“For her own good. She’s got enough of you in her. There’s no need to push her toward your lifestyle.”
“It wasn’t your choice to make,” he snaps.
She laughs. “But you agreed to it, to keep your precious brotherhood safe.”
“To keep you and her safe, you nitwit,” he roars.
I want to give him a standing ovation for getting everything off his chest. She gapes like a fish.
“I want to know why she’s run away in the first place.”
“Because she’s rebellious and stubborn like you.” She crosses her arms under her small breasts. “I’ve given that girl everything she could possibly want, and she throws it back in my face. She’s wild, but that will end when I ship off her to boarding school.”
“Over my dead body. I’m done with your manipulations and threats. I should’ve challenged you a long time ago, but you had me convinced being with you was the better option. I can see now that’s not the case.”
She glares at him. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“You don’t know me anymore, Penny. You’d be surprised what I’m capable of.”
“I can’t believe you just threatened me.” Penny clutches her chest. “All I wanted to do was discuss our daughter in a civil manner.” Her eye well up and her face contorts. She’s a world class actor with the show she’s putting on. Her lips twitch. “We’ll see who they believe.”
“That’s enough.” Alexandria steps from the bathroom, eyes ablaze.
“Ali, sweetheart, please.” She fidgets under her daughter’s glare.
“No.” Alexandria holds out her hand. “I am not going back there for you to send me away. I spent my entire life trying to please you and now I realize it’s impossible.”
“Honey, I was just telling him that so he’d tell me where you—”
“Why would I believe a word coming out of your deceitful mouth?” Alexandria asks.
“Listen here, you ungrateful brat, you’re coming back home with me whether you like it or not.”
She moves to grab her, and I stand up. “I don’t think so.”
“Who the hell are you? Did you forget your place, biker bunny? Best hop back to the club house where you belong.”
I laugh. “Cute. You think Edmund’s been waiting here pining over you, don’t you?”
Her blue eyes turn a stormy gray.
“If you make me go back, I’ll tell Mark where you really go.”
“What?” The blood rushes from Penny’s face.
“I will ruin the perfect family façade you care more about than me. I bet the town would love to know about what you and Pastor Dennis have been up to.”
“You spiteful, little bitch.” Penny lunges for Alexandria, who screams, and I greet her with a right hook that sends her flying backward.
Preacher slams his hand on the nurse call button. “I have a disgruntled ex-wife who just attacked my girlfriend. I need security in here immediately.”
Penny clutches her nose, tearing up as blood drops onto her pristine dress.
“Dad will make the arrangements. I want you to keep your distance.”
“You want her so badly, you can keep her,” Penny says. Her sudden change shocks me. “Always so ungrateful. Maybe now you’ll learn how good you had it.”
Two tall men built like linebackers step into the room in blue uniforms. “Ma’am, we’ll have to ask you to come with us. The police have been called and you will be charged with assault.”