Journey (Soulless Kings MC: Marble Falls, TX #2)

24. Wren

CHAPTER 24

WREN

As long as I’m breathing, you’ll never win.

“Are you sure about this?”

After Journey explained the club’s intentions for my dad, I called Dr. Young and moved my appointment up so I could talk to her about it. Surprisingly, Journey came with me. The session went well, but I realized that, while I’m okay with my dad being killed, he’s still my dad. I’ve got things to say to him before it’s too late.

Which is how I find myself sitting in the backseat of the club’s Jeep in the prison parking lot. Journey and Crow are with me, and I’m grateful for their presence, but the voices won’t quiet down, and I’m terrified that I’m gonna switch during this visit.

If you switch, you switch. Show that asshole what he’s done to you.

“Addi’s positive about a guard being right there the whole time?” I ask for probably the tenth time since we left the clubhouse.

“She is,” Crow confirms. “And we’ll be there, too. She arranged for a private room that’s usually reserved for attorney meetings.”

“Right. That’s why Journey’s dressed like that.” I stifle my laugh at Journey’s sour expression.

Crow, however, has no such problem. He glances at Journey and cracks up. “I gotta say, a suit and tie is not your look.”

“No shit,” Journey snaps. “But one of us had to pretend to be a lawyer, and you sure as hell weren’t volunteering.”

“She’s your girl, not mine,” Crow says.

“As fun as it is to watch the two of you argue,” I interrupt. “I’d really like to get this over with.”

Both of them immediately turn serious, all traces of humor gone. Crow is the first to exit the Jeep, and when I reach for my door handle, Journey twists to reach back and stop me.

“Remember what Dr. Young said,” he says. “If you wanna leave, we leave, no questions asked.”

“Right.”

“And I’ll be right next to you the entire time.”

“Okay.”

“Wren?”

“Yeah?”

“You got this.”

Journey bleeds confidence, and I soak it in. “Let’s go.”

He gets out and opens my door for me. As the three of us walk to the entrance, Journey fiddles with his tie but also keeps an arm around me, which is good because I’m pretty sure I’d fall down if I didn’t have his support.

It takes a few minutes to get through security, but all too soon, we’re escorted to a room where we’re instructed to wait.

“Breathe,” Journey encourages. “In, out, in, out.”

Crow gives me a reassuring smile. “He can’t hurt you here.”

Before I know it, the door swings open, and a guard leads my dad in and shackles him to the table.

“I’ll be just outside the door if you need me,” the guard says before leaving us all alone.

My dad glares at us. “Not a one of you is my damn lawyer.”

The man sitting across from me is not the man I remember from my childhood. I can tell he’s my father, but he’s a diminished version of him.

How the hell is he running an MC and causing so much devastation?

I clear my throat. “You don’t recognize me, do you?”

Ryan Abbott stares at me with narrowed eyes. “Should I?”

“Cut the bullshit,” Journey snaps. “I don’t buy this act for a second.”

Slowly, a sinister smile spreads across my dad’s face. “It’s nice of you to visit, Wren.”

“Gotta say, I was expecting someone more… I don’t know,” Crow comments dryly. “Just more.”

“Is that right?” Dad asks. “You’re exactly what I was expecting, Crow. Young and dumb.” He shifts his attention to Journey. “And you… She’ll figure it out soon enough.”

“Figure what out?” Journey asks.

“That you’re cut from the same cloth as her old man.”

“He’s nothing like you!” I shout, shooting to my feet. The guard knocks on the window, and I take a deep breath before sitting back down. “He’s nothing like you,” I repeat.

“Keep tellin’ yourself that. You were only five when I was hauled away, so I’m sure you don’t remember a lot, but trust me when I say you don’t know shit about shit.” He folds his hands as best he can on top of the table. “Why are you here?”

“Because, for reasons I’ll never understand, your daughter wanted to see you before you die,” Journey says.

Dad chuckles. “I’m pretty sure it’s the Soulless Kings losing this war. Or was that bomb not proof enough?”

“You’re the one behind bars, old man,” Crow counters. “Not sure how you’re gonna manage to win when your entire crew is eliminated.”

“Won’t ever happen.”

“No?” Journey taunts. “Several of your prospects are being taken out as we speak. And more will take their last breath every day until it’s your turn.”

My dad’s cocky glare dwindles, but he quickly masks the fear. “It’s cute that you think so. I’m guessing my daughter hasn’t explained to you exactly what I’m capable of, prison bars or not.”

“Oh, I know all about what you did to your wife and son,” Journey says. “But those were the actions of a coward.”

Dad moves his head from side to side, popping his neck. “I think this visit is over. Guard!”

The guard opens the door, but I lift my hand to stop him. “We just need a few more minutes. Please?”

He nods and closes the door.

“I’ve spent the last twenty years dealing with the aftermath of your reign of terror,” I snarl. “You’re gonna sit here while I say what I have to say, and you’re not gonna open that filthy fucking mouth of yours again.”

“Oooh, my girl’s got a set of brass titties,” he taunts.

Journey lunges across the table and lands a blow to my dad’s face. It draws the attention of the guard, but apparently, he’s not a fan of Ryan Abbott because he simply grins and looks away.

“She told you to keep your goddamn mouth shut,” Journey barks.

I tug on Journey’s suit jacket, and he returns to his chair. “Thanks, but I’ve got this,” I tell him, then I return my focus to the devil incarnate. “The things you did to mom and Ryan Jr… I’ll never forgive you for that. You took away the only goodness in my life, destroyed my innocence, and shattered my mind beyond repair. But guess what, Dad ? I’m still fucking standing.”

“Of course, you are,” he sneers. “You’ve got my blood running through your veins.”

“A fact which can never be changed, unfortunately. But I’ve also got mom’s blood, mom’s spirit. And as long as I’m breathing, you’ll never win. Not against the Soulless Kings, and certainly not against me.” I take a deep breath. “Guard!”

My dad sputters a string of curses when the guard lets us out of the room. I block out the sound of his voice as I walk down the long corridor with my head held high and Journey and Crow at my back.

I don’t know what awaits us as a result of this visit, but whatever it is, we can handle it. I can handle it.

Hell, I just faced my worst foe and came out whole without ever switching.