Dump and Chase (Nashville Assassins Next Generation 1)

I shake my head. “Dad, it’s the life—”

“I don’t give a shit. I get it. Fast and hard, that’s how we do things. But there comes a time when it gets old, and you need to realize your actions can ruin you. Not the girl. You.”

I look back at him as his eyes burn into mine. “I know for a fact that everything that woman last year claimed about you was an utter lie. I know you wouldn’t do those things to anyone. You have two young sisters I know you wouldn’t want that to happen to, but listening to you talk to that girl today in the hallway, it made me think maybe I was wrong. Maybe you don’t have any respect for women—”

“That’s untrue, so fucking untrue. I respect women—I was raised by you.”

“But I wasn’t there, and all you knew was your dad wasn’t there for your mom. So all I can think is this is my fault.”

I throw my hands up. “Damn it, Dad, no. It’s nothing like that. I truly respect women, I am kind, and we have a good time. The problem is, I don’t know those other girls or want to know them. The thing with Shelli—”

“For the love of God, do not use her name. I will not be involved in this. Because when Shea Adler and her twin meathead brothers come to kill you, I want to be as surprised as everyone else. You are so damn lucky I was the one to hear all that go down and not him, Elli Adler, or, hell, your mom.”

I press my lips together as my heart sinks. “I know. I wish you hadn’t heard it either.”

“Shit. Me too,” he sighs. “Not the light I wanted to see my son in.”

Guilt rakes over me. “It’s different with her because I know her. I’ve known her my whole life, and I thought she was trying to get one over on me or something. I don’t know. It’s not like I won’t ever see her again. She’s everywhere! Her mom is my boss, Dad. Things got heated, and yeah, I took a shot at her pride. But hell, she demolished mine. We had a damn good time, and she kept taking low blows at me—”

“I don’t give a fuck if that girl kicked you in the dick and called you a pussy. You don’t make women feel small. There are enough jackasses in this world who do that. Society does it. Everyone is always out to hurt women, and fucking hell, you will not be one of them,” he insists, and I’ve never seen such heat in his eyes. “If you overheard someone speaking to Stella like that—because let’s be honest, if that happened to Emery, she’d just kill them—how would that make you feel?”

I bite my top lip between my teeth as the rage rattles my body. “I’d want to rip him limb from limb.”

“I would too,” he says simply. “Is that how you’d want your sisters treated?”

“No, but I also hope my sisters wouldn’t be dumb enough to wear a wig and not tell the dude they’re hooking up with who they are.”

“Well, I’d hope your sisters wouldn’t be involved in an escort service either.”

“Dad, you make it seem so bad. I was protecting myself,” I stress. “I had a friend who would bring girls in who wouldn’t say anything, and we’d have fun. It’s not that big of a deal.”

“It’s pathetic and sad. I never had to have—”

“Because no one was trying to get a fucking payout then, Dad,” I yell, at my wits’ end. “I was burned bad. All I’m trying to do is play hockey and bang when I want.”

“Have you thought about doing it the old-fashioned way and finding someone you trust to be with?”

I let my head fall back. “Dad, I don’t want to be with anyone.”

“And why not?”

“Because I’m good by myself. I don’t have to worry about anything but hockey. I don’t have to feel anything. I can just fuck and move on.”

“Isn’t that lonely?”

“No, ’cause no one out there is worth my time,” I say, and I don’t know why emotions have to be involved. “I don’t ever want to feel what Mom felt when she didn’t have you.”

He narrows his eyes as he holds my gaze. “But what about how she felt after we found each other? How she feels now? How I feel? There is more to life than fucking and hockey.”

I shake my head, completely done with this conversation. “Listen, I’m sorry. I will never speak to a woman like that again. I don’t want this to be something that comes between us. So before something is said that will hurt the other, let’s let it go.”

He doesn’t want to be done. Pretty sure my dad could go another round or two with me. “I’m sorry, Aiden. I am. I still hold guilt from that time without y’all. But I thought after the years you’ve watched me love your mom and keep her on the throne she deserves to be on, it would erase what I did. What she did. She didn’t have to keep you from me, but I’d fucked up enough to make her do so. So, I get it. I do. And I don’t blame anyone but myself, but I don’t like the way my boy is acting right now.”