by E. C. Land
Now, I’m staring at one very pissed-off man as he storms across the room to where I’m sitting up in bed. My uncle, Tombstone.
“You have a lot of explaining to do, Princess,” Tombstone growls as he sits down on the side of the bed and pulls me in for a hug. Letting me go, he cups both my cheeks with his hands while he examines my face.
“Uncle Tombstone, what are you doing here?” I ask quietly, confused by the fact he’s here.
“Uncle? I thought you were her father. Now I’m confused as hell father or uncle,” Tanner says from the doorway. His face contorted funny like.
“What? No, he’s my uncle.” I say but I don’t miss the slight flinch Tombstone gets. He’s always done that anytime I call him my uncle.
“Give us a minute,” Tombstone grumbles, looking over his shoulder briefly then turns back to me.
“No problem, Bethy, let us know if you need anything,” Tanner states as he turns to walk away.
“You okay, Princess?” Tombstone asks, gaining my attention on him.
“I’m okay,” I murmur before asking. “Why did Tanner think you were my dad?”
How I wish he were my dad, at least then, I wouldn’t have lived in such a strict home.
Tombstone sighs, “Because I am.”
Whoa, hold up, wait just one minute. Did he just say . . . my father?
“How can that be possible?” I whisper.
“You weren’t supposed to find out. That was the arrangement I had with your parents, my sister and brother-in-law. I got to see you under the one circumstance being you never learned the truth. I–”
“Hang on. You mean my mom and dad weren’t my real parents?” I ask, interrupting him from saying anything else.
“No, Princess, they’re not,” he says slowly.
Tears well in my eyes as hurt and relief both swirl within me at the knowledge that the two people who raised me weren’t my parents. I’m hurt because I grew up thinking my dad was my uncle.
“Did you not want to be my dad?” I ask as I try to blink the tears away.
“Princess, I wanted nothing more than to be your daddy. It about killed me to hand you over to my bitch of a sister. But I had to do what I could to protect you. The only way I could do so was to make the arrangement we set in place. I still took care of you as much as they allowed me to. Came to visit any chance I had. You’ve always been my princess, Bethany,” Tombstone murmurs.
My head is spinning at this information. He left me to protect me. His sister, my mom, wait, no my aunt is the one who took me in. Why didn’t they want me to know this was my real dad? Did Tombstone know the way they treated me when he wasn’t around? Question after question swarm in my head making it hurt more than it already does.
“How about we discuss this more when you’re not hurt? Angel and Hellhound came with me, and want to see you,” Tombstone states.
“Wait, what’s your real name?” I ask. All my life I’ve only ever called him Uncle Tombstone. Never once did anyone tell me his first name.
Smiling, Tombstone leans forward and presses a kiss to my forehead. “Mason. Now before my brothers come in here, I want to know three things. One: Are you sure you're okay? Two: Why didn’t you tell me about this shit? And three: How the hell did you get mixed up with a band and living with them?” he asks.
Umm . . . how do I get out of explaining this?
“Don’t bullshit me either, Princess. I may not have been around constantly while you were growing up, but I do know you. Now spill,” my dad demands. My dad, yea, I like the sound of that. It truly feels right calling him that.
“Well to answer your questions in a nutshell, I’m hurting and will be for a while. And I went to school with Chaz, Tanner, Lex, and Hunter. They hired me when I applied to work at their music shop,” I say bypassing answering his second question.
“Uh huh, I see you didn’t answer my one question. If you don’t tell me, Princess, I’ll get the answer another way. However, I’m betting this has something to do with that dickwad. Am I right?” Tombstone growls.
It takes everything in me not to answer him. I don’t want him to get in trouble for what’s happened. This whole ordeal is bad enough as it is and add in the fact someone called and informed Tombstone of me being hurt is the topping on the cake. He hated Jacob from the get-go but put up with him being around because he wanted me happy.
