ten, twelve years from now she might start to regret that she had no other experience. Regret can drive even a good woman away.”
That’s it.
I stand and slam my fists on his desk, leaning over so I’m right in his face. “Are you really trying to say Mom wanting to sow some wild oats is what made her abandon us?” Each word drips out of me like slow, molten venom. “Is that what you want me to believe? Do you think I’m so fucking stupid I forgot that you cheated on her left and right? Do you think I don’t remember listening to her sob her heart out on the nights you didn’t come home? You’re trying to lay all the blame on her? Because she didn’t fuck around enough before you married her? Is that the point you’re trying to make?”
He works his jaw from side to side, then glances away. “I’m not saying I was perfect.”
“That’s an understatement.”
“You’re both young. But Mallory…she’s really young and inexperienced.”
“So, what do you suggest? What’s your solution to this problem you think we have? Want me to lay her out on the pool table and offer her up to my brothers?”
“Jesus, fuck no, you little asshole.”
“Then what point are you trying to make with this disgusting, shitty conversation?”
“She must have guys tripping over their balls to nail her out in California.”
Thank fuck I left my hunting knife at home because I would definitely gut my father right about now.
“Maybe let her explore some.” He shrugs. “If she comes back to you, great. No regrets down the road. For either of you.”
“Are you going senile, old man?” I rub my fingers over my throbbing temples. “Is this dementia talking?”
“What about that lanky punk at your show?” He snaps his fingers, trying to recall the name. “Andrew. He was panting after her all fucking night.”
Revulsion burns the back of my throat. “Are you suggesting I offer my future wife up to my friend? Loan her out, like she’s a fucking car? Let him break her in some more and see if she still wants me when he’s finished with her? Is that the kind of man you think I am?”
“She seemed into—”
“Do not finish that sentence, old man.”
“I’m trying to save you some heartache later in life.”
“What the fuck is wrong with you? Yesterday you were welcoming her to the family and today you’re—”
“It’s not just for your sake, but for whatever kids you two might have.”
He did not go there. “Fuck you. Mallory would never abandon her children. She’s not some starry-eyed teenager believing all the lies some old predator fed her.”
“I never lied to your mother.”
“That right? You were up front and honest about all the clubwhores you’d be fucking behind her back? You honestly believe Mom riding a few more dicks before she settled down with you would’ve made her okay with your whore harem?”
He rolls his shoulders, a sign we’re dangerously close to finishing this conversation with our fists. “I know what she told me before she left.”
“All your screwing around broke her damn heart, you oblivious fucking asshole!” I take a breath and calm myself. No matter how much I want to stab my father to death right now, I don’t need the rest of the club to hear me yelling at our president. “I’m finished with this discussion.”
He opens his mouth but I can’t listen to another word. “Don’t ever bring this up again.”
“Russell...” He sounds so broken I almost want to apologize but I can’t bring myself to say the words. Not after this. “I’m trying to save you some pain.”
“Yeah, well, this conversation did more damage than anything Mallory could ever do to me.”
I slam the door when I walk out of his office and smile with satisfaction when something crashes to the floor inside.
Tally’s at the bar watching me with a bland expression.
“What?” I snap.
“Everything okay?”
I haven’t quite gotten over the irritation of how close he and Mallory were while I was battling my cocaine demons. Even if he never hit on her, it still ticks me off. I glance back at my father’s office. Then again, the old man is the one who sent Mallory out with Tally in the first place. To piss me off, no doubt. Now I wonder if he had this “experimentation” theory in mind back then?
Whatever’s going on inside my demented father’s head isn’t Tally’s fault. He’s a brother. I’ve known him a long time and we have plenty