I cleared my throat to alert her that I was in the room.
She turned and pasted on a smile. “Hey, honey. How are you doing?”
I shrugged. “I’m okay. Where’s Grace?”
“She’s upstairs with Leah and Ezra.”
My gaze wondered around the kitchen. “I should go talk to her later.”
Mom got up and took my hand. “We can do it together.” She smiled again and I nodded. She sat her coffee cup down. “Now, what can I make you for breakfast?”
I waved the suggestion aside. “Oh, Mom, don’t worry about it.”
“No,” she snapped. “I need to do something other than sitting at the table and dwelling on what I can’t change.” I saw her control slipping.
“Okay, Mom.” I touched her arm. “I’d really like pancakes, if you’re up for it.”
Smiling, she raided the cabinets for all the ingredients for chocolate chip pancakes. A few minutes later, she was stirring batter. “I wonder if the other girls and the boys would like some.”
I shrugged again. “Go ahead. I’m sure they’d love it.”
She motioned toward the cabinets. “See if you can find a platter and let’s give them a breakfast they’ll never forget.” She set the bowl down and rummaged through the fridge. “They don’t have much here. I might have to go to the store later and stock the kitchen.”
I knew by her constant rambling she needed to keep working and talking about anything other than Dad. If making the guys breakfast helped, then I’d cook all morning if she wanted. Everyone handled grief in their own way. This was apparently her way.
“Momma, you know you can stay here for as long as you like. Locke already said that you could.”
She looked up at me and smiled. Her glistening eyes and quivering lip told me she was barely hanging on. I put my arms around her and gave her all my strength.
When the guys came in, their eyes had gotten big as they saw what she’d made, and they dug in, smiling. I ate and headed to my room, collapsing on the bed. The weight of the past months bore down on me. Except for Dom, my world was in ruins. Complete and utter chaos. I thought getting past the kidnapping was the worst thing I’d have to go through. I was so wrong.
I laid back, thinking about Storm and how thankful I was she wasn’t here. This whole mess would’ve destroyed her. Then I started thinking about the circumstances of my father’s death. There was an air of secrecy around the place. Even from Dom. Everyone was keeping something from me, getting quiet when I came around. They didn’t think I knew, but I’d seen some of the emails and photos. I didn’t know what it all meant, but I could figure out my dad had cheated on Mom, and he had some really pissed off people on his ass. The sadness was slowly turning into anger and frustration. Right now, I just wanted to know who’d killed my dad.
My phone alerted me to a text and stopped my mental rant.
Gia: I miss you. Wanna hang out?
Me: Miss you too. But I can’t. Under house arrest.
Gia: Sneak out and come hang with me. I have a guard dog too.
I didn’t bother responding. She didn’t take no very well. I was placing my phone back on the dresser when Dom came in.
“What are you doing, angel?”
I sighed. “Sitting here thinking about how I’m being beaten down by life’s hammer.”
His look of sympathy frustrated me for some reason. “Baby, I need you to hold on for just a little bit longer. Can you do that?”
I looked away from him. “Yes. I’m just so sick of having to be strong.”
He pulled me up into his arms. “I know, baby.”
That comment made all the anger I had inside burst out, turning toward Dom. I shoved him. “No! You don’t get it! You don’t understand what it’s like to have someone take you and keep you in some basement to torture you!” My anger bubbled over and I couldn’t seem to control it. The hurt on his face twisted my gut, but I couldn’t stop. “You aren’t the one that’s being tormented, stalked, and having random photos taken of you.” My voice kept rising as he stared. “You didn’t just bury your father. You don’t have to watch your mom turn herself inside out because she’s holding onto a secret she’s too afraid to tell you!” I spit the words at him.
I stormed past him and out of the room, slamming the door behind me. I was fuming and didn’t know why or what to do. So, I did the only thing I could think of. I snuck out and around the side of the clubhouse and climbed into my car. I took the back way out, watching for guards.
My brain was on autopilot. I didn’t even realize I’d headed to Gia’s place until I pulled up, hoping to find solace. I knocked on her door.
“Come in,” was yelled from somewhere in the apartment. The man standing by the door seemed familiar, but I couldn’t put my finger on where I’d seen him before. Knowing he must be from the club, I just smiled. At his nod, I walked into the apartment and headed down the hall.
I found Gia in her bedroom. “Hey.” She hugged me. “I’m so glad you decided to come.”
“I wasn’t going to, but Dom and I kind of got into it, so I snuck out.”
“Well, either way, I’m glad you’re here.” There was a weird look on her face, but I didn’t think anything of it. We were all stressed. “You want a drink?”
I nodded. “Yes! That would be amazing. I’ll take anything as long as it’s strong.”
“Sure thing, kiddo. Be right back.” She