Shoot, Jacob constantly complained whenever Tombstone visited, and I always ended up getting harsher beatings after he left. The last beating was what finally knocked some sense into me and I’d filed for divorce. He’d beaten me for not telling him Tombstone was coming to town.
“Just leave it be. Please,” I murmur pulling the fleece blanket further into my lap. “As for the guys, can they wait to come in here. I . . . umm . . . I’m exhausted,” Which isn’t a lie— I am, but I don’t want a lot of men around me right now. Not after what happened.
“Yeah, Bethany, they can wait. You rest up and I’ll be downstairs. I’m not leaving,” he says softly, lifting a hand to run his fingers through my hair.
“Thank you. You know, I always wished you were my daddy growing up,” I whisper as I lie down. “Guess I got my wish.” With those words, I close my eyes to let sleep claim me.
Chapter 8
Chaz
I’m a fuckin’ asshole. After standing out of sight, listening to Bethany’s conversation with Tombstone, I should feel like shit, but I don’t. It gives me more of an insight into who she is. I want to know everything I can about this woman.
Soon as Tombstone walked out of her room, I walked in to check on her. Finding her in bed with her eyes closed I knew she was asleep. I walk over and sit on the side of the bed. Lifting a hand to her face I move a stray hair from her cheek.
As I look at her, I take in her bruises. They’re a lot worse than they were when I first saw them but that’s to be expected. I’d seen enough bruises in my life to know they’ll look far worse before they begin to fade.
Leaning over I press a gentle kiss to the side of her head, “No one will ever hurt you again Fairy girl.” I murmur before standing up and making my way out of the room.
I stop at my daughter’s room to check on her, only to find Melody not where she’s supposed to be. I’d told her she needed to play in her room while we had a meeting in the living room. She doesn’t need to be surrounded by the tension that will be filling the area.
Making my way downstairs, I follow the sounds of giggles to find Melody sitting on the floor with her teddy bears and one of the guys who came with Tombstone. How a man named Hellhound with a jagged scar running down the side of his face can be turned to putty in a little girl's hands is beyond me. Then again it’s Melody, she’s sweet and pretty much gets her way with whatever she wants.
“I want to know what the fuck happened to my little girl and someone best start talking now,” Tombstone growls the moment he sees me enter the living room.
Turning in his direction, I take a better look at the man. I can see the resemblance he shares with Bethany.
“We know who did this and from what Bishop told me, first thing this morning the motherfucker has gone into hiding,” I say crossing my arms as I stare at the man who never got to raise his daughter himself. I wonder if he knows Bethany for who she is. Or by what she likes others to see.
I haven’t even seen who the real Bethany is. The one who hides behind the exterior, but I heard it in her words as she sang the other day. And that right there is just as beautiful as she is.
“Tombstone calm down brother. She’s okay for now and we’re here to protect her. I’ve already filled Reaper in on the shit going on and he’s said to take care of his niece. We stay until this shit’s over,” Angel says. I don’t see how he got that name when nothing about the man speaks of an angel. The death glare he’d given all of us when they got here said it all. He’d rather kill you where you stand than talk to you.
“Niece?” Tanner being who he is asks.
&n
bsp; I shake my head at him as Tombstone cranes his head to meet Tanner's gaze. “Are you an idiot or something?” Tombstone snarls, causing Tanner to take a step back.
“That’s not a nice word,” Melody speaks up from where she’s still sitting with Hellhound.
Tombstone turns to see Melody and all the anger washes off his face. “No, sweetheart, it’s not a nice word and I’m sorry,” he says gently as he steps over to her. “My name's Tombstone, what’s yours?”
“Melody, my mommy named me before she died.” My heart skips a beat at how easily my beautiful little girl can speak of the most tragic event of my life.
“I’m sorry to hear that, sweetheart. I bet you look just like your momma. Can you do me a favor?” Tombstone asks, kneeling in front of Melody.
“Depends, are you going to be using more bad words? ‘Cause if you are then you need to put lots and lots of money in my jar. Everyone knows not to say mean words around me. I don’t like it,” Melody says proudly gaining chuckles from all the men in the room.
