Life went on no matter how much I suffered. The world was a heartless place, my MC family included.
“You doing all right?” Track took a seat beside me on the bench. I’d found a spot tucked off to the side, away from all the action, so people would leave me the hell alone.
Of course, Track didn’t give a shit. He constantly invaded my space, doing his daily duty of checking up on me, as if the asshole didn’t know my mental and emotional state.
“Stop fucking asking me that,” I bit back, glowering at him for a long second. “Just leave me the fuck alone.”
“Hey, I’m not the enemy here.”
“The fuck you aren’t. All of you are my goddamn enemies.” I guzzled my beer. “I’m tired as fuck listening to you. Not one of you understands what I’m going through.”
“You’re wrong, cuz. I get it.”
“Cuz?” I spat the word at the grass. “We ain’t family no more. You and me”—I pointed between us—“we’re nothing to each other.”
He shook his head. “Jesus Christ, Danny. Don’t say that. I know—”
“You don’t know shit!” I launched off the picnic table, threw my beer bottle against the clubhouse wall, not giving a fuck if I disrupted the celebration, and stomped away.
“Dodge!” Track’s heavy steps followed me. “Calm the fuck down. You don’t want to give Storm a reason to punish you.”
“Fuck Storm! Fuck all you motherfucking brothers,” I hissed, barreling through the gate so I could get on my bike and head to Fargo. I’d search high and low for Emilee and my son. I would never give up until I found them.
I was so done being patient. Done waiting for that asshole Justin to have mercy on me. Finished being a little bitch, listening to everyone around me.
Suddenly I was hit from behind and tackled to the ground.
“Get the fuck off me,” I growled, trying to get up.
“Going somewhere, Dodge?” Fucking Ire pushed the side of my face into the dirt with his elbow, his massive body pinning me down as he would an opponent in an MMA fight. The prick put all his strength into keeping me down.
“Yeah, to get my woman and son. Now get the fuck off!”
“Can’t do that. Prez’s orders.” He eased his elbow off my head, but not enough for me to turn and punch him in his ugly face.
Rage burst through every one of my veins. “You lousy piece of shit! As if you would’ve stayed away. As if any of you motherfuckers would’ve stayed away. I was just the stupid bitch who obeyed. I never should’ve listened to any of you heartless fuckers.”
“Enough!” Storm’s voice boomed like thunder. “Get him up.”
Ire and Track, gripping my biceps with anaconda strength, pulled me to my feet.
Storm stepped forward. Birdie wasn’t in his arms anymore. Too bad for me. There was nothing to keep him calm. “It seems you need some time alone to get your head fuckin’ straight.”
“All I’ve had is time alone, asshole!”
Storm’s fist connected with my jaw, knocking my head back. “Show your president the respect he deserves.”
I lifted my head, seething venom. “I would if he actually deserved my respect.” I spat on his boot. It earned me a punch in the gut. I held firm, not letting myself barf like a weak man, even though I felt like one.
“Dodge, dial it back, cuz. You don’t want to do this,” Track muttered in my ear.
Storm heaved, flexing his hand, his stormy-gray eyes locked on mine. Why in the hell did I ever want to be like him? Why had I been proud to be part of the Knight’s Legion MC?
I panted through the pain, leveling my gaze at Storm. “Did it ever occur to any of you that Justin is in the wrong here? Did you ever think that I was the injured party? You want me to have your backs, take a bullet for you. Well, not one of you has done that for me!”
“Shut the fuck up,” Track hissed. “You don’t want to do this.”
I struggled to break free. To hell with being silent. “Nobody has had my back, not my blood family and not my club family. All you do is hurt me. Make me feel like a piece of shit on the bottom of your goddamn boots. Well, I’m done.”