Shane"This is getting' bad brother." I say to Austin.It's been a few hours since Lyla kicked me out of her house. Hours since I've held her body close to mine. Hours since I've calmed Adrianna down enough to begin talking again. Hours since I have felt whole."Yeah. Can't believe that asshole had the audacity to come after one of old ladies and her kid. Fuck man, glad you were there."I nod my head reliving everything that went down today. The smile and joy reflecting off Adrianna. The happy go lucky and freeing look Lyla was sporting, the carefree attitude I had. It was all gone in the blink of an eye when I watched as that asshole came up with a forty-five in his hands. If it weren't for the cut he was sporting, I wouldn't have thought much of him.Giving the description to Austin was easier than I thought. It helped that when I shot him in the shoulder, he stared right at me. Had no gun experience, that much I could tell. Someone taught him how to use it, but not well enough.
Lyla"Mommy, what am I supposed to say to Uncle Austin again?" Adrianna asks me from the back seat. I roll my eyes with humor since this is the hundredth time she has asked that very question in the last ten minutes.We are currently on our way to the engagement party for Austin and Candice. I was supposed to go alone, but Lisa had a date tonight and although she told me she would cancel so she can watch Adrianna, I didn't want her to have to do that. With everything going on these past few weeks, I just wanted to spend more time with my daughter. After Shane left, Austin and I had a long chat over the phone about what I do from here. I told him I just wanted my life back, but my daughter protected. He gave me Miles and Ghost for protection and promised me that I wouldn't even notice them.He was right so far.I think about Shane all the time. Part of me feels terrible about how I treated him that day and the words I used weren't fair. I had told him that I wouldn't stand for how h
ShaneYou have got to be fucking kidding me.I watch as my ex-wife walks confidently around my mother's house like the queen of fuckin' England."Shane, do you know where your mother keeps her coffee mugs? She wants another cup and I can't find any clean ones.""You should check your house." I mutter but she turns around clearly hearing me.Getting that call from the hospital letting me know that my mom had been immitted into the emergency room was surreal. I had been at home with Adrianna after picking her up from preschool. Miles had been watching her, but I took over when I left club Sin after doing the books for the missing days. Once Lisa arrived, I took off, hating that I never called Lyla to let her know what was going on.Mom had a mini stroke. Doctor told her it wasn't an actual stoke, but close enough that she may have one in the near future if she doesn't start changing her ways. Mom never takes care of her body and knowing that she may be in a state where no one would
LylaIt's been a week since the day of the custody hearing. Everything has been really good between Shane and I, but there are times when I feel like he is keeping something from me. Shane isn't necessarily a secretive person, but with club business he has been lately. I've asked him about the guy that shot at us or if Alberts has done anything else to threaten the club, but he simply shrugs my way and changes the subject. I understand my role in their boy's club, I get the dynamics, but I don't feel comfortable with Shane keeping something from me that could very well affect Adrianna's life.You're one to talk Ly.I haven't exactly told Shane about the custody hearing, nor about what I plan on doing today. He believes I am meeting up with Adrianna's teacher to discuss next year. Instead, I am on my way to the house Rory has rented while here in New York, with Adrianna.When I got the call from the social worker assigned to our case, saying that Rory's house was deemed fit for Adri
Shane"I like the color pink now." Adrianna says to me for the eighth time in a row. I look up from my coffee and turn to her sitting on the dining room table coloring. Her hair is messy, and she has giant purple pajamas on. She turns to look at me and my heart nearly falls out of my chest.It's been two days since everything happened at the hospital with Shawna and Max. They were released yesterday, and Lyla and I went by to see them. Max seems a little better, but Shawna still has a lot to deal with. It nearly broke me when I walked past the nursery they had set up in light gray's and yellows that I had to close the door.I've also thought a lot about what Lyla told me that dreadful day at the hospital. She shook with nerves while telling me and I can only imagine how she thought I was going to react. I kept in all my anger at the fact that this douchebag is now in Adrianna's life. At first, I was angry that Lyla would take a child away from their father, but after hearing her con
LylaTardiness has always been a weakness of mine. It's not something I have ever done on purpose, but being a single mother, with a job that requires you to spend twelve hours helping to save lives, sometimes makes it a little hard to be on time for everything else.I check the time on my dash once more as I pull into the courthouse parking lot. It's twelve twenty-seven and court started at twelve o'clock. After everything that has been happening lately and Shane not being around for the last couple days, it was a little hard to get out of the house leaving Miles with Adrianna. I trust him, but Adrianna was questioning why Shane still hadn't come back to us.Knowing there was someone from another MC watching our house is enough to have me worrying over Adrianna while I'm at work. Shane hasn't completely ignored us, he's called each night which I'm grateful for. He was listening when I told him to at least keep in contact with me. Shane told me about needing some space and as much as I
Shane"Because I'm the oldest, I should always be entitled to get the last one.""That's a bunch of bullshit if I've ever heard any.""Look you little shit, mom made these cookies because Candy told her she had been wanting some. My woman, my cookies."I roll my eyes as Austin and Max go back and forth for the hundredth time about these goddamn cookies. Normally I would simply walk in, grab the last one they always fight about, and end that shit right then and there causing an uproar between the two brothers, but tonight I have no strength. Since the moment Lyla broke me in half last night, I have been walking around with a stick up my ass. I decided to come with Max and Austin to visit their mother Julia. Partly, to get out, and partly because I could never say no to seeing Julia. She was there for me when the cruelty of my father's life ending was too much to bear and my mother was too busy latching onto whoever gave her attention.Julia is a strong woman, someone I have always felt
Lyla"And so now he is requesting full custody. I swear Candy, I could hunt him down, and stuff in a mailbox.""I'm so sorry Lyla. And on top of that Adrianna is still sick?""Yes." I answer, placing the phone to my other ear so I can make my second cup of coffee of the day. "She isn't getting any better and I have to work tonight.""Well why don't I take your shift?""I can't ask that of you honey.""You're not. I'm your best friend Lyla, or at least I better be¡. I am, aren't I?" I throw my head back and laugh, something that feels foreign to do. It's been so long so I've been myself that I feel like I'm in a black hole."Of course, you are. I hate to do that when I could use the money for this custody battle, but I would love a day where I can just take care of her ya know?""Take the day Lyla, you've been covering for me for the last few weeks, so I can do wedding stuff, this is the least I can do.""Thank you, Candy. I owe you one." I say then peak into Adrianna's room. The room