Dump and Chase (Nashville Assassins Next Generation 1)

“It’s nice. She’ll come around. She just doesn’t want you to leave. But we understand. Stella and Emery are hard to live with.”

“They’re not that bad,” I say, but even I cringe. “They’re loud, so loud, for being so small.”

He laughs. “Our house has always been loud. It’s our normal.”

I smile, remembering my childhood. I was almost eight when Asher came along. I was so excited to have a brother, but what I got was a genius who didn’t have time for me and my hockey. He’s brilliant and way smarter than I am. The girls arrived, and I thought to myself, heck yeah, I get to be that protective older brother. For Stella, for sure, I was. But Emery… Sometimes I think she could protect me.

Not that I would need it—well, maybe if Shelli Adler ever came after me.

I don’t know why, but seeing her in the truck, crying, did something to me. I got this pain in the pit of my stomach, and I still haven’t been able to shake it. I don’t know what was wrong, or even why I cared, but I sure didn’t like seeing those tears falling down her cheeks. A part of me feels like maybe I put them there, and I really don’t like that. Though, I doubt I did. She obviously has no time for me and doesn’t even care in the slightest. She made that very clear. But what bothered me was when she said I was embarrassed by what we did. That isn’t the case at all. I enjoyed her, immensely, and still would love another round. But it can’t happen. I’m just now clearing my name, starting a new chapter. And pissing off Elli Adler isn’t on the agenda.

I still can’t stop thinking of Shelli, though.

When the truck stops, I look up to see we’re in the driveway of our house. Shit, I must have spaced out. I unbuckle my seat belt, ready to scoot over to drive, but my dad hasn’t moved. He glances over at me, lets out a sigh, and then looks out the window at our home. My dad bought this place before he even knew about me or had run into my mom again. He bought it because he wanted a big house for a big family. Over the years, he’s had renovations done, but it’s our home.

His dream.

When he clears his throat, I pull my brows together. “You okay, Dad?”

“I need to talk to you.”

Well, fuck me. This doesn’t sound good. “Okay?”

“You’re not seeing anyone right now, are you?”

I lick my lips as I look away. “I mean, since I’ve been home, no, I haven’t seen anyone.”

His jaw clenches, but he doesn’t look at me. “I heard you earlier. At the rink.”

My whole body goes cold. “Heard me?”

“With who I am pretty sure was Shelli Adler, but I can’t and won’t let you confirm or deny that.”

“Oh fuck,” I mutter under my breath as I cover my face. “Dad—”

“No,” he demands, and when he looks at me, breathing isn’t an option. I’m knocked back about twenty years to when I decided to steal a candy bar from the gas station. Dad told me I couldn’t have it. I wanted it, so I took it. Not only did I get my ass handed to me, but I also had to apologize to the gas clerk. Dad even made me go clean for the guy for a month. I have never felt so small since, until now. “I did not raise you to talk to women like that. To belittle them, to not take ownership of your actions, or to disrespect them.”

I press my lips together, a little taken aback by his accusations. “I didn’t realize—”

“You did,” he insists, his eyes dark and angry. “I would never talk to your mother like that. We get into some heated fights and she can be in the wrong, but I never would have made her feel like she was nothing but a fuck when we were dating.”

I didn’t do that… Did I? “But I’m not dating her.”

“Exactly, which makes your actions ten times worse,” he snaps, and I feel like he’s two seconds from taking off his belt and beating me with it. “You didn’t know who was around, and you were yelling about what you two did, and that’s wrong. You treat her with respect.”

“You heard her, right? She wasn’t very nice to me.”

“Because you were a jackass from the rip, Aiden. She had to jump on the defensive and hold on to her pride since you were trying to drag it through the fucking mud.”

I look away, biting the inside of my cheek. “It’s all just a unique situation. She lied to me—”

“Or you were too drunk to know what was going on. I don’t know what the fuck is going on with you. But, boy, I suggest you get it together. The drinking and the girls, son… You need to pump the brakes.”