She looks around almost like someone’s watching her. “Nothing, now can you give me money or not?”
“How much do you need?” I shouldn’t be giving her money considering everything she’s put me through, but at the end of the day, I’ll do anything I can for my family, regardless of what they need or how they’ve treated me in the past.
“Six thousand dollars.”
I’m in a bit of shock at the amount she just gave me. “Sorry, what did you say?” I clear my throat at the end, thinking she’s fucking with me. I should know better, though. She can’t be kidding. There’s no way she can be kidding. She doesn’t fuck around when it comes to money.
“I need it, and I need it now! Don’t you understand?!” she screams at the top of her lungs, grabbing me by my robe she shoves my back into the wall. It’s so hard pain radiates down my shoulders and shoots down my back.
“Charm, what the hell is going on?” Fenrir’s deep voice rings out from around me, and I spot him pulling my mother off me.
“Get your hands off me, you thug!” she squeals like a pig heading to slaughter, and I look between the two of them. “Did you not hear me?!” she screams at him again, looking at him like he’s disgusting.
“Don’t you talk to him like that!” I holler at her, gritting my teeth, trying my best to focus on my breathing and not freak out.
“I’ll talk to him however I want. He shouldn’t be anywhere near me, or touching me for that matter. Who is this criminal anyway? God, look at all his tattoos. He must be trouble.” She scrunches up her nose and looks down at him like he’s below her.
“He’s no criminal. He’s my boyfriend, and I’d appreciate it if you didn’t talk to him in such a manner,” I hiss at her, meaning business.
“There’s no way. How would someone like you end up with a man like this?” Her disapproval is obvious, but I don’t care. I’m done with the disrespect.
“Get out, right now. I’m done.”
She looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. “What’re you going on about?”
“I said get out, so get the hell out of my house right now, and if you ever come back again you’d best have a serious attitude adjustment. I’m done with your bullshit. I’m really done with your disrespect for not only me and the way I live my life, but for those in it too, so get out.”
My mother shakes her head and rushes out of the house. Fenrir and I stand on the porch as we watch her leave. Fenrir looks over to his brothers who are next door, preparing for yet another club BBQ and he shouts, “This bitch is my ol’ lady.”
I don’t know what he means, but I know based on his tone there’s some seriousness behind his words. I’m sure I’ll know the weight behind them at some point, but for right now, it’s okay. I just want to be with him and explore whatever Amanda was trying to do for ages.
I must admit, now I’m beginning to understand why she wanted us to give it a shot, and if she were alive I’d thank her for everything she’s done.
Chapter Eighteen
Fenrir
Hearing Charm telling her mom she was mine had been like music to my ears and gave me the opportunity to say it aloud for my brothers to hear. They spur me on to make my next move when I pull my ol’ lady into my arms and capture her mouth in front of her bitch of a mother.
Releasing Charm’s lips, I hold her close to me as I grin at her mother. “You heard Charm. She ain’t giving your greedy ass anything, so get the fuck away from her and I’d advise you to stay the fuck gone if I were you. I’d hate to have to make that happen permanently.”
Charm’s mother pales and backs away.
Smart move on her part. I might not be one for fuckin’ up women, but I have no problem fuckin’ with her in other ways that will make her life miserable and keep her away from Charm. Only if she wants to see her mother will it happen.
With Charm’s mother gone, I turn her in my arms and hold her close.
“I thought I said no PDA in front of the kids,” she whispers, nodding her head toward my house. I glance over to find my boys grinning like loons while standing amongst my brothers while Runes twirls Astrid around on his shoulders.
Grinning down at her, I pull her off the front porch, not happy she’s only in a robe. I don’t need my brothers seeing her in those. They’re for my eyes only. “Come on, let me officially introduce you to my brothers.”
“Daddy, is Charm your ol’ lady now?” Astrid asks brightly from her perch when Charm and I get close.
“Yeah, princess, she is. You cool with that?” My kids have always known what the term for ol’ lady meant. Amanda and I explained it to them all when they started asking questions about why we didn’t live together.
“Yep. I love it. Mommy would be happy.” Charm stiffens slightly next to me at Astrid’s blunt words. I give her a reassuring squeeze around her waist and look to my boys.
“What about you two?” I ask them.
“Astrid’s right. Mom wanted you with Charm,” Emil says, nodding in agreement.
“Yeah, Mom would tell Aunt Ashley all the time when she was on the phone about how she thought you two would connect,” Oskar murmurs, grinning like a loon.
“See, Charm, they’re okay with you and me,” I mutter for only her to hear.
“Okay,” she whispers.
“I’m hungry, Daddy. Are you going to make breakfast, or can we go to the pancake house?” Astrid asks sweetly.
“Hey, I’m down for Pancake House,” Logi announces, raising his hand. “All in favor for not getting laxative laced food raise