Chuckling, Tombstone pulls his wallet out and grabs a handful of bills. “Here ya go, sweetheart, this should last me at least through the next couple days. Make sure to hit up Hellhound and Angel. They’re worse than I am with mean words,” he says.
Giggling, Melody gets up tossing her teddy bear to the side and runs to grab her jar. “Don’t worry, I have good ears if I hear them, I’ll be sure to tell them.”
“Glad to hear it. But as for that favor, sweetheart, can you go sit with my daughter,” Tombstone asks.
“Do you mean Bethy? I love her. She’s really nice, you know. She makes cookies and fudge but never with nuts because she’s allergic to them,” Melody says as she eyes him.
“Yeah, Bethy is my little girl, same as you are your daddy’s,” Tombstone states, nodding in my direction.
“Cool. She needs a daddy like you. Someone who will beat up the mean person who hurt her. My daddy is one of the best. He taught me to never let anyone hurt me, even if I have to kick them in the balls to protect myself,” Melody nods like what she just stated was a damn good thing.
Well, what she said was true, but damn, I don’t mean for her to speak that shit out loud.
“Fuckin’ hell,” Angel mutters next to me.
“I heard that mister,” Melody says snapping her head in our direction.
Looking surprised, Angel looks at my daughter then me and grins. “She’s one hell of a kid you got,” he chuckles as he shakes his head and pulls his wallet out. “I can see I might have to hit a bank before the end of this shit.”
“Mr. Angel, sir, you just said two more bad words,” Melody says as she walks toward us.
“Melody,” I say, warning her to chill.
“Yes, Daddy?” she asks sweetly.
“Why don’t you head on upstairs? Try not to wake Bethany up, okay,” I tell her.
“Okay, Daddy,” she nods before looking around the room again. “If you're going to say something mean, keep it down. Or put money in the jar,” she demands, pointing her finger at everyone.
“Go, Melody,” I say, uncrossing my arms and giving her a little push toward the stairs.
“That’s one hell of a kid you have there, Chaz,” Tombstone declares as he stands back to his feet.
“Thanks, now back to what we were discussing. Although it seems some things are confusing as fuck, I’ll wait to ask about that shit. Right now, it’s about finding Davis’ punk ass. I don’t know what all he did to her because she didn’t tell me. Bethany did answer the one question I refused to not know the answer to. And for her, I’ll kill the motherfucker myself,” I growl, my fists clenched at my side.
Tombstone is silent for a long moment before he lets out a breath. “Davis is one dead fuck who will not need a tombstone on his grave. We need to find him and trust me, when we do, you won’t need to kill him yourself. I'll be handling his ass then taking my daughter home where she belongs.”
Narrowing my eyes at the man, I see the challenge in his gaze. “If and only if Bethany wants to leave with you will that happen. I’m not about to let her go. Not now. Not ever, if I have my way,” I snap.
Glaring at Bethany’s father, I refuse to back down. I only just realized what I want in my life besides my daughter and I’m not about to let go. Not when I know Bethany wants me to. I can see it in her eyes. Have since the first time she walked into Music Lullabies.
Chapter 9
Bethany
I swear to God if I don’t get out of this bed soon, I’m going to pull my hair out. Since I woke from my nap to find myself lying with my head resting in Chaz’s lap, I’ve been conflicted. He’d been resting against the headboard with one hand in my hair and the other behind his head.
If not for needing to get up, I could have stayed right there staring at him. Creepy, I’m sure, but dammit he’s beautiful and who wouldn’t want to stare at him. By trying to get up, I’d woken him up and at that point, all hell could have broken loose and I wouldn’t have noticed. At least not until mortification seeped in when I had to explain I needed to use the bathroom.
Talk about wanting to bury myself under a rock.
Now, hours later, I’m still stuck in this room since no one will allow me out of this bed.
“Rest, Fairy girl, you need to regain your strength,” Chaz stated, with a look of pain in his eyes as he spoke before he stalked out of the room. I haven’t seen him since.
