When I'm With You (Little Hollow Series, #2)(46)

“This is all on you!” He spits.

Smokey and Jacques are by my side in an instant pulling him off me. They hold him in a vice grip but I motion for them to let him go.

“I don’t have time for your piece of shit ass, I’ve got a job to get to.” I wipe the blood from my lip and smile sinisterly at him. “But don’t you worry, I’ll get you back for that cheap shot.” And with a wink, I walk on inside the clubhouse, Jacques and Smokey on my tail.

“You really pissed him off with this whole VP thing, huh?” Jacques says on a laugh.

I laugh along with him. “Ain’t nothing I can’t handle, he’s a piece of shit.”

Jacques doesn’t say anything else, he just looks about the place looking a little lost.

“What you moping around for? You’re hungover but you still have to do your duties. Get,” I say with a wink.

“Yes, sir,” he groans, giving me a mock salute while rolling his eyes.

“Bear?” I turn toward Smokey. “You around tonight?”

He has that look in his eye that means he’s on the warpath. After keeping calm outside, I definitely need an outlet so I nod and smile knowingly back at him, he has a job that needs taking care of and I’m all over it.

“Finish work at five,” I shout over my shoulder as I walk to my room, Jacques hot on my heels.

“I’m coming,” he states matter-of-factly.

“I thought I told you to go get your duties done?” I quip back.

He shrugs his shoulders. “I’ll get to ‘em. But I’m coming tonight.”

I stop just inside my room and shove my hands on my hips. “Who said you were invited?”

“Me.” He shrugs his shoulders and acts casual, but it doesn’t go unnoticed that he’s shifty. He just doesn’t seem like himself.

“Sure, just bring your A game little bro’.” He hates when I call him that.

“Fuck you, Bear,” he says sarcastically.

We’re the only ones who use each other’s birth given names, unless I’m talking to someone else about him that isn’t pop, so he knows I hate that road name.

My face turns steely. “Get the fuck out, Jacques. And stay out of trouble until tonight!”

I throw him his bike keys and he winks at me. “Always.”

Although the humor in his smile doesn’t quite reach his eyes.





My nail snaps making my fourth mark. “Shit!”

I wave my finger about in the air feebly like it’s going to stop the pain radiating through my nail bed. I’ve been here for four days now, but each second has felt like an eternity. I’m ninety percent sure my neck is infected, I have no energy, and I’m just plain fucking angry at myself for showing weakness in front of him.

He’s always played off of weaknesses, my mom’s weakness was me. She couldn’t handle the thought of him hurting me like he did her, so she drank to block all the pain out. But if she loved me so much, then why did she leave me with this monster all those years ago?

“Just spit it out, Kirsten. What you tryna say?” Dad grinds out.

“I’m saying you’re on your own. I’m done living in the shadow of the club,” mom slurs.

I’ve come home from school and found her packing suitcases with a bottle of vodka attached to her hand. She’s done this before, it’s nothing new so I just roll my eyes and walk past their room on the way to mine to dump my school bag before going back to watch this play out.

At fourteen, it’s sad that it’s become the norm that my mom is never sober. I shouldn’t be used to cleaning up puke, cooking all our meals and learning to take care of myself from eight years old, but I did, and I do. This is just my life.

“Oh yeah? And where are you goin’ this time?” Dad asks sarcastically.

“Anywhere away from here,” she says, eyeing me with a strangled expression.

“With what money? You ain’t got shit.” He laughs as he torments her.

The steely determination in her face evident, she says, “I’ll work something out, but I’m not staying here a minute longer.”

She eyes me again and I start to feel a flutter of panic as she picks up her suitcases. “What? You’re really going?” I blurt out. She doesn’t turn back around, just carries on walking to the front door. “Please don’t leave me here, take me with you.”

I don’t want to be left here with my dad, he’s never here.

“I can’t take you with me,” she says deadpan.

I stand and walk toward her, she’s still facing the door with her back to me. “Why? Why would you leave me here with him!”

“That’s enough, Keeley! I’ve done nothing but provide for this family. Do not make me have to force you to stay, Kirsten,” dad grinds out and I wince.

Dad’s never really laid a finger on my mom, but he’s threatened it enough.

I ignore him and so does she. “Please, mom. Please don’t leave,” I beg.

“I’m sorry, sweet girl,” she breathes out, and walks out the door.

I spin toward my dad, pointing out the door. “You’re just going to let her leave like that?”

He lights up a cigarette and inhales before answering me. “Your mom isn’t going anywhere, she’ll be back. She always comes back.”