Page 40 of Thunder

Shaking my head as he continues to glare at me like I ruined his morning, I slowly sit up. My shoulder aches slightly, it is apparently normal, according to Dr. Thomas, and I look around the bedroom and notice Scottie’s lanyard is gone, and I curse again.

She snuck out.

I needed to speak to her about my phone call with Doc, but before I could bring it up, she shocked the shit outta me and finally gave herself to me. I planned to speak to her over breakfast before I rode her to work, but she obviously had other ideas.

I sigh with frustration, hating that I woke up alone and get up and head to the bathroom to pee. I mutter my displeasure under my breath but as I walk into the bathroom, I eye the cabinet that is partially open as I walk inside, and a smirk stretches, part one of my plan already in place.

I wonder how she’d feel if she knew that I followed some past brother tactics and swapped her birth control pills two months ago?

I told her I’d do everything I can to keep her, and I fucking meant it, and the fact that we’ve finally slept together, unprotected…

Chuckling to myself, I quickly take a piss and shower to wake myself up before heading back into the bedroom.

I grab my jeans and put them on just as my phone rings and I quickly grab it from the nightstand, thinking maybe she just wanted to let sleep in, but I sigh seeing it’s my father.

“Great, bet this is about my talk with Doc yesterday…” I grunt.

He said it was time to come home. I told him I wasn’t ready to execute my plan yet, that Axel and Marshall have said they’d help me with it when I’m ready, and he was pissed.

Apparently, the brothers are ready to storm Dallas, but they’ll just have to fucking wait because I’ve done everything for them, so it’s about time they did the courtesy in returning the favor.

“Dad?” I answer with a sigh as I zip up my jeans, ignoring Felix staring at me from on the bed that I know I won’t be able to make now without getting fucking clawed to death.

I swear the thing has problems.

“What’s this I hear from Doc that you aren’t returning yet?” he demands. “You’re now free to ride and should be coming home, not organizing to attend the run from the Untamed fucking side!”

“Good morning to you too, Dad. I’m doing good though my girl’s cat is evil. How are you?” I reply with sarcasm, and the man growls before a bang echoes and I know he’s just punched the wall.

For a man who is amazing at hiding in the shadows – hence his road name – he can’t fucking control his temper.

“Get your fucking ass home!” he roars full of anger, and I shake my head.

“You done?” I ask, and he snaps, “Stop fucking back talking and get home now. I have had enough of your sister bringing home animals because Doc has banned them from his fucking house, all because her brother is not around!”

And now the call makes sense, the anger…

I clear my throat to stop my laughter as I pick up my shirt and putting the phone on loudspeaker, I throw it on the bed, and finish getting dressed.

“What? Did she bring home another goat?” I ask, hoping the laughter in my voice isn’t noticeable, but unfortunately for me, my dad knows me well.

“It isn’t fucking funny, Bradley,” he snaps, then shocks the shit outta me and informs me, “She brought home a fucking Shetland pony!”

I’m sorry what?

I look at the phone with shock, and I choke, “What the fuck? How did she manage that?!”

“The owner decided to drop it off and drive away. Of course, your sister and Ashley own the place now. Doc just figured that out after he did his own finances instead of letting Brit do them. So, he’s now pissed while your sister doesn’t give a shit because she feels vindicated that her punishment for you being gone has worked. After she informed her kids that it’s theirs and will stay at grandpa's and now even Doc has threatened to divorce her, that is how done he is!”

“Shit,” I whisper as I look at the phone with wide eyes.

“Come home!” he demands firmly, and I blink, then blink again before admitting, “I can’t yet because I’m planning on basically kidnapping Sammie.”

He’s quiet for a moment before he chokes, “Fuck me, first your sister with animals and now you with a fucking child?” and I wince before I hear Kathleen demand, “Has he packed yet?”

“Bradley,” Dad says softly, “don’t do it,” and Kathleen snaps, “Do what?”

I slowly lick my bottom lip as I eye Felix, whose tail is twitching, and I confess, “The plans are already in motion. She won’t leave without him, and honestly, Dad, I feel like he was supposed to be ours.”