Page 46 of Redemption

She laughs and nods. “I’ll be sure to let you know. I’m not as worried about them anymore. My ex has my focus at the moment.”

“Excuse me?”

“He’s back and stalking me, but not stalking me. Making it known he’s here, and he’s not going away.”

Before she can say anything else, VP steps out. “Hey, Tara, can I talk to my daughter?”

“Sure,” she says and winks at Lex before walking inside. She makes a mental note to circle back with Tara later.

Her father sits down on the swing next to her, and she realizes she can’t remember him ever playing on playground equipment with her. He was always too busy with Zane, and she went to the park with Diesel and Ky or TK and Colt. But looking at him now, she almost laughs at how large he looks sitting next to her. If she weren’t so angry with him, she might chuckle.

“What’s up, VP?” she asks and kicks to swing a little higher.

“You look beautiful.”

“Thanks.” Her eyes look at the sky. “You wouldn’t have sent Tara inside if that’s what you wanted to tell me. So, what’s up?”

He swallows and looks at the clubhouse. “I can see how uncomfortable you are in there.”

“Well, yeah,” she says with a shrug. “It’s kind of to be expected. Especially since the last time I was here, I was humiliated and showcased the weak woman I became.”

“It’s frustrating for me, kid. The clubhouse always felt more like home than our house ever did when you were growing up. For it to be something that causes you to feel uneasy doesn’t make any sense.”

Sighing, she rests her head against the chain, careful not to avoid her hair catching. “It was different back then. Colt and Zane weren’t patched members. And it was welcoming. I wasn’t separated with two kids. There are clear sides in that room, and a good number are against me.”

“Lex-”

“When a couple in the club splits up, there’s a line drawn. Sides are taken. He’s a brother, so he gets priority. And I get it. Boy, do I. I’m just trying to figure out my new place in the world that doesn’t revolve around the club.”

“Do you really hate the club?”

Does she? Kind of. It pisses her off that she misses it after everything that happened. Everyone in that room used to be her family, and now they’re not. “Yeah, a little bit.”

“Come back. Show your husband and the rest of the assholes what a bunch of fucking idiots they are.”

“It’s not that simple, VP. Not to mention how awkward it is considering you’re one of those assholes. Besides, what am I coming back to? The club broke my family. I wish I could explain how hard it was feeling like I did growing up. To always have other people and this entity come before me. And if it was just me, hell, maybe it would have been easier. But I have two kids to think about. One kid who asked me why Daddy didn’t love us anymore and another who wouldn’t have known her father from a group of strangers. To put them through what I went through isn’t fair to them.”

His eyes turn and lock with hers. “Why didn’t you tell me this was happening? We would’ve stopped-”

“I did!”

“Not all of it.”

“Something was going on with Colt, and I still don’t know what it was. I probably will never know. But I needed you, and you shut me down. Didn’t ask me why. Just said the club needs him, and that I should understand that. That told me everything I needed to know.”

“I’m your father. I want to fix your problems, Lex.”

Sighing, she shakes her head and looks away. “I wish I could believe you. And you can say whatever you want, but the truth is, you’ve never fixed the problems you helped create. Why would I believe you’d do anything now? It’s not just you. I’ve lost faith in pretty much everyone in the club.”

“Lex?” Shep calls as he sticks his head out the back door. “The dance is starting. We need the maid of honor.”

She stands and smooths out her dress. “Duty calls. Good talk.”

“Lex, wait,” VP says and jumps to his feet. “You really feel that way?”

It kills her to admit, “I’d give anything not to.”

Walking inside, Ty walks up to her. “You’re my partner. Psycho had to do something.”

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