Because of Low (Sea Breeze #2)(17)

“He didn’t come home last night and Mama won’t come out of her room. She’s screaming and packing her things. She’s running away.” A choked sob escaped her and she buried her face in her hands again. My spoiled sweet little sister hadn’t ever had to deal with life’s shit. She’d been given everything she wanted. Her life had been cake and ice cream, until now.

“Come on baby, I’m going to talk to Mama and I’ll get her calmed down. She isn’t going to run away. I promise.”

“She can stay with me if you need her too. We’ve already missed an hour of school. Might as well make it a day.”

I glanced over at Sadie and nodded. That was probably a good idea. What I had to say to Mama probably didn’t need to be heard by Amanda.

“You want to stay with Sadie while I go handle Mama?”

She nodded slowly looking up at me with a tear streaked face.

I leaned inside and hugged her, “It’s going to be okay sis. I’m here and no matter what, I will fix this mess.”

“K,” she muttered against my chest.

I knew I was making a promise I might not be able to keep but I said it anyway.

“Thanks Sadie,” I said letting go of Amanda and stepping back so she could climb inside the Hummer. Jax supplied a Hummer and a chauffeur for Sadie complete with black privacy windows. Since the world found out Sadie White was Jax Stone’s girlfriend she’d become a celebrity. Paparazzi actually came to Alabama to get pictures of her. People treated her differently when she went out in public. Jax didn’t like being away from her and left her with several things that made him feel she was safe. The Hummer and chauffeur/body guard was just two of them. Why the dude didn’t just get her a private tutor and take her with him was beyond me. Something about not wanting to take away her high school experience or some crazy shit. Only from a guy who never lived through high school would feel like he was robbing someone of the experience. Sadie would leave in a heartbeat if he’d let her.

“I’m glad I can help. Anything y’all need from me, I’m more than willing to help out. I hate this is happening. Amanda’s tears are breaking my heart.”

Sweet, kind Sadie. I expected nothing less. One of the reasons I fell head over heels for her after only minutes in her presence last summer. She was gorgeous sure but the girl was a sweetheart. However, I had to admit standing here talking to her and feeling nothing but gratitude was pretty damn freeing.

“You’re an awesome friend Sadie,” I said nodding and then left as she climbed inside beside my sister.

I needed to go deal with my mother.





The Mercedes CLS63 my dad had given my mother as an anniversary present four months ago was still sitting in the garage. This was a good thing. She hadn’t taken flight yet. I headed inside the three story beach front stucco home I’d lived in my entire life. “Mom,” I called out as I headed for the stairs leading to her room.

“Marcus,” she called back followed by a loud wail. The little boy in me took off running up the stairs scared of what I might find. She was my Mom. I didn’t want her hurt. As my foot hit the top stair she flung herself out of her bedroom and threw herself into my arms.

“You’re here,” she sobbed out.

I stroked her blond hair gently hoping to calm her down. How many times had she held me while I cried in her arms? I couldn’t even begin to count. Now, here I stood holding her.

“He didn’t come home last night,” she sobbed, “he didn’t even call.”

I hated him. At this moment with my mother sobbing pitifully in my arms I knew I hated him. I didn’t just hate what he was doing. I truly hated my father.

“I know. Manda told me. Come with me. Let’s get you a wet wash cloth for your face and clean you up a little.” She nodded against my chest and relaxed the death like grip she’d had on me.

“Go sit down on the sofa Mama. I’ll get you a cool wash cloth then we can talk about this and what we need to do. Okay,” she let out another sob.

“I’m here Mama. I won’t leave you. I’m going to fix everything. You just trust me okay.”

A small smile of relief mixed with misery tugged on her lips. The pain in her eyes however didn’t lessen.

I was going to kill him. With my bare hands. I was going to kill my father. And God help me if that slut that works for him ever comes near me. I can still remember that flirtatious smile she shot me when I’d gone into his office that day. She was a gold digger. And my dad was a sucker. A selfish sucker.

“I called his cell phone this morning and he answered. Said he was at work and would deal with me later,” she let out a choked laugh, “Deal with me Marcus. Like I’m a problem. I’m his wife. His Wife.”

I sat down beside her and used the wash cloth to clean her tear streaked face.

“Just don’t call him anymore. I’m going to go talk to him. I want him out of this house Mama.”

She sniffed sitting still while I washed her face as if she were the child.

“You think I should divorce him?”

“Yes Mama, I do. He’s sleeping with someone else. He doesn’t deserve you. You’re better than that.”

She nodded and reached up to grab my wrist and pulled my hand to her mouth and kissed it. “I love you Marcus Hardy. You’re my good boy. Always taking care of me and your sister. You’re nothing like your daddy. You know that don’t you?”