Page 32 of Loki’s Spellbinder (Hunters Creek Archangel’s Warriors MC #14)

Hayes scowled. “Braelyn, I’m not here to fight. And while you may see these other people as family, I do not. This conversation is between you, me, and Mom. If they can’t leave, we can go somewhere. Why don’t I take the two of you into town? We’ll get coffee and talk.”

“Your mom has dinner almost ready in case you didn’t hear her when she invited you to stay. There’s no way she’d leave right now,” Rage stated calmly.

“Hayes, there’s no reason to be like this. You can say anything you want in front of the four of them. I hate that you don’t see them as family. They’ve been nothing but wonderful to your sister and me,” Betty told him.

“Your sister isn’t to be out running around per doctor’s orders. As you can see, she’s been hurt. We were involved in a wreck three days ago. I wouldn’t feel comfortable with her away from me,” I informed him.

He came to his feet. Hayes went to the window and glanced out at the backyard before turning to face us all. He was scowling more. “If you insist, but they won’t like what I’m about to say, be warned.”

When none of us said anything, he got started.

“I came here because I was told that Braelyn had been in a car accident. The word is that an unknown person or persons deliberately hit her and her boyfriend, and then the driver of the other vehicle got away in a getaway vehicle. I needed to see you both and ask if you’ve changed your minds. ”

“Change our minds about?” Betty asked.

“About being involved with these dangerous men and their club. For God’s sake, Mom, look at your daughter.

She’s bruised and cut. She could’ve been killed.

Don’t tell me this has nothing to do with this club!

Everyone knows that they’re nothing but a bunch of outlaws involved in God knows what.

I can’t believe you and Braelyn can’t see that.

“I know you’ve been alone for many years, but that’s no reason to accept the attention of the first man who gives you a crumb.

I refuse to believe you’re so far gone that you’ll accept someone who sells drugs, guns, and whatever else, parties and drinks to all hours of the night, and sleeps with any woman he fancies.

And now, you’ve got your daughter accepting the same thing, and she’s hooked up with one of them. ”

His disgust was evident. I saw Rage’s face turning red, and Wrath wasn’t far behind. I was keeping myself under control. I wanted him to dig his hole nice and deep. That was if he didn’t cause Wrath or Rage to beat his ass and toss him out on his head first. I wouldn’t mind a show before dinner.

“Hayes, you come here spouting off nonsense when you have no clue what you’re talking about. Who told you I was in a wreck?” Brae snapped.

“I’m not saying, just someone who would know.”

“You’re such an asshole. You come here to insult these men you don’t know anything about.

You have our mom ready to cry. For whatever reason, she loves your stupid ass.

Let me tell you something. The Pagans aren’t a club of outlaws.

Wrath and Daddy Rage don’t spend their time partying and carousing with women.

They work, and when they’re home, they spend most of it with Mom and Jalisa.

If there’s a party, their women are at the clubhouse with them, not stuck at home waiting to see if their men come home, and if they do, do they have lipstick or other women’s perfume on them? ” his sister growled.

“Brae, I thought you’d at least be smarter than this.

You’re a successful lawyer and work for the DA.

Eli is going places. He won’t remain the DA forever.

When he moves on, you could be in the prime position to become district attorney, but not if you continue to associate with people like these bikers! ” Hayes scolded.

“Wow, I didn’t know you knew so much about me and my boss, Hayes. I guess that explains how you knew about the wreck. Whatever. The best thing to happen to us in years besides Dad dying, that is, is when Mom met Rage.”

Hayes’s face turned beet red at her remark about their dad. “How dare you say that! Our father was a good man. He wasn’t like he’s been portrayed,” he snapped.

“You mean he wasn’t as he was portrayed with you, the golden son he wanted to follow in his footsteps.

You forgot those earlier years when he’d beat you, too.

Even if that never happened, how can you call him a good man when he beat your mom and sister?

” Brae snarled. The tension was building in her.

I rubbed her arm and thigh, trying to make her relax. I’d have to step in momentarily.

“Did you ever think that if you hadn’t been such a brat and Mom listened and did as her husband told her, he wouldn’t have resorted to such drastic measures?

You forced him to act that way. I stopped being on the receiving end because I learned what he was trying to teach!

