Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 79039 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79039 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
“Go home, Mom. I don’t want to see you. I’m going to help Beau make strawberry French toast.”
My fucking heart feels as if it’s shattering in pieces.
“You stupid kid. You think that bitch cares about you? You’re just a tool for her to try and trap your father. That’s it. It doesn’t even matter, BB will kick her to the curb in a week. If not that, he’ll be screwing some of the club girls and she’ll leave his ass. Where will you be then?”
“Jesus Christ, Robin. Quit spouting that shit—”
I stop talking. I was so wrapped up in seeing the pain on my son’s face that I didn’t see Beau march over to where Skull, Adam, Ty, and Robin are all standing. She backhands Robin hard enough that her head jerks back from the force of the blow.
“You can say what you want about me. You can hiss your vile thoughts until the cows come home. Just fucking do it while Ty isn’t here. I’m at the garage all day. Drop by when he’s at school if you want a go, but don’t you ever hurt your son because you’re pissed at me. I care about Ty. I cared for him before I knew he was Hunter’s child. He’s an easy kid to love and you’d know that if you weren’t so twisted and ate up with hate!”
“You fucking bitch! I’ll kill you.” Robin moves like she’s going to jump on Beau, but Skull and Adam hold her back. “Do you hear me? I’ll kill you!” She tries to jerk out of Skull’s hold as Adam bends her arm backwards. “Let me go, you assholes!” she shrieks.
Beau ignores her, squatting down to ruffle Ty’s hair. “Let’s go get started on breakfast. It’s going to take a while so we can feed all of your family that is here,” she whispers to my son. It doesn’t escape my attention that she stresses the fact that his family is here for him. Ty’s eyes are overbright. I know he has to be a mess inside, but he reaches out and takes her hand. She leads him straight to the house.
“Beau, do you want to press charges on Miss Cabell?”
“Press charges? She hit me!” Robin squeaks.
“You’re on her property and verbally abused her and her houseguests—one of which is a minor. She has a right to press charges if she so chooses.”
“She chooses,” I speak up for Beau. “We’ll swing by sometime later today and fill out a restraining order against her. I want to make sure she’s banned from Beau’s house and place of business.”
“You got it,” Adam says as he handcuffs Robin.
“I cannot believe this shit! I’m the injured party here!”
I tune her out and look at Dad and Skull, then shake my head at Spider and Pez who are standing beside me. “You guys staying for breakfast?”
“I’m sure as hell not going to miss Beau’s French toast. That woman can outcook your mom and if you tell her I said that that, I’ll gut you like a fish—son or no son,” Dad growls, making me laugh.
“It will be our secret. Although if Skull tells Aunt Beth—”
“He wouldn’t dare because he knows Beau can outcook Bethie, too,” Dad explains.
“Mi cielo has many wonderful skills and attributes. Cooking is hit or miss,” Skull murmurs.
“But you eat it all,” Torch laughs. “Even when she made that minute rice and pork casserole. God, I thought we were all going to end up in the hospital with food poisoning.”
“It wasn’t that bad,” Spider grouses, obviously trying to take up for his mother.
“Says the man who stayed in the bathroom all night worshipping the porcelain gods,” Skull laughs at his son.
“Shut it, old man,” Spider chuckles. Do you remember Diego’s face after he took his first bite of the pork?”
The air shifts around us and gets harsh. I don’t think any of us dare a breath. The look on Skull’s face reflects pure agony, before he pushes it away. Then, my breath stalls as the man smiles. He lets out a chuckle and it doesn’t sound forced. “He and Gabby both managed to eat one whole serving. Then, they swore it was the best thing they’d ever eaten in their lives. Beth was so happy she fixed it for them for their birthday for three years before they both developed a weird pork allergy,” he explains, this chuckle moving into a full-blown laugh.
“Wait. I’ve had Beth’s cowboy cookies, they’re awesome,” Pez grumbles.
“Some things she makes awesome,” Skull concedes.
“But stay away from her casseroles,” I tell him slapping him on the back, as we walk back inside.
The men continue to talk, but I don’t. My breath stalls in my chest. I see my son, Slider, and Beau at her island laughing and dumping ingredients in a bowl.