Stone (Knights Corruption MC Series Book 2) (32 page)

What if I didn’t make it?

What if my life was cut short before he was ready to let me go?

Before I was ready to leave?

Pushing those depressing thoughts aside, I tried my hardest to focus on the two strong men in the kitchen with me. My father busied himself preparing the dinner he insisted on making—chicken Marsala, one of my mother’s favorite dishes. And as such, it was one of mine as well. Over the years since she passed, my father had taken up cooking. He didn’t have much of a choice; if he didn’t want to survive on fast food alone, he had to learn to cook for himself—more than his infamous chili, that was.

“Lincoln, can you set the table? I don’t want Addy lifting a finger,” my father insisted, staring at Stone until he rose from the table and walked toward the cupboards. Instructing him on where he kept the plates and silverware, my father turned toward me and smiled. He loved that Stone did what he was asked without reservation, and although I knew he wanted to impress my father, Stone’s own insecurities about the meeting eating away at him, he wasn’t a man who took orders very easily. Other than from Marek, and only when it was about club business.

Once all three place settings were arranged, my father took the chicken from the oven and placed it in the center of the table. A bowl of mixed veggies along with some fresh rye bread and butter completed the dinner. It’d been some time since I ate this particular meal, and the nostalgia of it all had suddenly become overwhelming. Pushing back the building tears, I reached across the table and grasped my father’s hand.

“Dinner looks wonderful, Dad. Thanks for having us.”

“Anything for you,” he said, patting my hand before cutting into his chicken. Moments of silence passed as all of us consumed the delicious dinner, eyes glancing from one person to the next without uttering a single word. The only sounds to fall from my lips were those of satisfaction at how tasty the food was.

“The chicken is wonderful,” I exclaimed, shoveling in piece after piece until I’d eaten the entire thing. Finishing off my spoonful of vegetables, I buttered some rye then leaned back in the chair to get more comfortable. I took a small sip of water before placing the warm bread between my lips.

“Damn, girl!” Stone exclaimed, “You sure ate your meal quick.” He chuckled, reaching under the table to pat my leg before continuing to finish off his chicken.

“What can I say? Our son’s hungry.” With laughter falling from my lips, my gaze locked onto my father. His face was void of expression, which was odd since he was such an animated guy. I couldn’t tell right then if he was angry or sad. Was the mention of our son pushing him to his limits? It wasn’t like he wasn’t reminded that I was pregnant as soon as he saw me.

Breaking his connection with me, my father focused on Stone. “So, Lincoln. Tell me about your parents . . . your family. Do they live around here?”

I instantly tensed, realizing the topic of his parents was surely a touchy one. Since I hadn’t told my father much about him, always putting off the topic because of the way I knew he would react once he found out he was part of the Knights Corruption, I definitely never mentioned his parents. I probably should have just so we could have avoided the uncomfortableness.

Turning my head toward Stone, I implored him to silently pass me a message with his eyes. Let me know if he was going to be all right with discussing a topic he barely talked about with me. I would interfere on his behalf. All he had to do was blink a few seconds too long, or hold his breath a few more heartbeats . . . or grimace. Something. Anything.

But the man was as cool as a cucumber, even though I knew he was probably agitated on the inside.

Giving my father his full attention, he spoke quickly, hopefully making it clear he didn’t wish to expand on the topic.

“Both of my parents are dead.” I knew talking about his family was very difficult for him. The one time I’d asked him about them, he gave me short answers, telling me his father was killed a few years back along with Marek’s, and that his mother had died from a drug overdose when he was only twelve years old. Other than the one-time bout of information, he refused to discuss them further. I tried on one other occasion, only to be shut down with a grunt and a shake of his head. I knew enough not to push him, and I feared my father was going to try just that.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” my father sincerely offered, and thankfully he read his body language well enough to not ask him anymore questions. Although I think I would have preferred the tension of talking about his deceased parents over what he asked him next.

“How did you two meet? Addy never told me.” His eyes pinned his dinner guest, refusing to look at me as if I would dismiss the question altogether. And I guessed he was right to think so. Our visit had been going well up until that point. I hated to ruin it, so the only thing I could think of to do was be deceptive.

Beat him to it and lie about where we’d met.

“We met at work. He came in after he’d been in an accident and I was the nurse who stitched him up.” Stone visibly flinched from my response, but I’d deal with his mood later, after we were far away from my father’s interrogative stare.

“Is that right?” my father asked, taking a pull from his bottled beer. Stone had refused the drink, thinking it best not to partake in alcohol since this was their first meeting and he needed all his wits about him. I wouldn’t go as far as to say that he was nervous, per se, just cautious not to make the wrong move, or say the wrong thing.

Well, all that came to an end when he decided to speak up and answer the next question.

“What do you do for a living?” My father finished off his drink and set it on top of the table, reclining in his chair while folding his arms over his chest again. I knew that move. That was the ‘I suspect something isn’t right, and you better tell me the truth’ move.

“Actually, I work with Addy’s uncle Trigger.” My breath caught in my throat and my body locked up tight. Panic engulfed me before I could convince myself to calm down. My father knew damn well his brother-in-law was knee-deep in the club. Had been before he even met him, which was quite a long time ago. My father had often told me he was extremely happy I was never integrated into that life. Both he and my mother made sure of it. The good thing was that my uncle agreed wholeheartedly with them, protecting me every chance he had.

