35. Joker

Chapter 35

Joker

As if the past three days haven't been a living hell, I stand still like a fucking schmuck as the woman I love walks by, holding hands with an asshole who wants her in his bed. Doubts begin to arise again that she's having second thoughts about what I have to offer her. Shit, maybe someone like this Carlos loser is exactly what she wants. Just the thought of it is enough to cause a burning in my gut that is physically painful.

When she looks at me, I see guilt written on her face. Motherfucker. It takes everything I am not to go over there and beat the fuck out of that asshole and carry Skylar away. I don't do that shit. I know it's not the time. It still pisses me off that I'm even in this situation.

"Dude, are you listening?" Raze asks and I want to look at him and say fuck no, I'm not listening. I don't, mostly because I'm so angry I'd probably scream it. I look at him blankly and Raze just shakes his head. "I said we need to move to our seats. Our club is all sitting together in the back three rows."

"Okay," I answer, wishing I was back home. It was a mistake to come. I only did it because I thought Skylar might need me. That's obviously a fucking joke. Raze and I meet up with Dom and Thea before we all take our seats.

"You okay, man?" Raze asks.

"Great," I lie out of my ass.

"You talk to her yet?"

"Nope. She seems a little too busy at the moment."

"Joker, man. Just go get her and tell her enough is enough."

"Just let it go. The service is starting," I respond. My voice is almost as cold as my heart feels.

I knew I was in deep with Skylar. I just didn't prepare myself for the complete devastation that the thought of losing her would cause me. From where I'm sitting, I can see the top of Skylar's head. That fucker has his arm resting against her back and his hand on her shoulder. Looking at them causes physical pain to hit my chest. I just keep staring at her. I don't hear any of the service, and if Raze keeps talking, I have no idea. I've completely tuned him out.

I keep staring at the back of Skylar's head, willing her to turn around and look at me. She never does. After the funeral, I find myself leaning against the wall of a garage as the family members and others walk toward the area where a dinner has been prepared for everyone. I stand helpless as Skylar walks by with that wannabe Romeo not too far behind her. He keeps getting distracted by people stopping to talk to him. Skylar looks at me and I swear I see pain on her face. I can't tear my gaze away from her. I just can't do it. I'm slightly fascinated by the pain on her face. Why is it there? Does it hurt her to know that she's breaking me?

I've never wanted a cigarette more in my life than right now, and I haven't had one in forever. I drop my head down, wishing I was anywhere else other than where I'm at right now. I slowly raise my head back up. Skylar is following the crowd toward the food, but I notice Dom and Thea are looking right at me. Dom isn't a fool. I just let him look. I can't even drum up the will to care at the moment.

"Stop it." I look up to find Raze staring at me.

"What?" I ask, not understanding what he's talking about.

"That damn pity-party you're drowning in. Just grow some balls, man. You say this woman is it for you. I don't pretend to know how it is to be a Dom. Still, if that's what you are, show her. Jesus, right now you're acting like a little pussy, afraid to get around her."

"She asked me to give her five days. She has two left," I snap, my control close to breaking.

"That girl doesn't know what she wants right now. If you're going to be her man, then show her before someone else steps in and takes your place," he barks like a damn drill sergeant. Then he stomps off, leaving me wondering if I should take his advice.

Fuck it. It's not like most of the club isn't already aware of what's going on. If they don't tell her parents, then Wheeler and his crew most definitely will. I look over to where people are gathering to eat. The asshole who has spent most of the day with his arm around my woman is surrounded by some people that I don't know. I guess I can be thankful that he's occupied at least. I scan the immediate area until my gaze lands on my woman. She's sitting with her parents, Dom, Thea, Dragon, and Nicole.

Go big or go home, I guess.

I practically march over to their table. I know I look like a thundercloud. I don't give a damn. I'm barely able to control myself as it is.

I clear my throat to get everyone's attention when I make it to their table. "Oh, hey Joker. Everything okay?" Dragon asks.

"Not really. Skylar, I think we need to talk."

Her eyes go so round that they practically bug out. I'd find it humorous if I wasn't so pissed off.

"What's going on here, Torin?" Dom asks.

"Skylar," I growl.

"Do we need to have a talk, son?" Bull asks, standing up.

"We probably do. I was going to earlier but was stopped. Right now, I need to talk to your daughter."

"This isn't the place for this, Torin. You agreed to give me five days. We're only on number three," she huffs, standing up with her arms crossed at her chest.

"That was before you thought you could spend the day sitting beside another man with his fucking arm around what belongs to me. "

"Shut up! You make it sound like we were having sex! I was being a friend!"

"You were holding his motherfucking hand!" I growl. "You can either get your ass over here right now, or I'll carry you out of here. The choice is yours, woman."

