A Lighter Shade of Blue (Kings of Chaos 2)

The thought of him taking me out in the open makes my panties wet. There’s something intoxicating about a man who wants me so badly, he’ll take me anytime, and any place.

We pull up in front of the house and I climb off. “Not coming in?” I ask as he hands me my bag.

“Nah, I need to go over some things with Skull before I start my shift. You coming by later with your girl?”

“Yeah, we’ll come over for dinner and drinks after our movie.”

“I’ll be looking for you.” He smoothes my hair back from my face and kisses my head.

The tender moments at his hands amazes me. That someone so large and intimidating could have the softest touch I’ve ever known, astounds me. I’m slightly dazed as I enter the house. How much longer can you keep playing house without taking his claim? It was almost disrespectful living this half life. Being an Old Lady was an honor, and I knew he wanted it, but I avoid any conversation that so much as hints at it. This could be my every day if I got it together.

I lower my head and close my eyes. They say you should never ask questions you don’t want the answers to, yet here I am about to knock on the devil’s door. Nothing good ever comes from listening to Calla’s ranting. But she’s gotten into my head with her toxin and it’s rotting my brain. I have no choice but to investigate. Deep down, I always knew something in my family wasn’t quite right. That our dynamics were grossly imbalanced for a reason. I pull out my phone.

“Everything okay, baby girl?” my father asks.

“No, Dad, it’s not.”

“I need to put a boot up someone’s ass?” he snarls.

I laugh. “No. I just need to talk to you about family crap. You have the time today?”

“Yeah, come on by the house.”

“Is Mom there?” I ask.

“She’s out on one of her shopping sprees.”

“Perfect. I’ll be over in ten.” I sprint to my room, kick off my flats, strip down, put on jeans and a tank top then the slip-ons. In casual gear, I hurry out of the house. I want to see Bolt before he leaves with his best friend for the weekend. We’ve fallen into an easy rhythm, and the incident at his school has brought us closer together.

“What’s this family crap you need to talk to me about?” Dad asks.

I perch on the edge of the couch and lace my fingers together to give them something to do. “It’s something Calla said the last time I went to visit her.”

Dad sighs and rubs his temple. “All that girl does is cause problems.”

“Look, Dad, I know. She’s bitter and hateful, I get that. But there was something about this that rang true. What’s different about me and her?”

“Jesus fucking Christ, I knew this shit was going to come back and bite me in the ass. As much as I tried to keep this shit under wraps, the past never stays where it belongs.”

My stomach drops. “Dad? She wasn’t lying?”

“For once, no.” He wipes his lips with his hands. “See, this is the shit that drives me crazy. You girls are like a riddle I can’t find the answers to. The hormonal touch feely shit. Uh-uh.” He paces the length of the room. “This is why I let your mother handle it, but she did you wrong. I knew it, but I didn’t have any better suggestions. And I wanted what was best for you. The both of you.”

“Daddy?”

“I never wanted Calla to know she wasn’t mine.”

The air is stolen from my lungs. My head spins. “Not yours?”

“Your mom and me. We did our dancing around one another. There were no definite commitments and she had a heart divided. I might’ve considered sharing her if it wasn’t him.”

I know the way things work, woman swapping isn’t uncommon. It’s not for everyone, but the disgust in his voice tells me there was something wrong about the man.

“Who’s him, Dad?”

“Battle.”

My jaw drops.