When I started going by the club at my uncle’s request to help out, we decided it best to keep that piece of information from my father. It would only upset him, and he had enough to deal with since my mother passed; he didn’t need to worry about my well-being. It was why my uncle was so damn adamant about everyone leaving me alone when I visited. It was why he threatened every member to stay away from me, and it was the reason he felt it was his just duty to shoot the father of my unborn child when he’d learned Stone hadn’t adhered to his threats.

Clanking silverware drew my attention back to my father. He leaned in close and gritted his teeth when he spoke again. “What do you mean you work with Trigger?”

I had to interfere and do it quickly. “He means he’s worked with Uncle Trigger in the past.” I opened my mouth to say something else, not quite sure what, when Stone interjected, placing his hand over mine and giving me a light squeeze. He was assuring me it was best to get this out in the open. To deal with it and move on. Just like he did when my uncle shot him. Thankfully, my father didn’t own a gun; otherwise, our visit might have turned out completely different.

“I’m a member of the Knights Corruption, right along with Trigger. We’ve been involved with starting up a few different types of businesses to ensure the livelihood of the club going forward.” I wasn’t sure whether he was going to continue speaking, but it didn’t matter because as soon as he took another breath, my father rose from his seat and started shouting, deflating any hope I had at a peaceful evening.

“What the hell are you saying? What are you telling me right now? That you’re part of that cesspool of a club? They’re nothing but criminals, preying on the weak and dealing in drugs and God only knows what else. No!” he hollered. “I won’t have my daughter involved with anyone from that place.” Suddenly turning his eyes to me, he asked, “Does Trigger know you’re with him? Because he assured me he would protect you at all costs. To make sure you never fell prey to the likes of anyone involved there.”

“He knows,” Stone interrupted, rising from the table himself, pulling me right along with him until I stood next to him. His arm wrapped around my waist, and the gesture wasn’t lost on my father. He was claiming me, and it was the worst possible time for his possessive side to come out to play. My father slammed his hands on the table and kicked his chair behind him, the shrill sound of metal legs against tiled floor unnerving. “The bastard even shot me because of it.” There was no amusement or fear in his voice when he confessed this to my father. There was just matter-of-fact resignation.

“Good. At least he kept his word to me. Sort of. Although you snuck past him, I won’t allow you to take this relationship any further. I forbid you to see my daughter any longer!” my father shouted. “I won’t keep you from your child, but as far as you and Addy are concerned, you’re done. So help me God, if you don’t listen to me, you’ll regret it.” Heavy footsteps sounded as my father rounded the table and came to stand directly in front of Stone, his fists clenched at his sides, prepared to do battle if that’s what it came to.

While I knew he wouldn’t be okay with me being involved with someone in the club, I seriously didn’t think he would take it this far. Threatening Stone if he didn’t leave me alone. Ready to pound on the father of his unborn grandchild. He’d gone too far, pushed so far past the line it was nothing but a flimsy blur.

“Dad!” I shouted, reaching out to grab his hand. But he pulled away, denying my touch before it registered. His reaction hurt, but I had more important things to worry about right then.

Like making sure both of them didn’t somehow come to blows. They were both fiercely protective of me, and the last thing I wanted or needed was for them to be at war with one another, simply because they were each trying to assert their role in my life.

I pressed on and tried to diffuse the escalating tension between the two men who meant the world to me.

“Dad!” I tried again. “While I know you’re concerned for my well-being, I’m grown. You can’t dictate who I involve myself with.” Looking toward an increasingly agitated Stone, I confessed, “Stone would never let anything bad happen to me. Fate has done that already,” I mumbled, more to myself, thankful neither one of them heard my grumbling.

“Addy, you don’t know what they’re capable of. They’re nothing but a bunch of murdering, drug-dealing, lowlife scumbags.”

Just when I thought things couldn’t get worse, Stone erupted, gripping the edge of the table for leverage. Otherwise, I feared he would have attacked my father.

“I tried to be respectful. I tried to bite my tongue, praying the night wouldn’t end like this, but I can’t do it any longer. You weren’t gonna give me the time of day regardless; I saw the way you judged me as soon as you laid eyes on me. But know this. I’m in love with your daughter, she’s having my baby, and very soon we’ll be married. And there isn’t a damn thing you can do about it. As far as my club goes, my brothers are nothing short of extraordinary men. Sure, we’ve done some things in the past which resided on the other side of the law. I’m not gonna lie about that. But things are different now. We’re done with anything that will endanger our lives as well as the lives of those we love. I would give my own life to make sure Addy and my son are safe, and if you don’t believe or trust me then that’s your problem. Not mine.” Stone’s face had become red, his chest expanding quickly while his jaw ticked uncontrollably. Turning my head toward my father, I saw he mirrored Stone’s reactions.

The only thing I could do to alleviate the thick tension was to leave, allow my father time to calm down, and hopefully let what Stone had said sink in.

“I think it’s best we go,” I said, reaching over and touching my father’s arm. That time, he didn’t pull back, instead looking at me with fear in his eyes. I knew I meant the world to him, and the fact I was upsetting him tore me to shreds. But I loved Stone. I was carrying his child. I needed him, more than I could ever explain to my father. “I promise I’ll call you in a couple days. Trust me to know that what I’m doing is right for me,” I pleaded.

Taking a step back, I reached for Stone’s hand and pulled him toward the door.

Thankfully, he followed me without hesitation.