Page 78 of Riding Free

I’ve got this bullshit to deal with first. Standing in front of Keely’s parents’ house, I tip my head back slightly. I know they have money. They’re part of a country club and all that shit, she told me, but I don’t care.

What her mother did with my daughter, and what her father threatened her with, is un-fucking-acceptable. I won’t stand for it, and I need him to know if this is going to be a habit, they’re fucking done.

Keely and I had a long conversation last night, and she agreed that she doesn’t want Thea to be a pawn in their game of control or any of their fucked-up shit. She wants a harmonious life and for Thea to just be a kid.

Gotta admit, that sounds damn good to me. No drama, no expectations, just living the life of a kid. I never had that, and Keely says she didn’t, either. We both want that for Thea, and I will personally do anything to make that happen.

For Keely and Thea.

Everything and anything they need, they’ll get it from me. Whatever it takes.

Lifting my hand, I extend my index finger, touch the doorbell, and wait. When the door opens, Keely’s father doesn’t seem remotely surprised to see me standing in front of him. I thought about wearing the clothes that Elodie bought me for the wedding in an attempt to impress him… but then I decided I don’t give a single fuck what he thinks of me.

“Mr. Mercer,” he murmurs.

He doesn’t step to the side to allow me entrance to the house, which is fine. He wants to think he’s got the big dick here. Be my fucking guest. I won’t be getting a ruler out to measure—that’s for fucking sure.

“Tysdal,” I state.

I don’t give him the respect of calling him mister, and I know he uses it for me to be condescending.

“I wanted to let you know that your threat didn’t go unnoticed, but there will never be another like it.”

His lips press together in a thin line. Then he opens his mouth, but he’s already annoyed me, and it’s hot out here in the Nevada heat, so I’m ready to get this shit done and move the fuck on.

“Keely and I are married. Thea is our daughter. I can provide for them, and Keely will be getting her licensing up to date with the State of Nevada so she can work if she chooses, but she doesn’t have to.”

My words come out, but I can see that they aren’t penetrating this man. He squares his shoulders, lifting his chin slightly so he can look down his nose at me. Clearly, he believes he’s got one up on me.

But he doesn’t.

He can kick fucking rocks as far as I’m concerned.

“And how are you going to prove to a court that you’re a fit parent? That you can provide for her? You, a common street criminal, a bum, and a thug, and a hoodlum. However you slice it, it’s what you are.”

I almost laugh in his face. The fact that he thinks it would even go that far is hilarious. It wouldn’t make it to court. He doesn’t have the right to see Thea if we don’t want her to. Neither of us is in prison, neither of us is dead, and we aren’t divorced. Even if we were, it would still be up to Keely, and she doesn’t want them to have any rights to her own baby.

“I’m going to let that slide because a lot of people don’t like my club or what it stands for. What I’m not going to let slide is you threatening Keely in any way, shape, or form. The only reason I am even here speaking to you is that Keely loves both of you.”

This motherfucker doesn’t even care that we’re married. He cares more about winning his invisible war than he does anything else, including the welfare of his granddaughter. That makes me fucking livid and sick. But instead of telling him to fuck off, which is what I would do if he were my own parent, I clear my throat and silently beg for some patience.

“The last thing Keely wants is to cut off all ties with you or her mother, but this right here, it’s not helping anything.”

He presses his lips together, clenching his jaw, and I can see a vein in his forehead bulge, then pulse. It’s almost comical to watch. He’s so fucking pissed off, but I can’t imagine why. It was his fucking wife who was drunk off her ass watching our baby when Keely specifically asked her not to do that.

“Clearly, you do not know what it means to be a parent. We have done it and raised two children. Thea would be better off with us, a couple who are productive members of society and have the means to give her the life she so deserves. If Keely would like to play house with you, then that’s her prerogative, but you should not drag Thea into the mud with you.”

That’s. It.

The gloves come off, and the minuscule ounce of respect I’ve awarded this fuck is now gone, smashed into fucking dust, not that it was much bigger than dust to begin with.

“You don’t know shit,” I state.

“Excuse me?” he asks.

He has the nerve to sound offended, but I couldn’t give less of a fuck. He can fucking swim in his offense for all I fucking care. I have other shit to do today, and arguing with him over being a piece of shit is not something I allotted much time to.

“You’ve got two adult children who aren’t close with you, and it’s for good reason. You don’t know shit. You wanna waste your money on some bloodsucking lawyer, have at it. Waste away. You will never get custody of my daughter, and if you’re not careful, you’ll never see her or Keely again.”