Page 29 of Torch

“Mom, you don’t even know him. He’s a great man.”

Her face twisted in disgust. “I don’t want to get to know him. He’s part of a motorcycle gang! I bet you neither of them have a damn job. Yet, you would rather roll around with trash like this. I expect this kind of nonsense from Kira, but I expect more from you, Brittney!”

My mouth dropped open from all the hateful venom that spilled from her lips. She was taking shots at everyone. All I could do was hang my head in shame. I had never been more embarrassed in my life. As if Christian sensed it, he gripped my chin, lifting my head.

“Don’t do that. Nothing she says will make me look at you differently. Understand?” I nodded, and he kissed my lips right in front of my mother. “Do you need me to stay?”

I shook my head. “No. I’ll be okay. I promise.”

He grabbed his car keys off the coffee table. “Okay. Call me later.”

He and Axel made their way to the front door. Axel stopped beside my mother and looked down at her with a stank expression. “It was not a pleasure to meet you.” Kira stood at the door with her hand over her mouth, trying to hold back a laugh. Axel dropped a kiss on her forehead and made his exit. “I’ll see you tonight, Tink.”

My mother glared at me. “You see how disrespectful he is?”

I was beyond flabbergasted. “He was disrespectful? Did you hear what you just said to them?”

“It’s hardly disrespectful if it’s the truth.”

Kira closed and locked the front door, then made her way to her room. “Five minutes, Brit, and I want her out,” she said as she walked away.

She slammed her bedroom door, and I knew she was pissed. I would have to do a lot of apologizing to her. I knew she wouldn’t blame me for what my mother said, but I still wanted to let her know I was sorry. My mother wouldn’t be here had I not been staying here.

“Mom, what are you doing here?”

“I’m here to take you home. This has gone on long enough. Julian is coming over for dinner tonight, and you will work things out with him. He is a good man who can provide you with the life you deserve. You need to go back an⁠—”

“Mom, no!” I cut her off. “I have no desire to be with Julian, and I’m not going to do it anymore.”

“Excuse you.”

“You heard me. While you’re here, maybe you can finally tell me who my father is.”

“You don’t need to know who he is. Myron is your father.”

I clenched my jaw in frustration. “So you’re still not going to tell me?”

“No,” she replied stubbornly.

I moved around her and opened the front door. “Then you can leave. I have nothing else to say.”

Snatching her purse from the couch, she made her way over to me. My mother stared into my eyes with pure fury. “I don’t know what has gotten into you, but you will fix things with Julian. I will not let you tear down everything this family has built.”

I let out a humorless laugh, shaking my head. “You mean everything your husband built on my back?”

The slap she delivered came so fast that I barely had time to register what happened.

My mother glared at me while I held my stinging cheek. “In the fall, you will marry Julian, whether you like it or not. I will not let you ruin your life.” She walked out the door, leaving me shocked and speechless.

More than anything, I was pissed. I didn’t know who my mother was anymore. She was changing right before my eyes. I guess the threat of Myron’s money trail coming to an end had her losing her mind.

It wasn’t my problem, though. It was their mess, and I wasn’t helping them out of it. As for who my real father was, I thought I knew how to find out. I have been thinking about it for a while now. Deep down, I knew my mother wouldn’t budge. That was fine too. I just hoped she didn’t believe that would stop me.

After I closed the door, I grabbed my phone and made a call.

“What’s up, beautiful? Need me to turn around?” Christian asked as soon as he picked up.

“No, I’m okay. But I do need a favor from you.”