“I promise to always honor her and the family.”
“Que bueno. Let me know when you ask. Her mother will want to be there. Don’t do it without her.” Fuego wraps one hand in mine and tugs me forward, hitting my back with the other. “Welcome to the familia, mijo. Para siempre, forever.”
Fuego has pushed me away, refusing to talk to me except when needed. I see the fire in his eyes. He can’t put his hands on me for two reasons. In the club, I did nothing wrong. If he did, I may not survive. Instead, he ignores that I exist. Fuego may never forgive me for my betrayal. So, he sends me away to pay me back. His message is clear—I am not wanted in his space.
I’ll take all he can dish out to me. I have earned it. I won’t complain about the work, it’s my job. If I fail again, I’ll be out of the club.
The meaning is clear—I am no longer considered their family anymore. I am here, still a part of the club, nothing will change that. I never betrayed the club. Men stepping out on their wives happens a lot, and usually, no one bats an eye at it. But, it’s his daughter. Not only have I lost her but the respect of the man I look up to.
I’ve lost it all. Going home alone is the worst punishment of all. Her stuff had been moved out when I was away on a run. That stung the most. If she came in with her fiery temper, yelling and screaming, I would still have a chance. Because we would be fighting at home.
The hair on my face has grown out, and I’m in shambles. It has to stop. I need to see her. Walking into the Prez’s office, I shut the door behind me. “Fuego.”
“Get out,” he barks without even a glance.
“I need to see her, please.” I lay it all out there for him. There is nothing else I have to bargain with, but maybe he can give me a chance.
“No. You don’t need to see her. Your actions don’t only affect tu vida, it has affected my life. My wife cries for her daughter.” He grinds each word out through a clenched jaw. It’s then that I see the dark lines under his eyes.
Shame beats through my heart at his words. He is not finished. “What you never did was cherish the gift she gave you, her love, her life, and commitment. You made me a promise to honor her. What you did betrayed those things.”
Swallowing past the guilt, I step forward and sit in the chair next to his desk. “I was wrong for what I did.”
“Many things you were wrong for, but I gave you support until you learned. This is not one of those things. You know better.”
“You’re right. There is nothing I can say to make this right.”
“No. You are a member of this club, a brother in the MC, but my son died.” Fuego sits back in his chair. “What do you want from me?” He looks through me like stone, a man he has never met. “You never made her an Ol’ Lady, so move on.”
“I need to talk with her. I want her back.”
“If you can find her, I guess you can. I can’t stop you, but I’m not telling you where she is. I will tell you this, she’s leaving for good and starting over. You should also know I have relocated Ashley. She will not live here where she can breathe her disrespect in my club. I protect mi familia.” His scowl dares me to say anything about her. It is a test. Who I would choose, and what I say is important.
“I’m not done fighting to get Alessia back.” With nothing else I can do to convince him to help me, I’m out of my seat and running to my bike. Staking out the houses of her friends until I find a black Tahoe in the parking lot packed with what looks like her stuff.
It’s true, she is leaving. My hands rub my face and my eyes. My body weakens and I want to fall to the ground. The pain lances my heart and it ruptures. Regretfully, it doesn’t kill me. I want to scream, and at the same time, I wish I could go back and do it all over.
A few moments pass before I straighten my spine. I stake out the car for a few hours until she comes out. Her face is haunting, dark circles under her bloodshot eyes, Alessia’s usually perfectly styled hair is in disarray. The effects of my actions are evident. I broke her heart, my Alessia.
She unlocks the car and her hand freezes on the doorknob when I call her. “Alessia, come home to me.” Her body stills and tenses, but she won’t turn around. Her face refuses to meet mine. I can’t hold back and give her all my heart with my plea. “Please understand, she wasn’t meant for me, not like you are. I was so stupid to do what I did.” She calls to me, and I want to reach out and fix my wrongs. My hand lands on her shoulder, squeezing lightly.
We used to be so much more. She was my home and I was hers. Now, my touch is what brings her hell. Our love now is left in the past and is shining in her eyes when she turns to face me.
“For what, Derrick, so I can be like every other woman who takes her cheating man back? Tell me something, would you want my body after another man has had his hands all over me? After I shared my body with him? Let him fuck my body? Dominate mine with his? Tell me
