shit near me, and Idefinitelydon’t want it around my son. I’m busting my ass to make sure I raise my boy right, and it’s clear you and I don’t share the same opinions on what that means, so until you get your head out of your ass and see what a monster Frank really is, I’m done.”

She attempted to lift her chin in indignation, but the tremble in it gave her away. “I hope, for your sake, when you call me to apologize I’m in the mood to be forgiving.”

I let out a bark of laughter that sliced through the air like a knife. “Don’t count on that happening, Mom. You’ll be sorely disappointed.”

I watched in silence as she stormed down the front steps to her car. It was only once her taillights disappeared that I felt calm enough to turn around and face Marin again. The storm was still raging inside of me, but I had a lock on it, at least for now.

---