Absolution (Road Kings MC And Underworlds 1)

“I’m so glad you’re here.”

Rolling onto her back, she grinned up at me. “Not as glad as I am. But the next time there’s shooting, I’m using one of my babies.”

We must have fallen asleep after our heart-to-heart, because it was getting dark out when I woke up, and saw four tall bodies standing over us, only just managing to hold in the shriek that wanted to burst out of me until I recognized them.

“Holy shit,” I hissed, holding my chest. “Don’t you know not to stand over someone while they’re sleeping?”

“Sorry, baby,” Taras murmured, kissing the top of my head. “We didn’t want to wake you up. We were just trying to figure out how to separate you, so we could put you both in bed until dinner.”

“What time is it?”

“Just after six,” Hunter replied, moving to pick up Lena. “I’ll take her—”

“No,” I snapped, pushing him back. “Dmitri, could you take her up to her room, please?”

My brother looked surprised by the move, and then glared at Dmitri when he moved to pick her up.

“Leave it, Fedorov. I know where I’m going.”

“Do you really?” I asked him sarcastically. “Because it seems like it’s only your choice that matters in this, when she’s made it clear she doesn’t want anything to do with you.”

I’ll give him credit, he had the good sense to flinch.

Not giving him the chance to say anything back, I focused on Dmitri, who was standing with a small smile on his face.

“Laugh it up, Dimi. Now, could you please take Lena to her room for her nap?”

“I wouldn’t dare to say no,” he replied, unable to keep a straight face.

Hunter’s jaw was clenched so hard, it looked like he was about to break his teeth as Dimi walked out of the room with her in his arms. This left me, Taras, him, and Dad, who was looking between the two of us.

“Anyone wanna explain what the problem between you is?”

I knew Hunter wouldn’t answer Dad’s question, but I would. Relaying the part of the story pertinent to him and Lena to Dad and Taras, I watched as my brother’s expression turned to almost tortured. He made his bed, though, so he could lie in it.

“She’s my best friend,” I told them unnecessarily, “and she’s like a sister to me. If I’d known you’d done this to her, quite frankly, I’d have run you over.”

“You don’t understand,” he sighed, groaning into his hands.

“Uh, yeah, I do understand. But I also understand how she felt, and still feels.” I looked at Taras, making the point clear.

Then, totally over men in general, I stood up and walked to the doorway. “I don’t know what the hell goes on in your minds, but the way you treat women is disgusting. Excuses are just that—empty words. It’s your actions that say everything you can’t.”

When Dad glared at both of them, and Taras winced, I added, “I’d be grateful if you’d watch the boys while I go and lie down. Let me know when dinner’s ready.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

Taras

Hunter left not long after Nell’s parting shot, leaving me with a stewing Bruce, and two little boys who were probably dreaming of milk.

It’s funny, I had no problems facing a gun or getting answers out of someone with a knife, but dealing with Nell and her dad was a whole new issue for me.

I’d never been in a situation where I had to answer to someone like this, or even cared what they thought about me. And I wasn’t quite sure how to deal with it.

“I swear both of you grabbed hold of the asshole gene and held on with both hands,” he growled, then took a mouthful of his beer. “I’ll deal with Jaeger later.”

His use of Hunter’s Club name was interesting, and would have had me questioning it, if he hadn’t continued. “But you,” he shook his head. “You, motherfucker, have my undivided attention right now.”

“I’ve asked Nell to trust me, Bruce, and she’s agreed to. So I’m asking you to do the same now. There were deeper reasons than you realize for the marriage, that involved a lot of people. It was the only way to get answers and deal with it.”

“Yeah?” he asked in disbelief. “The bodies and what happened at my daughter’s house today show how well you got those answers and dealt with it, now, don’t they?”

I had to give him that.

“We’ll be giving you those answers when we can.”

“That’s not good enough,” he ground out. “One day, something will happen with the kids—no one is immune to it. And with the way you live your life, you’ll understand what I mean better than most—and you’ll understand what I’m feeling right now.”

Leaning forward, he glared at me. “My daughter practically ran away because of you. And when she came back, she was pregnant, and no father was holding her hand to help impart that news. I dreamed about skinning the bastard alive, Fedorov, and planned what I’d do to make him regret hurting her.