Chapter 3
1445 Words
Briar
Was it possible to faint and vomit at the same time? I gripped the door knob, caught between two minds, but determined to pull the plug on this nonsense.
Naomi gasped after I burst into the office.
“Briar!” Dad yelled. “Get the hell out.”
I blinked a few times. The image of my best friend bent over the desk with my Father behind her would forever be engraved in my mind. I backed out of the office. I didn’t think this through.
“What the hell is the matter with you?” Dad marched out of the office, adjusting his tie. “How many times have I told you this office is off-limits?”
“Yes, when you’re having business meetings. What do you call this?”
“Shut up. Go to your room.”
I shook my head. Naomi gingerly walked out of the office without a hair out of place or a diamond shaken. She brushed her fingers on her skirt.
“Are we still going to the Evangeline Hotel?” Naomi asked.
My jaw dropped, and my eyes narrowed on her. Her features were prim, and her makeup was perfect. She moved with grace and a faux elegance. She didn’t carry a speck of remorse or shame for being caught in the act. In fact, her brows narrowed, and her arms crossed over her chest.
“Of course,” Dad responded.
“Are you kidding me, right now?” I asked, battling not to yank my hair out. “Naomi, is this you? Am I looking at my best friend?”
She rolled her eyes, and my chest pained as if some invisible force had come and sat on me.
“Mind your own business, Briar. This doesn’t concern you,” Dad said through gritted teeth.
“How could you do this to my Mother? After everything she’s done for you!”
“What’s all this commotion about?” My Mother’s high-pitched voice rose above ours.
“Go back to bed, Malia,” Dad said confidently.
Mom rolled her eyes. “What’s up, Briar?”
I didn’t want to ruin my parents’ marriage, however, this was disgusting and despicable.
“What do you think?” My voice cracked.
“Naomi, I’ll find you in the car,” Dad said.
“Fine, but it’s a long drive to Evangeline,” Naomi said, strolling off as if she had just handed us glasses of lemonade and was off to do the next gig.
“We’ll talk about this another time. Goodnight,” Dad said, dismissing us.
Mom ran a hand down her face and exhaled deeply. “This can’t be happening.”
“What are you going to do?” I asked.
“Briar, you shouldn’t have walked through that door. Why didn’t you mind your own business?”
“Excuse me?” I screamed.
“Your Father’s a scumbag who won’t hesitate to flex his muscle. I stay out of his business and he stays out of mine.”
“Don’t you care he cheated on you with Naomi? You watched her grow up!”
Mom shrugged. “She’s a w***e like her Mother. I’ll be damned if I bring myself to her level.”
Mom turned around and marched back upstairs. I couldn’t stay in this house anymore. I grabbed my jacket and darted out of the house. I stopped by a bush and puked everything I’d been holding in.
***
“Do you know how long it had been going on?” Severin asked.
“From what I heard, it sounded like a long time… I just never suspected it. How could I?”
“Don’t blame yourself. Your Dad’s an even bigger asshole than I gave him credit for.”
My stomach churned. I hadn’t been the same since last night. I slipped off the bike that Severin was trying to shine. We were in his garage. I grabbed the nearest bucket and hurled my guts out.
Severin rubbed my back as I threw up for the third time that morning.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart,” Severin whispered. “I’m here, I’m not going anywhere.”
He pulled me into his arms. He’d become my safe space in a short frame of time. He didn’t live in a mansion. He told me he’d never set foot in one. He couldn’t provide a private jet, but I didn’t want one. I wanted to be in his arms and know nothing could touch me.
“I think you should rest. There’s a meeting at the bar in twenty minutes,” he said.
“Something important?”
“Petty stuff. Max thinks shady members slipped into the club.”
Severin belonged to a club called the Obsidian Brothers. He was a lone rider for most of his life. He joined the club three months ago. The Obsidian Brothers weren’t the only club in town, but Severin was drawn to this particular group of men.
I met a couple of the club members. They were a tight-knit group. I could tell they were sceptical of me when I started coming around, but after a handful of appearances at the bar, they realised I wasn’t going anywhere.
“What does that mean?” I asked.
“He thinks rival club members are trying to mess with us.”
“What do you think?”
“I think Max is being a little paranoid, but there have been a few breakdowns and flat tyres. It could be nothing.”
“I hope it’s nothing.”
Severin stroked my cheek. “If there’s anything going on, we’ll handle it.”
I nodded.
He leaned in and closed his lips on mine. Severin yanked me close and held me firmly in place as he kissed me.
“I’ll be right back, Temptress. Wait for me in my room. You don’t have to wear clothes either.”
“Severin,” I blushed.
He grinned and kissed the side of my face. “Think about it.”
I watched him get on his bike. The same bike he rode that dark, gloomy night we met on the Lavender Road Bus Stop when I got stuck after a late class at the University. He offered me a ride. I’m glad I didn’t say no.
After Severin left, I ventured into his room and crawled into his bed. My phone rang with a call from my Mother. The call felt ominous. She could just be worried about me, so I picked up.
“Briar, I need you to come home.”
“Why, what happened?”
“Just come home, it’s important.”
“You can try to be more informative, Mom,” I hissed.
She hung up on me instead. My head was spinning, and I felt another wave of nausea. The thought of going back to that house made me sick. The urge to turn off my phone and start a new life here with the man I loved was strong, but as disappointed as I was in my family, Mom needed me.
I took the next bus home. The neighbourhood, lined with mansions, pools and tennis courts, awaited me. After what happened in my house last night, I couldn’t imagine what filthy things happened in those beautiful homes. My Father’s car wasn’t parked out front. I guess he was still at one of the most expensive hotels in the country with his mistress.
Naomi was twenty-two, like me. I couldn’t believe this was the life she wanted. If it was the life she wanted, why did she have to do it with my Dad?
“Mom?” I called as I marched upstairs. “I can’t stay long.”
“Where are you going?” My Father’s menacing voice sent a shiver up my spine.
He stood at the end of the hall, adjusting his white t-shirt.
“Where’s Mom?” I asked.
I turned to glance at the stairs behind me. I didn’t like how it felt. I turned to run. Dad took two steps and grabbed my arm.
“Come here, you w***e!”
“No!” I screamed.
He kicked my bedroom door open and dragged me inside, despite my dragging my feet on the carpet.
“Let me go!” I yelled. “Mom!”
He growled like a wild animal. He spun me. His rough hand connected with my cheek, sending me flying onto the carpeted floor. I gripped my cheek and ear because of the ringing and stinging sensation that simultaneously went on.
My Father towered over me. If his eyes could turn red with fury, they would.
- Writer
