Wrath (Heartlands Motorcycle Club #7) - Dani Wyatt Page 0,25

be a sin to waste it.”

“Things change. Real life isn’t always what we think we want. Your mother and I were introduced one week before our wedding. Our families arranged things. We were happy.” His voice thins on those last words, and sometimes I wonder what ‘happy’ means to him.

His hands are on the steering wheel, knuckles turning another shade of white, and he doesn’t look at me, but I have more to say. “I went and got my degree and you always told me how proud you were. Now, you want me to give it all up and trade it all in to be a pastor’s wife?”

Even as I say it, I remember the way Wrath’s cum felt inside of me, knowing my recklessness could have another life growing inside of me right now.

“We need to get inside. Just do as you’re told, Kristina. I need you to do as you’re told.” The way he says it feels ominous, like there’s some shoe that is going to drop on our heads if I don’t follow his instructions.

I huff, but open the door and follow him inside. The décor is classic, 1970’s old steak house, and I half imagine I’ll see Jimmy Hoffa in a booth, smoking a cigar.

The maître d’ takes my father’s name and has us follow him through the dining room. The walls are red and gold velvet wallpaper, with newspaper articles and signed pictures of celebrities and politicians from years gone by hanging like old trophies on the walls.

The table comes into view and that punching feeling comes back, only this time, my target is clear.

William is sitting there like he’s holding court, an obnoxiously large bouquet of red roses in the center of the table. My head is spinning as we sit down and William and my father shake hands like I’m not even there.

Throughout dinner, I see how nervous my father is. I’ve never seen him like this, almost as though William is the senior pastor and he’s a groveling student trying to gain his favor.

William orders for me and when I open my mouth to protest, my father’s foot presses down on top of mine under the table and his eyes are pleading with me, so I bite my lip and stay silent.

While they eat steaks, baked potatoes, asparagus with hollandaise, I chomp on my romaine lettuce and dry piece of salmon which William ordered broiled, no butter and only balsamic vinegar on my salad. No cheese. No croutons. Cucumbers and tomatoes are acceptable.

I nearly bit my tongue in half listening to him order, and imagined taking a bite and letting the blood from where I bit down trickle from the corner of my mouth onto the stupid lettuce.

“Well.” William starts once the dishes are cleared and he and my father are swirling cognac. “By now, your father has let you in on some of what’s going on I hope.”

“Yep.” I answer, looking at the doorway and not at him, but my father clears his throat and gives me the look. “Yes.” I answer, then give William my best good pastor’s wife on Prozac smile.

“Good.” He reaches over and puts his clammy hand on mine. “I don’t think we need a lot of pomp and circumstance. But, we will be planning a wedding.”

“Will we?” I counter, and William squeezes my fingers.

“I’ll forgive you for what you’ve done.”

“What I’ve done? You’re in the forgiveness business now?”

“Kristina.” My father snaps, but William holds up his hand like he’s the fucking Pope pardoning someone.

“It’s okay. This is sudden, I know, but it’s been in the works for some time. It’s what is best for your family. Which will also be my family. It’s best for your father and in time, you’ll see it is best for you as well.”

There’s no way I’m marrying this jack weed, but I play along for now until I can wrap my head around what’s really going on. Something smells like shit and in my experience that means there’s a pile nearby.

William and my father talk while I sit there and ponder what sort of weapons I may need to deal with whatever this is, and soon enough this Twilight Zone moment is wrapped up. William does his best to give me a kiss, but he gets all cheek before I stomp out to the car, ready to have my head spin off my neck. I stay silent as my father drives us home, he and William planning to meet in