Cut Wide Open
Page 53

“‘Course not. Glad you’re happy. What was up with the watch your mouth comment?”
“As soon as I told him, he said, ‘kick ass’ and ran out to you.”
“Gun.”
At the sound of his father’s voice, our son looked up from his bowl of cereal.
“What?” he asked with a mouthful.
“Watch your mouth around your Mom.”
“Just around me, huh? He’s spending too much time with Reggie.”
Reggie’s head popped up from the couch and he grinned at us, “Heard that.”
“Wasn’t whispering.”
Gunner’s arms tightened around me, “You shine, Mouse.”
“Hmm?” I asked distracted by the feel of his body wrapped around mine.
“Never saw you shine so much. My mom’s in the next room, beaten. But you’re not letting that get you down. Nope, instead you’re smiling and wearing my ring. Like I said, you fucking shine.”
I leaned up on my tiptoes, because what else could I do with that declaration, and kissed him.
“Eww,” Gun said and started coughing. We pulled apart and Gunner glared at Gun making him halt his dramatics. I laughed and reached for a coffee cup.
The door opened, and Ace and Shane walked in. They both poured themselves coffee, and I immediately started brewing more. A pot didn't go far with these guys.
“Be back, babe. If she wakes up, get me. I’ll be just outside,” Gunner said leaving me in the kitchen. Reggie followed the guys outside, and it was just Gun and me.
“Something else happened last night, Gun.” I grabbed his attention before he pressed play on the video-game.
“Gunner’s mom, your Grandma’s, here. Your dad hasn't seen her before last night and they don’t have the best relationship so I want you to be cautious around her. Follow your dad’s lead.” He gave me a chin lift, and I was reminded that my boy needed to spend more time with kids his own age and less time with these grown bikers.
Several hours later, my boys and I were taking a walk around the lake, when Lachlan walked up. “She’s up.”
Gunner gave Lachlan a chin lift, and we headed back into the cabin.
We walked inside. His mom sat on the couch slowly sipping coffee. She was black and blue, but her face wasn’t as swollen as I would have thought that it would be. I momentarily thought about how beautiful I used to think that she was, and how she really wasn't anymore. Life hadn’t been kind to her.
When she saw us, she gasped. “Gunner,” his name fell off of her lips in a whisper, but it wasn't Gunner she was looking at. She was staring directly at Gun.
“Fuck,” she hissed. “You got a kid.”
He glared at her, and placed his hand on Gun’s shoulder.
“I didn't know,” she stuttered out. “I had no idea.”
I walked in front of her, “Hi Cathy. How are you today?”
Her eyes left my son and flashed to me like she was just now noticing that I’d moved in front of her.
“Fine,” she spat, a little too annoyed by my presence. She’d been through a lot, I needed to cut her some slack. I never really knew her growing up. We’d see each other in passing mostly. She was never rude to me, but never quite acknowledged me either.
“Cathy, this my son, Gun. Gun say hello to your Grandma.”
He waved shyly.
“Son, why don't you go find Reggie, and hang with him for a little while.” Gunner squeezed Gun’s shoulder. Sensing some tension, he didn't hesitate to hightail it out of the cabin. He was followed out by the rest of Gunner’s brothers that were lingering in the cabin.
“Ma, we need to talk.”
I sat on the edge of the table in front of her and Gunner sat beside her. He grabbed me by the hand and deposited me on his lap. “Need you next to me,” he whispered for my ears only.
Cathy watched us cautiously.
“Go on, Ma. Let me hear, how after seven years, why you think coming to me for help would be okay.”
She flinched. It was barely noticeable, but his words stung her.
I watched as she pulled in a deep breath, and she began her story, and it wasn't anything like I would’ve expected.
“I was with Hades before I met your dad.”
Gunner’s entire body went stiff, and I linked my fingers with his.
“I met him when I was young. My parents hated him. Thought he was no good for me, but you have to understand what it was like for me growing up. Grandpa, before he retired, he worked out of town a lot, and more often than not, it was just my mom and me, and she was a cold woman. She never hugged. She didn't hurt me, or anything but it was like I wasn't hers. Like she felt no connection to me. You know? So, when I met Billy, that’s what he was called before he became Hades, I craved the attention he showed me. He was older than me by five years, and I met him when I was fifteen. No surprise, my dad lost his shit, when he found out. He tried everything he could to keep me away from Hades. He’d lock me in the house. Ground me. Anything he could think of, but he had to work, and Mom was not really there, so I’d always find away to see him. I was sixteen when I found out I was pregnant.”
My eyes found Gunner’s. I hoped like hell she wasn't telling us that Hades was Gunner’s real dad.
He squeezed my leg, interrupting Cathy’s story. “She was nineteen when I was born.”
I let out the breath I was holding and whispered, “Thank God.”
“No, he’s not your Dad, but he’s your sister’s.”
“What the fuck!” Gunner bellowed, yes bellowed. I felt like the walls of the cabin were ready to implode with his fury. “Say what, Ma?”
“I was a kid. Hades was a man. My Dad didn't want me to raise a kid at sixteen, so he made me sign over custody to Hades. It was horrible. I hated Hades then. I never saw her, I held her in the hospital, and after that, nothing. He said he sent her off to live with family, and that she’d have a good life, but I resented him. I couldn't understand how he could side with my dad, and send my baby away. I withdrew. I didn’t talk to Hades anymore. He wouldn't give me my baby, so I wanted nothing to do with him. It was too much. Grandpa’s and my relationship never really recovered.”
“I need a drink. You need something?” I interrupted. I didn't really need a drink, but I could tell Gunner was ready to combust from the news that he had a sister. Not only did he just find out about the having a son that was kept from him, but now he was finding out that he had a sister too.