Page 61 of Born to Scar

“That will never be your fault, baby. He can’t control me anymore, and it pisses him off. That’s all this is about. Control.”

We stay stuck in that spot until night falls, cuddled together. Being together.

Jay and Micky are on the couch playing a video game when we come through the door. “Have fun?” Jay asks.

“Mhmm,” she hums with a smile and a peck on the cheek for them both, as she makes her way to the kitchen.

Jay lowers his voice. “Ken came by, and he found something interesting. We need to talk.”

My eyes shoot to Mik, but Jay shakes his head. Good. He doesn’t need to know what we’re doing. Not right now.

CHAPTER 26

INDY

Mik is sitting at the table by the front door of the bar when my father walks in. He stands, blocking him from coming in any further. Mik is a big dude. His presence is enough to scare most people. He spends a lot of time in the gym.

“Can I help you?” Micky asks. No one is here yet, but everyone will be in less than an hour. I wish he had come later when they were.

He is holding a box with a lid, and I roll my eyes. I do not want those fucking journals. Ignoring Mik, he looks over his shoulder at the bar. “I have them for you.”

“I don’t want them. Leave.”

He shakes his head. “Indy, I think these can help you.”

“I don’t need any fucking help,” I grit out. I’m trying to hold my shit together because the last thing I need is to have legal issues with a cop. “Mik, take the box.” Then I look the monster dead in the eyes and say, my voice unwavering, “Leave and don’t come back.”

Micky takes the box, setting it on the table. My father’s hollow laugh echoes through the empty bar as he shakes his head. “I’m not going to be able to do that. You’re my only family left, kid.”

“You did that to yourself,” I sneer. “And I’m not your family. If you keep coming back, I will get a restraining order.”

His eyebrows shoot to the top of his head. “I’m not sure you realize how hard that is.”

“Cam is a lawyer,” Micky deadpans.

“Mik, he’s not worth it.”

“I’m well aware of who Mr. Beck and Mr. Sikes are.”

My head snaps up. “What the fuck does that mean?”

He tsks me, like I’m a three-year-old all over again. “Indy, you don’t need to curse when you talk to me.”

“I will speak however the fuck I want. What did you mean?”

A vile smirk crosses his face. How many times have I seen that ugly face? I’ve lost count. “I’ve done my research. Mr. Beck is a partner at his very influential father’s law firm. Mr. Sikes is a software engineer at one of the world’s top software companies. Neither is married, both living in the same house as you and him.” He points to Micky, looking him up and down with disgust smeared on his face.

Mik tenses under his gaze, but it’s far from fear that has his muscles taut. He looks at me, and I shake my head. He doesn’t need legal shit with my father either.

“Are you all together? Honestly, I would have never expected that kind of behavior from you. You were not raised with such loose values.”

Mik grunts with a gentle shake of his head. “You don’t know a goddamn thing.”

My body trembles. Partly, because I’m angry, but mostly because I’m scared. He’s going to push them away. All of them. Tears rim my eyes as I work to blink them away. I’m going to lose everything. Again. Everyone I love will be forced away. “What do you want?” My voice is weak. I’m back there, the heavy weight of the chains attached to the bed crushing my lungs.

“Indy.” Mik notices and shakes his head in a silent plea.

“I want to talk.”