Tombstone came to sit with me along with Angel and Hellhound. Which kinda was a bad idea considering the broken chair and hole in the wall due to Hellhound. One look at me and he went berserk.
All of us started to freak out when Melody came running in the room and ran straight to Hellhound and hugged him. Telling him it’s okay to be mad but don’t break things. The little girl is cute as can be with no fear of the world. How I’ve come to love Melody.
Shaking my head to clear all the emotional thoughts, I glance to the door going directly into Chaz’s room and then to the door to the hallway. Not seeing or hearing anyone, I decide to get up and try to walk around. Sure, I’m in pain but I can’t let myself get stiff. I do that and it will be worse on me.
Feeling dirty thinking about the pain, I decide to take a shower. To wash away Jacob’s touch. If only I were able to wipe Jacob’s touch from my body completely.
Stepping into the bathroom, I make sure to avoid looking at myself. I don’t need to see the damage any more than I did the first time I saw it. Turning the water on, I slowly strip out of the loose clothing I’m wearing, biting my lip not to cry out in pain.
Once I’m undressed, I get into the shower and let the hot water cascade around me. Turning so my back is toward the showerhead, I lean my head back and run my fingers through the water before grabbing a washcloth.
Scrubbing at my body, I feel like insects are crawling all over me as I scrub harder and harder turning my skin red as I do. Tears fill my vision as flashes of Jacob enter my mind. Of him hovering over me as he took his fist to my body. Him holding me down as he forced himself on me.
A sob escapes me as I collapse to the floor. Putting the washcloth down, I wrap my hands around my legs wishing I hadn’t been so stupid.
You could have fought back.
“This is why you’re a weak, pathetic bitch, letting me have my way with you. You allow this to happen to yourself by not fighting. Even though that wouldn’t help anyway. You’re mine, Bethany, and always will be mine.” Jacob’s last words of laughter the other day swirl through my head.
“Fairy girl, you’re killing me here.” Chaz’s voice filters through all the pain as I feel his arms wrap around my body. “It’s all going to be okay,” he murmurs.
“It won’t. I can’t get his touch off me. He won’t let me go,” I sob, shaking my head in denial.
“Is that why you were in here scrubbing your skin raw, baby?” Chaz asks gently while holding me closer with one hand and the other stroking through my wet tangled hair.
“Y–
Y–Yes,” I say my voice hitching as I catch my breath.
“Bethany, look at me,” he commands softly, gently tugging my hair to gain my attention.
Lifting my gaze to his, my heart stops beating altogether as I take in the anguish showing on his face.
“Don’t let this consume you, Fairy girl. You are stronger than you think. I know you are. Jacob can’t get to you now or ever again. You understand me, baby? I’ll never let him do any of this shit to you. Trust in me to protect you. Your family to everyone in this house,” he says soothingly.
“Not to you. You’ve barely spoken to me until this happened,” I whisper, diverting my gaze from his.
“Eyes on me, Bethany,” he demands, leaving no room for argument in his tone.
I hate to admit that his commanding voice does things to me. Even now when I’m hurt. But I’m ugly and a plain Jane. Unworthy of any sort of love.
Focusing on Chaz, I hold my breath and wait for his criticism. As his gaze scans over my face and seems to penetrate my very mind, I begin to seriously worry about what he’s going to say. I know I’m nothing to him but I want to be something. More than anything, I want my teenage dreams of belonging to him to come true.
“I don’t know what fucked up thoughts you're having right now, Bethany, but I want you to get that shit out of your head. You are a beautiful soul, Fairy girl, and deserve nothing but happiness, yet you’ve had the shit end of things. That ends now. You have a house full of people who love you. In the short amount of time you’ve been with us, everyone has grown to love you. Even me,” he says.
My eyes widen in shock as he releases my hair and cups the side of my face. Licking my lips nervously, I look into his eyes wanting to find the lies behind the words he just said.