Elle's phone started going off. Horrific fucking timing.
I blinked in surprise as she snapped it up, let out a long sigh, and tore herself away from me.
The dog started barking behind us. The raging shitstorm coming outta my mouth must've caught the old farts off guard.
I looked behind me, saw they were staring at us. The old geezer had one hand in his pocket, probably thinking about calling up the cops and reporting me for disturbing the peace or some shit.
Fuck. I couldn't go after her with all these damned civilians hanging around. Not the way I wanted to.
Heard her talking to somebody as she put more distance between us. I crept up slowly, staying just outta her view, behind a thick tree. I had to find out if that important call had anything to do with this whole sick situation.
“Daddy, please. It's really a bad time. I –“
Her voice sounded soft, angry, unsure of everything. She stopped, took a long pause while a garbled, older voice that made me see red bitched her out over something. Couldn't quite make out Gil's words, but fuck if his tone didn't curl my fists tighter.
“I mean, I can be there if you really need it. You're sure about now?” She sniffed while he mumbled a few words. “Yeah, he's close behind. He won't follow if you send a prospect. We're...going through some troubles. No, no, nothing I'd need any help from your guys with. It's just a little argument. I'm a big girl, daddy, I can take care of myself.”
A little argument? Was she fucking joking?
Shit, was she yanking my dick off, standing there and jabbering away with her asshole, traitor father while I stood just a few feet away?
It hit me like a nuclear bomb in my guts. This entire sham marriage is the fucking joke.
I grit my teeth, straining to make out what the asshole who'd blasted my shoulder a small eternity ago was saying.
“Okay. I understand, daddy – if it can't wait, I'll be there,” she said at last, a little sadness entering her voice. “Just give me a little time. I'll get over there as soon as I can.”
Gil exploded on the other end of the line. Something about leaving that fuckwit out of it, and how bad he'd wished he'd sent that dirty bald bitch to the reaper years ago.
I dug my boots into the ground, seething. Wished I could've reached right through her fucking phone and snapped his worthless neck. Then I heard her murmur a few more words under her breath and end the call.
My cue to move. I marched up, grabbed her, whipped her around. The dog barked like a damned fiend behind us, and those shitheads eavesdropping were probably dialing up the Tacoma PD right now.
Fuck if I cared. She'd defied me for the last time, and I had to set things straight, before she got us and the Grizzlies MC balls deep in something that would get our brains blown out our ears.
“Let me go!” Elle snapped, kicking at my shin. “Asphalt, you don't understand. I need to get out of here and –“
“Shut your fucking mouth, babe. Now. You've been lying to me the whole cocksucking time, haven't you?”
I spun her around and pinned her to the nearest tree. The hot rage burning in my eyes shut her up. I tried to keep my eyes off her chest, those tits I'd ravaged the last couple nights pressed tight against me, rolling with her ragged breaths.
Fuck me. Was I really thinking about sex right now when she'd just shoved a knife in my back?
“Last warning,” she snarled, giving me her best war face. “Let. Me. Go.”
“You're not going anywhere 'til you tell me what the hell's going on, woman. I know your old man wants you for something dirty, and I've got a feeling it involves crushing all my brothers' balls. Did you think I'd never find out? That I'd let you ride off on your merry little way and bullshit me through a river of blood?” Anger surged in my heart, so hot it almost popped the thing like a fucking balloon. “I'm your old man, Elle Jo, but I'm not your fucking chump!”
She flinched when I spat the last word like I'd hit her in the face. I had a pang of guilt, yeah, but it did fuck all to slow the white, blinding rage crackling through my system.
“Take your hands off me,” she said coldly. “Right fucking now, Austin. I'm not playing around. That couple behind us, they're going to –“
“Fuck!” I spun so hard I lost my damned grip and shot the old folks a death glare. Also had to get my hands off her so I wouldn't do some shit I'd regret. “What did I tell you about using that name? You know what to call me, and you won't fucking do it!”
“I'm not playing games when you're acting like a complete ass.” She stood up straighter, stiffening in place, trying to stare me down.
She didn't have a chance. I bathed her in my angry green gaze 'til she broke eye contact and withered.