Page 39 of Born to Scar

My parents stare at me. My mother is curious, but my father is furious. I don’t speak like this in front of them. I guess the race crew has rubbed off on me a little bit. Maybe it’ll get them to listen for once. Him. Get him to listen. At least my mother tries.

“Lose them,” my father mutters, sipping his coffee.

Or not...

“No, I don’t think so.”

His eyes narrow on me. “We’ve done all of this for you, and this is how you repay us?”

“By loving who I want?” I snarl, finally losing my composure. “You’ve shackled me to this life since I was a child. You got what you wanted out of me. I am you. But I will not let what I do become who I am.”

“I’ll rip this all out from under you,” he warns.

“Christopher,” my mother warns in return. We all know who runs this operation, and it’s not him.

“No, he doesn’t make the rules.”

“I do make the rules about my life. I’m the best lawyer you have—made to be like you. Ruthless. Heartless. Coldblooded. Go ahead. Rip it away. I’ll still have what I want. But you’ll lose me. And I am your greatest asset, after all. Am I not? So, you go ahead. Take. It,” I spit, daring him. His threats mean nothing to me anymore.

“You’re ready to throw this all away on pussy, Cameron?”

“Christopher!” my mother yells. “Enough!”

“Seems like it all hinged on it anyway,” I bark.

“What the fuck does that mean?”

“Angela. That’s why this is a problem. You want me to marry her for your own benefit. I will not do it.”

My mother sighs. “Let’s take a minute and calm down. This isn’t the end of the world for either of you.” I think her dislike for Angela outweighs my own. “Chris, you saw how she came in and threw him under the bus. Do you really want our son to marry someone like that?”

Dad storms out. Mom rolls her eyes and gives me a weak smile.

“It’ll be fine, Cam. I’ll talk to him. Just…be smart, okay?”

“Mom, they’re the best people I know. They’re not the problem. The only way this is a problem is if he makes it one.”

She nods and kisses my cheek. “I hate Angela; I’m glad that’s over.” I laugh as she walks out.

“Me fucking too!” I yell after her.

CHAPTER 17

INDY

I have a double shift today, so I get to go in bright and early. Over the last couple of weeks, I haven’t really seen my boys much more than a passing by. Part of me knows it’s me trying to give them space to explore their new relationship. But I miss them.

Walking around my mostly empty apartment, I finish getting ready. Mik and I have all but moved in with Jay and Cam. Cam moved in that same week. Surprisingly, I’ve been the one dragging my feet. I’m safe here. No one can take this away from me. Ray is the only one, and he would never. I know I have a place here forever, but not being physically here makes me nervous. It’s all I know.

They’re already looking for a bigger house. Cam and Jared need offices of their own and a bigger garage for their toys. While Mik and I are just over the moon to have walls. What different worlds we all come from.

The morning is slow, but it’s Friday, so the usual suspects will show up at the bar tonight. Micky unlocks the door for the evening rush. Cam, Jay, Kia, and Lainy all grab the table at the back. I love that they come here to hang out, that nothing has changed in that sense. I check on the bar and head to the back for a break. Usually, I would go to their table, but I’ve been here all day and want to chill out for a second.

With my phone alarm set for twenty minutes, I prop my feet up on the table with my head tilted back and eyes closed. Loud footsteps come from the front. I crack an eye open to see my men standing in the doorway.

Opening both eyes, I sit up and smile. “Hi.”

“You’ve been avoiding us,” Cam states.