Page 57 of Marcus: Sins of the Father

“Well, I guess you were right about one thing; you two are finished.” He drawls out the last word, throwing it back in my face.

Before I can restrain myself, my instincts take over. I tighten my fist and deck him in his jaw. Gasps echo around us as we now have an audience. He’s taken aback, probably never having had someone give him what he deserves. Rubbing his jaw, he turns to me.

“If you’re wanting a fight, I can give you one of those.”

“Good. Outside. Now!” I bark.

“Oh no, a gentleman never fights at a party. But I wouldn’t expect someone like you to know that.”

“I think you’re afraid someone like me is going to kick your ass. And you’d be right.”

“I’ll give you a fight, but a civilized one with rules. How about a boxing match?”

“Boxing?” I raise one eyebrow. “Sounds like my grandpa’s fighting. How about something a little younger? MMA?”

“Mixed martial arts?” He rubs his hand across his jaw again as if he’s thinking, but I’m hoping it’s because my punch hurts more than he cares to admit. “All right, next Saturday, six o’clock at The Academy.”

“I’ll be there.”

“Looking forward to it.” He sneers and walks away.

He thinks he has the advantage, but he has no idea.

***

Brandy—

“You are to stay away from him. Do you understand me?” My father runs his hands through his hair. “How did this even happen?”

“Dad, if you just got to know him. He’s not—”

“I know everything I need to, and I will not have some criminal dragging down my daughter.”

“He doesn’t drag me down; he supports my dreams.”

“And how will he do that when he ends up behind bars?”

“Dad, you don’t even know anything about his club.”

A knock on the door interrupts us. We turn our heads to see Marcus step in.

“Mr. Arrington, I wanted to assure you I care about your daughter, and I’d never let anything happen to her.”

My father stares at him for a moment through narrowed eyes, but the bite in his voice has subdued.

“You can’t make those promises, not with what you’re mixed up in, and we both know it.” He turns his attention to me. “I forbid you to see him.” Then he looks at Marcus and points a finger at his chest. “You stay away from her. I think it’s about time you left.”

Marcus doesn’t acknowledge a word my father said. “Brandy?”

I need to give my father a chance to cool down, and running off with the man he’s forbidden me to see isn’t going to help. I have to find a way to make him see that Marcus brings me happiness, and his motorcycle club isn’t as bad as it’s cracked up to be. I mean, they are dangerous as hell, but they also have loyalty and some kind of moral code that seems to make them better. It’s like they’re knights in shining leather. I want to go with Marcus, but I can’t. Not if I’m ever going to convince my father to give him a shot.

“I think you had better leave,” I tell him, though it pains my heart.

“Come with me.” He holds his hand out.

It takes everything in me to not grab it and run, but I quietly shake my head. “I can’t.” I want to explain my intentions, but with my dad watching, I can’t say anything else. Disbelief flashes across Marcus’ face as his hand drops, and then he seems to harden himself against me. He turns, and he’s gone.

***

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