CHAPTER Thirty-One
Ryan
I don’t think I’ll ever understand women. I watch as Seph paces the small confines of her apartment. Throwing an evil glance at Reid and me every now and again.
“Why are you mad at us again? We just found out that you’re a stripper and you’ve been lying to us about working in a café. I’m pretty sure it’s us that should be pretty pissed off right now.”
Reid grunts his agreement. Seph stops her pacing to glare at me. If looks could kill… let’s just say, I’d be dead on the floor right now.
“You overbearing jerk! I’m not a stripper! I’m just a waitress there,” she says, her chest heaving in anger.
I exhale in relief. Not an ideal job, but a million times better than a stripper. “It’s not safe to work there. That man was putting his paws all over you,” I say, trying to contain my anger.
“You’re not working there anymore,” Reid states, his tone deadly serious. Sephie gapes and I cringe. Way to go caveman.
“Well, you guys got me fired anyway,” she says, flopping down opposite us on the couch. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but what was I meant to say? I’ve worked there for about two years now and I knew you wouldn’t like it, or you would judge me for it, so I just kept it to myself.”
“We just want you safe,” Reid says, his tone now gentle.
“I get that,” Sephie says, “but I really need the money. And no you two aren’t helping me out financially.”
“You would rather work in that sleazy bar instead of letting us help you?” I gape, my fists clenching. Stubborn infuriating woman.
She interrupts my mental rant. “If it’s so sleazy, why were you even there,” she says, back to scowling.
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Work at our bar. We will pay you what you’re getting now, or we’ll double it. Whatever. How about that?”
She closes her eyes, thinking it over. “Fine.”
I could jump for joy, but instead, I nod at her and try to school my expression. “What was with Xander?” I ask her, curious as hell about what’s going on with them. Xander didn’t want to go into that strip club, and I have a feeling he knew she worked there. No wonder the two of them have been all weird with each other. As if Xander would want his woman working in a place like that.
Sephie visibly flinches. “He somehow found out I worked here, told me to quit. I told him to leave me alone; he doesn’t control my life. We weren’t even dating… I mean… we were just starting to hang out together. I thought he would have told you. I was waiting for you to come and yell at me, but you didn’t.”
“Because Xander never told us anything,” Reid says, looking over at me.
“He was just doing as I asked. Don’t be mad at him,” Sephie quickly says, standing up for Xander. Interesting. I want to be angry at him, but I can’t. He wouldn’t have betrayed her trust, and he’s not the kind of guy to snitch.
“We aren’t mad at Xander,” I say, my eyes moving to the paintings on her walls.
“If it makes you feel better, he has a man follow me to and from the club to make sure I get home safe,” she says, a smile playing on her lips.
“He does?” Reid asks, clearly shocked.
“Yes. I know we won’t ever be together, but we do care about each other.” She lays her head on one of her pillows. “I’m sorry you all got into a fight over it.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Reid says. “As long as you’re not working there anymore, I’m happy.”
I stand. “I need to get home to my wife.” I kiss Sephie on the head. “I love you, my stubborn girl,” I whisper in her ear. “You coming with me, Reid, or you staying here for a while?” I ask him. We both rode our bikes here.
“I’ll stay for a bit,” he says. I wave bye and walk out, walking to get home to my woman.
We have unfinished business.
*****
When Reid calls me the next day with the news, I don’t even know what to think or how to feel. This man wasn’t a good person. In fact, prison was where he belonged, but now that he’s dead, I don’t feel any satisfaction. I guess dead or alive, there will always be a part of me that he’s destroyed.
“How did he die?” Sephie asks boldly, a blank look on her face.
“Someone stabbed him,” I mutter, looking down at my hands.
“Am I a bad person because I don’t feel anything?” Sephie asks, looking out the window.
Taiya puts her arm around her. “You don’t remember him, so no, it doesn’t make you a bad person.” Plus he was an a*shole. Taiya is just too nice to bring that up right now. I wonder if Dad knew something was going to go down, that’s why he told us about Sephie. I don’t know if I’m trying to find good where there is none, but it’s the only reason I can think of. Either way, all is well in the world. Sephie is safe with us and my father is… well, gone. To hell I assume.
Taiya watches me carefully, as if waiting for me to react. However, I don’t think I have anything in me, other than a pang in my stomach, and a whole bunch of ‘what ifs.’ If only he could have been the father we needed, but he wasn’t. And this is the end of that CHAPTER. Reid and Summer come over, and we all hang out, order in Chinese and watch bad movies. We’re just around each other, no words needed. We aren’t exactly mourning, more like getting closure from a bad situation that has been a part of our lives since the day we were born. Since the day our mother was killed. I look around at the faces around me, and feel thankful. I look into Taiya’s eyes and know this is exactly where I’m meant to be.
I’m one lucky son of a bitch.