"You wouldn't dare," she hisses.

"I think you know me better than that by now, Peaches."

"Skylar?" her mom questions, her gaze darting toward me and then back to her daughter.

"Look what you've done!" she hisses. "I told you I didn't want to upset them until after the funeral."

"The funeral is over." I look at her parents. They're both staring at me, but they have differing expressions. Sky is a mixture of shock and anger. She's not going to be on my side. That's a sure bet. Bull's is a little more retrospective. Which is probably good. It's definitely better than him wanting to kill me. "Get your ass over here, Peaches."

"I have a newsflash for you, Torin. I don't have to do anything I don't want to and right now, I don't even want to look at you. You've embarrassed me. Not to mention the fact that you broke our deal!"

Dragon laughs. "My kid may be named after you, Bull, but somehow your daughter sounds just like my woman."

"She kind of does," Nicole laughs softly.

"Skylar, honey, when you and Joker have kids, you need to make sure they have my name. It's only fair."

"Shut your fucking mouth, Dragon. You have grandkids named after you. It's my turn," Bull says. I look at the man. You can tell he's in pain. He's struggling with everything he has.

"All of you shut up. My daughter is not living her life in the club. She's going to medical school, and she will not be around the violence of this damn club!"

"Doc," Bull murmurs.

"No! Don't you dare tell me to calm down, Bull. This club has taken enough from me! I've lost my son," she cries, tears pouring down her face. "I won't let them take my baby, too! Especially to another man who can't keep it in his pants!" she cries and then takes off running toward one of the houses.

"Mom!" Skylar cries. "Do you see what you've done? Why couldn't you just do as I asked?" she says, big tears rolling down her face as she looks at me accusingly.

"Peaches—"

"Shut it, Kyla," Bull says, his voice hoarse. "The man has been running away from you for three years. You're the one that didn't stop tempting him till he caught you. You're lucky he didn't interrupt the funeral and tear you away from Carlos. He's not like those asses you've dated from time to time. Me and Matt both warned you two years ago that you were playing with fire. Do you remember what you told me?" he asks, shocking the hell out of me.

My woman's cheeks deepen in color. Her eyes dart toward me and then back to her father's. "I remember," she says, her voice soft to the point it's almost a whisper. The only difference is that the words seem too full of emotion—so much that she can't even begin to contain the syllables. It's overflowing, and it seems to wrap around my heart.

Bull shakes his head. "Tell me what you said. Let Joker hear it."

"Dad …"

"My baby girl has fire like her mother and the stubbornness of her father. She's a warrior. Don't chicken out and let me down now, Kyla."

With a swift motion, Skylar runs her hand through her hair. She swallows and my gaze is drawn to the way her throat moves, before I slowly look back at her face. She's staring at me, and I swear to God she's never been more beautiful than she is this very minute.

"I told you that from the time I was in kindergarten that I decided I wanted nothing more than a man like my daddy. Someone who took care of me, protected and loved me, and put me on the back of his bike. I wanted someone who made me feel special every time he looked at me."

"I don't know how you ever thought I did that for you, sweetheart. I know I've failed you and made you cry?—"

"Daddy, no?—"

"But I've always loved you. You've got yourself a good man here. I'm thinking he'll do every single thing you told me you wanted way back then. I also know he'll never hurt or betray you because if he does, I'll kill him."

"She's safe with me, Bull. I love her."

He claps me on the back. "Don't think too bad of Doc. She's broken right now. It's not truly about you."

"Daddy?"

"Yeah, baby?"

"Mattie's going to come back to us. He's a fighter. That's why we haven't found him yet. He's going to come back," Peaches says, conviction in her voice.

Bull walks to her and places a kiss on her forehead. "I'm proud of you, baby."

"Thanks, Daddy."

"Call Wheeler tomorrow and make sure he knows if you're going to be a doctor for any fucking club it's going to be ours," he grumbles, as he walks in the direction of the house his wife disappeared into.

"You knew?" Skylar asked.

Bull turns back to look at both of us and shakes his head. "I know everything about my kids. Just like I already knew you were wearing Joker's cut in Cincy. If you're going to claim her son, you better do it right. I want a ring on her hand."

"Already in my possession, Bull. It will happen soon."

"See that it does," he says, before continuing to walk away.

"When the hell did this happen?" Dom asks, sounding shocked and maybe a little pissed.

I don't bother to look at him. I stare at my woman and grin. "Three years ago," I answer with a grin. Skylar smiles at me, walks around Dragon's chair and comes to me, and I grab her, picking her up. She immediately wraps her arms and legs around me, as I claim her mouth.

Nothing has ever felt better.