“I think it’s a little late to be trying to pull the father card. I also think I don’t give a fuck what the two of you end up working out. That’s up to her and you. I don’t have a place in that unless she puts me there. Because please believe, president or no president, if you hurt her, there’ll be hell to pay.”
Wanderer’s eyes went wide. His body tensed, and his mouth shut. His jaw ticked, and his eye twitched.
“You threatening me, boy?” Wanderer asked.
“No, I’m fucking promising you,” Moose said.
Silence fell in the backyard. Moose watched him warily. He would be within his rights to stomp a hole in his ass right now. He had disrespected Wanderer and disregarded his rules for dating Joey.
“Clearly you love my daughter to risk your ass like that. So what I can’t get is why you won’t make it official.”
“Because that’s our call to make, when and if we ever decide to make it. You think her experience with an absent father has left her keen on belonging to another human?” Moose shook his head.
“And you are?” Wanderer said.
“I don’t know what I am other than into Joey.” Moose shrugged. “That’s good enough for me and her. Why isn’t it good enough for you?”
“Because I don’t want to see her become Ellen,” Wanderer said.
“And neither does she. Which is why she never would.”
“What kind of scam are you running here, brother? That makes no fucking sense,” Wanderer said. His nostrils flared, and a vein in his forehead began to stand out and pulse.
“Look, dude, I don’t know how it was with you and Ellen, but Joey and I aren’t a secret. We’re out in the open for the world to see. That right there makes a world of difference. She has rights too. It’s not just me. We do right by our family in Mayhem.”
“You saying the Eights don’t?” Wanderer said.
“I’m saying you didn’t when it mattered most,” Moose said.
Wanderer stepped back as if he’d been punched in the jaw. His eye bulged.
“I’m giving it to you straight,” Moose said. “You’ve been busting my balls since day one. I think it’s time for a little reality check. You hate me for things I haven’t even done yet. I know you think I’m not good enough for you daughter. I don’t disagree with you. She could have any man she wants, but she chose me. If things were different, she might’ve ended up with an Eight for an old man, but what ifs don’t amount to shit.”
“You got a big set of balls,” Wanderer said.
“They don’t call me Moose for nothing.” Moose met the man’s gaze, never giving an inch. It felt like a stare-down in the wild. Wanderer had experience and intimidation on his side. Moose would be lying to himself if he didn’t admit he was nervous. But he had stubborn determination.
“I’ll back off for now. We all have settling in to do. But don’t think you’re ever going to be square with me until you handle this the way it should be,” Wanderer said.
“Fair enough, as long as it doesn’t affect our partnership,” Moose said.
“It won’t,” Wanderer said.
Moose’s head snapped back, and his ears rang. Pain exploded in his jaw as Wanderer hit him.
“What the fuck, man?” Moose barked.
“That’s for talking to me wrong and dating my fucking daughter. I’m keeping it between us because I know you’re right,” Wanderer said.
Moose rubbed his jaw. “That’s the only free lick you’re getting out of me.”
“Understood.”
“So we’re cool?” Moose asked.
“For now. I hear what you’re saying about Joey. You’re right. She might be my flesh and blood, but you know her better, and that burns me the fuck up. You aren’t even in my set, and she turns to you for everything. I’m an asshole, and I can be stubborn as hell. I know my flaws, but stupidity has never been one of my poorer qualities. Know I’m always going to be on your ass about Joey. That’s my right.”
“I am not arguing,” Moose said.