Ride Steady (Chaos #3)(167)

He’d been happy, happy for himself, happy for her, and because of that he’d been teasing her. He’d made her laugh and the photographer had snapped the picture.

I can’t stand the sight of you.

He swallowed, staring at the album.

That had been Aaron’s favorite shot. He liked it up front. He’d never said anything, but whenever he opened that album, that was precisely the picture he wanted to see.

Carissa looking beautiful and happy, laughing because he gave her that.

He liked to tell himself that was what he intended to give her for the rest of her life, even when he knew he was on the path to becoming his father, so he also knew it was a f*cking lie.

He’d dicked her around. He knew that too. It was like he couldn’t help himself.

His father told him it happened. “You just have to get it out of your system, son. You’re young. You will. When you do, if she’s worth having a Neiland and knows what’s good for her, she’ll be there. Trust me.”

So he always knew, in the end, it would be her.

He was just so ridiculously arrogant, he didn’t know, in the end, for her it shouldn’t be him.

His mind filled with her weeping in Carson Steele’s arm.

I’ve loved her since high school, man.

Aaron slugged back more gin and stared at the photo.

You gotta drag her down, that’ll suck, but I’ll pick her back up.

Carissa stared up at him.

Laughing.

You gotta rip her apart, I’ll f*ckin’ hate watchin’ it, but I’ll put her back together.

He threw back the last of the gin.

Push her to the point she can’t stand the sight of you. But do it knowin’ that’s all on you. Just like everything that went before, it’s all on you.

Fuck, the * was right.

He never should have allowed his father to come that day. He had no clue what he was thinking. He wasn’t seventeen and going to the principal’s office.

He was f*cking twenty-six and going to a meeting to negotiate his son’s future.

As uncomfortable as it was, as hideous as it felt coming to the realization, Aaron had no choice. Too much was at stake with the most important parts of that being the happiness and well-being of the woman he loved and their child.

And that realization was the fact it was time he grew the f*ck up.

I love him.

He drew in breath before he set the glass aside and reached into his inside suit jacket pocket.

He pulled out his phone and made the call to his investigator.

“Text me Steele’s cell,” he ordered.

The man texted.

Aaron made another call.

“Yo.”

“Steele. Neiland.”

Silence.

“If you don’t make her happy, I’ll destroy you, I don’t give a f*ck the weight you got behind you with that Club.”

Steele still said nothing.

Aaron drew in another breath.

Quietly, he gave it to him.

“I actually do love her.”

That got him something.

“Next one you get, do better with that.”

Then Carson Steele hung up on him.

Aaron clenched his teeth.

Then he grabbed his glass, went down to the kitchen, poured another drink, and called his attorney.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Start

Joker

“I WILL, ANGIE. And thank you.” Pause then, “Right. I’ll call when I decide. Thank you again for everything. ’Bye.”

Carissa dropped her phone and looked to Joker.

“I don’t get it,” she declared.

Joker had been watching her lying on the couch, legs out, back up, talking on the phone while her son crawled all over her, alternately trying to eat her dress and the duck head toy he was dragging with him.

She might not get it.

But Joker got it.

Aaron Neiland had a soul.

Just barely, but he had one.

“Told you he phoned me, Carrie,” he reminded her quietly.

“I know. But he offered a settlement of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars to see to Aaron’s care and upbringing while I quit work and go to school,” she announced.

Holy f*ck.

Joker’s body got tight.

That jackhole didn’t get to take care of his girl.

If she wanted to quit and go to school, he could shove his money up his ass. Joker would take care of that for her.

He didn’t get a chance to say that since she kept talking.

“She also said that Aaron’s attorney told her that once I finish with school and start with my career, he’ll continue child support until Travis is eighteen, if I so wish. Any adjustments to that due to cost of living or Travis’s needs should be requested through my attorney and he’ll consider it. And if Travis goes to college, a decision about continued support and who’ll pay tuition and other expenses will be negotiated at the time.”

“Visitation?” Joker forced out.

“He feels Travis is coping with the current schedule and encourages me to allow it to remain the same without further negotiations.”

“And?” Joker asked.

“And what?” she asked back.

“What do you think of all this?” he prompted.

She threw up her phone hand then used it to catch her son before he rolled off her and the couch after he got too involved with banging her on the belly with his duck and lost balance.