Page 58 of Crusher

It also doesn’t help that Kayden is pro-daddy.

Shaking my head, I skate faster, then jump and skate forward, moving my arms as I go, before changing position so I’m skating backwards again, then jumping and spinning in the air, my head clearing as I’d hoped and the ice becoming my focus.

The owner was all too happy for me to start a little after school club here – once I have my credentials – he thought it would be great for word of mouth. This morning, I signed a contract that the club’s lawyer looked at giving me every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday evening from four until six to teach until business picks up and Kayden even picked out a name.

Carnage Ice skaters.

Safe to say my son loves the club, which is also making it hard for me to keep my distance from my husband. Don’t get me started on my mother-in-law, who is constantly in my ear about giving her son, who still has a fractured relationship with her, a chance.

Everyone wants us together, I just have to get my head on board.

A door slamming gains my attention, and I stop near the barrier, spraying ice everywhere as I breathe heavy and look to see my mother, who I have been avoiding, storming in.

“Guess word got out,” I mumble as I eye her, her eyes like my own, showing nothing but anger and disappointment, which really?

Pot, meet kettle, anyone?

“So, it is true? You’re back in town?” she snaps, stating the obvious, and I raise a brow at her.

“Clearly,” I retort before I demand, “What do you want, Mom?”

Her jaw ticks as she looks me over before she shocks me and states, “Your father has a man who wants to marry you, and I think it will be a good opportunity. He’ll take care of you, and I’ll take care of your child.”

I put my hand in my pocket instantly, grabbing hold of my phone before pressing down on the side button that Trick told me to press if there was an emergency. I’m not stupid, Dad is in the vicinity, he has to be if she’s here demanding this crap.

“One, I’m a married woman and back with my husband,” I kind of lie because well, we are living together again and I haven’t exactly made any attempts to leave, which should say a lot really, “Two, if you think I’ll allow you anywhere near my son when you couldn’t even look after me growing up then you have another thing coming. Especially when I know for a fact you’re still allowing that man to manipulate you and three, you go anywhere near my son, never mind the MC going after you, I’ll kill you myself. You know, Dad is with the Chargers, that they traffic kids, so the fact you are demanding to have my child makes you just as sick as them!”

Her jaw ticks, clearly not expecting me to fight her on this, which is pathetic, and I shake my head as I question, “What happened to my momma?” and she flinches, “What happened to that woman?”

“She died a long time ago,” she croaks, and I nod just as the door slams open again and my father saunters in with some overweight guy with a shirt that looks four sizes too small and stained, his hair receding.

“Well, daughter of mine, long time no see,” Dad cackles, and I slowly glide back on the ice, seeing the gun in his hand.

“You’ve got nerve coming here,” I call out, “Especially when my husband will be here soon.”

Mom looks down, clearly thinking I’m lying, while my father cackles, showing his yellow teeth.

“Your husband is a dimwit who doesn’t even know who I am, now, this man here, he’s a fellow Charger and has bought you for a hefty price. In California, I have a man who wants your son, because you know, a club brat goes for a lot of money,” he states, “Now, get off the ice and come with me before I shoot you.”

“Patrick!” Mom gasps, clearly not in on that side of the plan, but Dad ignores her and holds the gun up, and I smirk.

“Then shoot me, because guess what, your little traitor, you know, the brother who you like to screw your ass has been found out, you won't get to my son,” I goad, and Mom chokes as she takes a step back from my father, whose face reddens just as a roaring of bikes echoes, and I smirk.

“So, about the club not knowing about you?” I ask as I bring up my phone and show the emergency screen, and he roars out and puts his finger on the trigger.

I quickly skate away just as my mom runs towards him, screaming, “No!” but the man with Dad grabs hold of her head, intercepting her and twists before her body drops, and I gasp in shock just as a bullet hits the ice near my skate.

I quickly move, but not quick enough as another shot rings out and hits me, making me gasp in pain before I slip on the ice and hit my head hard, everything going black just as shouting echoes.

Chapter 27

Crusher

“Okay, so Carnage Tats is fucking booming, the net gross has increased by five percent, though the new receptionist just isn’t going to fucking cut it,” Cage explains as he sits back in his chair.

“Is she still hitting on you?” Crash asks with a frown, and Cage winces as I tilt my head.

“Worse, bitch was getting herself off on my tattoo chair when I walked in with Drew, CJ, Angela, and Willow who begged to see my tattoo room. My wife, fuck, she nearly killed Nene,” he admits, and I wince.