Her face is pale and she looks heartbroken, but I don’t give a flying fuck. Since she still won’t get out of my door, I scroll through my photos on my phone, and find a picture of Justine, spread eagle, naked, giving me that ‘just had sex’ look. I get off my bed and march towards Shannan, shoving the phone in her face.
“This is my woman, something you’ll never be. Look at her, really look at her. Why settle for you when I can have her?”
“But, Hangman, you just fucked me the other night, and tonight, you had Aimee.” Opening the door wider; hopefully, to make my point clearer, I get in her face.
Shoving her back against the wall in the hallway. “Who I fuck or don’t fuck, is none of your business. Consider this you’re final warning, one more time I, or any other brother here, have to speak with you about this sort of fucked-up shit, you’re out. Gone. Got it?”
She nods frantically. “Yes, Hangman, I won’t do it again.” She runs off down the hall, her ass jiggling as she goes. Fuck me, if she didn’t piss me off so goddamned much by opening her mouth, I would have totally had her ass tonight. Instead, I’ll just use my hand. Shannan is a problem, and a problem I don’t want to repeat any time soon.
Chapter Twenty-two
Justine
Finishing out my latest chapter, I smile. Hangman sure gave me some good inspiration for this newest book of mine. I’m writing it loosely based on what he told me about his past, his story definitely makes for a good book.
We talked a lot this past week, but mostly about him, his life, his past, his children. It’s just up to me now to open up and I’m not quite sure how to do that. After hearing about what his daughter went through, I know what I have to tell him won’t be too bad. But not good either. Will he still want me knowing how weak I’ve been?
My phone pings with a message and I see its Carson, as he asked me to call him when we’re alone. “Having dinner with Melissa, will be talking about you, so don’t be surprised if your ears are ringing.”
I laugh at that, he’s this rough and tough biker, yet he’s a total softy, too. I wonder if he’s soft with his children, like he is me.
I text him back that it’s cool, I’m having supper with my dad tonight anyway, something I was going to invite Carson to, but won’t now since he’s got plans. Tomas hasn’t been around much this last week, and I’m wondering what’s going on with him. We used to hang out all the time, sure we were living together, or dating, but still we’ve always been attached at the hip.
I’ve tried texting him but get no replies, and I haven’t seen lights on at his house. I was about to go over there yesterday when Carson showed up, so I didn’t get the chance. But now I’m going over there, and since I don’t meet with my dad for another few hours, I’m getting answers out of Tomas. Especially since I see his car in the driveway.
Grabbing my sweater I head over, not bothering to lock the door behind me. Banging on the front door, Tomas finally opens it. “Damn, Justine, I thought you were the cops or something. Banging like that.”
I raise a brow, “And why exactly would you think it was the cops?”
Tomas laughs, “I watch a lot of cop shows, you know this.”
“Yeah, yeah, smartass. So, what’s going on?” I shove past him and go up the steps into his living room.
“Nothing, just working a lot. Why, is something wrong?” he asks, coming up behind me, looking worried.
“Nothing is wrong, I’m just worried about you, barely seen you this past week and was worried something was going on.” I tell him, taking a seat on his leather couch.
“I’ve been going out, to be honest, random dates. Nothing good yet, but I’ve been trying,” he says sheepishly, taking a seat on his chair.
“Oh dates, how fun,” I say excitedly. “You should just set up a dating profile online, and go from there, if you’re trying to find dates via Tinder, then you won’t be let down every time.”
“How would you know that? You’ve only been with me, and now the biker guy.” He raises a brow.
Rolling my eyes, “Did you forget about the time we were looking for a third for a threesome? And when we met up, we were totally catfished.”
“Oh yeah, forgot about that.” I laugh at him and shake my head. “Anyway, how’s things been with him?”
“Good, we’ve spent the last week either together or just talking on the phone. He told me about his past, even the most unpleasant things, I’m slightly worried, though.”
“Oh?” he furrows his brow.
“Well, he’s a known cheater. Nothing wrong with not being monogamous, but only if both parties are happy with that, and his ex-wife sure wasn’t.” It’s been running through my head since he told me, and part of me worries that he’s doing it to me.
Tomas whistles, “Yikes, yeah, and I know how you feel about cheaters. You won’t even write redemption stories for cheaters in your books anymore.” He’s right, ever since it came out that my mother cheated on my dad, I haven’t been able to do it anymore. Writing redemption stories about assholes that cheated was my best work, my biggest sellers. And now I can’t even do it. “Does he know about your past?”
“No, we haven’t gotten that far yet, he did say he already ran a check on me, though. He does it to everyone that moves into his neighborhood. I don’t know what he found, but I think he knows. I just don’t know how to talk about it to him yet.”
“There will be a time and a place for it, it’ll happen. He gave you his ugly story, now it’s your turn.”
“Yeah, you’re right. Anyway, I’m glad you’re okay, you had me worried when I couldn’t get in touch with you. Don’t do it again.” He stands up, pulling me out of the chair and into his arms, hugging me. “I’m having supper with dad tonight, if you’d like to join us?”
Releasing me, he shakes his head no. “You haven’t told him about us yet, have you?”
I blush, shit, no. “Um, no, I haven’t. But I’m telling him tonight.”
“Good, and you know your dad is gonna shit a brick when he finds out how old your new man is.”
I groan, “Yeah, that’s going to be a fun conversation. Not. But I think dad will be okay once he meets him,” I say hopefully.
“Your dad still doesn’t like me.”
“Oh, that’s a lie, you know he loves you.”
“Sure, he does, it’s why he glares at me every time we’re in the same room, and he only talks to me if you’re around.”
Okay, he’s sort of right, but dad is awesome, and loves who I love. I think he’ll be okay with Carson, and maybe he’ll stop glaring at Tomas so much. Because that is true, he does glare. I grin and head out, saying goodbye and start getting ready for the restaurant dad is taking me to.
Now all I need is luck, luck that dad will be okay with these new changes in my life.
Chapter Twenty-three
Hangman
Getting to Justine’s house a little after six, I smile up at the house. She’s got it all pimped out with Halloween shit. The door opens and Justine wearing a skin-tight, black leather dress walks out and gives me a blinding smile.