Dad was a good man and an even greater police officer,” her brother shouted harshly.

The gasps of pain from both women were enough. I stood simultaneously as Wrath. Rage did after sliding Betty off his lap. We didn’t attack him, but we did position ourselves so the little mouthy fucker couldn’t run until he was told a few home truths.

“Boy, let me tell you about that man you revere,” Rage snarled.

“No, Rage, don’t!” Betty cried.

“It’s time he knew. Hayes, you may excuse those beatings as their fault because they wouldn’t listen.

But you can’t make excuses for him repeatedly cheating on your mom with countless women.

Or the dirty deals he was involved in as a cop, which weren’t revealed until after his death.

The precinct decided not to tarnish his memory for his family’s sake and theirs, but your dad was a dirty cop.

In addition, he was a rapist. He repeatedly raped your mother for years.

That’s the motherfucker you look up to!” Rage roared.

Hayes had gone white. Betty was crying. Jalisa had her arm around her on one side, and Brae was on the other. She was glaring daggers at her brother.

“No, you’re lying. You want her to think you’re something you’re not,” Hayes accused hoarsely.

“Your mom knows exactly what I am. I’ve never claimed to be an angel. I don’t cheat on her. I don’t beat or rape her. And I’m not dealing in any of those things you accused us of doing. My son and I have a club we’re proud of.”

“He’s right. You want to throw them away. That’s your loss. Dad, the club, and I gladly take them. Betty has been more of a mom to me these past few years than the bitch who bore me was. And Brae is the little sister I always hoped to have,” Wrath added.

I decided I should finish it. “And for your information, you didn’t come here and just insult the Pagan Souls with your bullshit. You pissed off an Archangel’s Warrior. In case you weren’t aware, Warriors have chapters in Tennessee and North Carolina.”

“What do you mean, I pissed off another club? How?” he asked sulkily.

“It means I’m not a Pagan. I’m a Warrior, and between us and the Pagans and our other friends’ clubs, we have three hundred men at our disposal. If we were the kind of men you claim we are, you’d already be dead.”

“Enough. I need to say something,” Betty ordered. Her face was wet with tears, and her voice was shaky.

“Mom, you don’t need to say anything. Let me take care of him. When I’m done, he’ll wish he had kept his stupid ass away from here and that even dumber mouth shut,” Jalisa growled.

Betty patted Jalisa’s arm and kissed her cheek before she kissed Brae’s. When she looked at her son, there was steel behind the hurt in her gaze.

“Hayes, I’ve made excuses for years about how you seemed to accept your father and forget how he acted.

I know how boys want to look up to their fathers.

I pushed the hurt away that you would side with a man like him.

When you told me it was you or Rage, I thought you’d change your mind, but you didn’t.

I felt terrible that I hadn’t gotten to see you for the past three years.

However, I’m done paying penance for something that’s not my fault.

Rage is correct. Your dad was a monster.

And you don’t need to believe us about him.

But you are on the path to becoming like him with your attitude.

Do one thing for me. Never settle down or have kids because if you do, I fear for them. ”

“I can’t believe you’d say that! You’re supposed to be my mother. Instead, you and Brae would rather be biker whores!” Hayes ranted.

All three of us men went for him. However, we were beaten there by Brae and Jalisa.

Brae was moving more slowly, so Jalisa reached him first and punched him in the jaw.

Hayes held his face and stared in astonishment at her.

Right behind Jalisa came my woman. She slapped her brother’s face.

The crack was loud and left a vivid red handprint on his cheek.

“How dare you call me or Mom whores! You’re a spiteful, hateful bastard, Hayes.

I’ve tried to deny it all my life, but like Mom, I’m done.

You go back to your life and revere the monster who was our father.

And do what Mom said. Never have a woman or family.

Get out before we let these bikers loose on you.

Be thankful I’m in pain, or you’d get more than a slap from me. Leave and don’t come back.”

He sputtered and tried to defend his words, but it was too late.

Rage, Wrath, and I corralled him and escorted him not only out to his car, which was in the driveway, but Rage got on his bike and followed him to the gate to ensure he left.

I hated that they had to be subjected to this.

When Rage returned, we went inside to console the women.

It wasn’t the happy family dinner we were expecting to have.