Page 8 of Finn (Dirty Misfits MC 6)
I pointed at the air as if she were standing in front of me. “You’re the one that put yourself in this situation. You’re the one who sent Cheyenne here. You’re the one that chose to go back with Tanner instead of staying here with the only shred of family you still have, and that was the selfish decision that you made. You don’t get to play hardball anymore because I’ve usurped your right as mother because you dumped my niece on my doorstep and compromised my entire life just so you could go and be a hero by some dude’s side that should’ve wrapped his willy twelve years ago. You don’t get a say in this. Not when I’m the one spending weekends and holidays with Mom and Dad, explaining why you guys aren’t there. Not when I’m over at their house holding them while they cry after every therapy session that practically rips them apart. You are no longer in control, so get used to that now because it’s not changing until all of this is said and done. Got it?”
There was a very long pause and I thought she had hung up on me. But, when she sniffled, I heard her ask the one question that I knew she would.
“They’re--in therapy?”
I eased myself back down onto the edge of the bed. “Yes, Summer. They’ve been in therapy for almost five years now. I told them it was the only way they’d ever stand a chance at getting you back in their lives and meeting their granddaughter, and they didn't fucking hesitate. People change, Summer. Sometimes it takes their world falling apart, but they do change. And I can tell you straight from the horse’s mouth that they have. They aren’t perfect, but no one is.”
She sighed. “Do they still go to that stupid-ass church?”
I shook my head. “They don’t go to church at all, to be honest. Haven’t been ever since you ran away from home.”
“Wait, seriously?”
I snickered. “Seriously. When you ran away, their church disowned them. Said that they were probably incapable parents if their own God-given child didn’t want to stay with them.”
“They got excommunicated for their own stupid ways. How delicious.”
“And to be honest? What other choice do you have? You can’t just leave her with anyone else. I don’t trust anyone that much here in Santa Barbara. You wouldn’t believe the amount of dirty cops I work with on a daily basis. The only reason why I’m not bringing them down is because I have no proof. None of them are watching Cheyenne, and she’s not heading back home until this mess is cleaned up. You’re backed into a corner, so just say “yes” so I can pack our shit up and get on the road after I drop her off.”
“Wait, Mom and Dad are in Santa Barbara? Since when?”
I closed my eyes. “They moved here a few years ago. Right around the time they started therapy.”
“Where do they live?”
“Is this you agreeing? Because I really need you to agree so I can get to work.”
She clicked her tongue. “Yes, this is me reluctantly agreeing. Now, where do they live?”
I smiled. “I’ll send you their address so you can keep it in your phone. I’ll also send you their new cell numbers. Well, new to you, not to me. I’ll let you know once I drop Cheyenne off and get on the road. At that point, it’ll be about four and a half hours to your place.”
“Actually, I’ll send you the address of where we are. We’re camping out in this massive house in a gated community that backs up to the beach. It really is gorgeous. I’ll have the guys clear you out a room with a view.”
I walked over to my closet. “Sounds like a plan. I’ll call you soon.”
“Sloane?”
“Yeah?”
She sniffled. “You wouldn’t drop Cheyenne off with Mom and Dad if they were the same, right?”
I snickered. “Hell, no. You should know me better than that by now.”
She sighed with relief. “If anything happens to her--.”
“Yeah, yeah, I know. You’ll whip my ass and all that nonsense. Just know that the same goes for Tanner.”
“Yeah, yeah. I know.”
I giggled. “We’ll talk soon.”
“Talk soon.”
“This is going to be weird,” Cheyenne murmured.
I grinned as I drove to Mom and Dad’s place. “Well, you’ve been getting their birthday and holiday cards, right?”
She snickered. “When Mom’s not trying to hide them from me, sure.”
I tried not to let my anger boil over. “Well, they’re very excited to have you come stay with them for a little while.”
“I’m going to have to repeat a grade, aren’t I?”
We pulled into the driveway and I peered over my shoulder. “I’ll make sure that we do whatever it takes to get you caught up. I won’t let this affect your schooling, okay?”
