Chapter 3

Trigger – Present Day

Starring into Razz’s bright blue eyes in our yard surrounded by our family saying our vows is the most magnificent day. Today, I’m getting everything I ever wanted; a wife and kids, my own family just like my sister, Greer and my cousin, Dani.

Pastor Glenn speaks. “Tanner, repeat after me.”

I repeat my vows to Razz. “Raquel, I give you my life. With all that I am and all that I have, I honor you.” I slide the thin gold band on her finger.

“Raquel, repeat after me.”

Razz clears her throat. “Tanner, I give you my life. With all that…”

Before she can finish her vows, “I object,” is shouted over the sea of leather.

I turn as the sea parts and the one female who has strung me along for so many years of my life is coming towards us. She hasn’t changed much since I last saw her almost four months ago. Her hair is longer, but that seems to be the only change.

A gasp sounds beside me and I look to Razz. I follow her gaze back to Sadie and see her rounded stomach. I link my fingers with Razz’s and squeeze letting her know that we’ve got this.

The feelings I once had for Sadie aren’t visible. I don’t have the overpowering need to touch her or be near her. After spending my time with Razz, I’ve realized that love isn’t one-sided. You either feel it or you don’t and if you don’t you let that love go. Razz and my relationship is give and take. Sadie and my relationship was her giving very little, me giving everything and her always taking.

Now she’s here on my wedding day ruining what was perfect. If she’s pregnant with my child so be it. I’ll always take care of what is mine, but Sadie is no longer mine. She stopped being mine the day she left and didn’t have the decency to call.

“Sadie.” I grit out. She takes this as an invitation to approach us, but I hold up my hand to stop her. “What do you want? As you’ve noticed, I’m getting married today and you’re interrupting it.”

“Trigger, you don’t want to marry her.” She sneers at Razz. “I’m supposed to be your wife, not her.” She points at Razz in disgust.

“What do you want?” I growl again.

“I want you.” She whispers sweetly and before she left I’d have softened with those words, but not today.

“No.” I bellow. “You’ve never wanted me. You’ve always been about you. I’m not blind anymore and I know what I want in a partner in my life. It isn’t you.”

She shakes her head in disbelief. “No that’s not true. You’ve wanted me for nine years. You don’t know what you want. You’re just marrying her to try and get over me. I’m the one you want. I’ve always been the one you wanted and now I’m carrying your child and we can be a family. We’ve missed you so much.” She whines.

“Really, you missed me.” She nods enthusiastically. “Doubtful.” Her face falls. “I haven’t heard from you since the day you told me you were leaving. If it wasn’t for Dani, I wouldn’t know if you were dead or alive. So no, you don’t miss me.”

Dani steps to my side and confronts her friend. “Sadie, why are you here?”

Sadie’s eyes blink rapidly, but not a single tear falls. “Dani, I couldn’t let him marry her. When you told me that he was going to propose, I knew I had to get back here to stop him from making the worst mistake of his life.”

Dani huffs. “Seriously Sadie.” Sadie nods. “Razz is not a mistake and as much as I love you, I think you need to leave.”

“I’m not leaving unless Trigger comes with me.” She yells. “We are starting a family and I know that’s the one thing Trigger has always wanted from me.” She rubs her belly. “Now we have it. Now we can be a true family.”

The sound of Razz’s solemn voice makes Sadie pause in her rant. “How far long are you?” Sadie just stares at her. “How far long are you?” Razz repeats slowly.

Sadie stares blankly as though she’s figuring it out in her head. “Four and a half months.” She stutters.

Razz nods. “Who all were you sleeping with when you were with Trigger?” Her question throws me because we were exclusive.

“No one.” Sadie screams. “It’s only been Trigger.”

Razz searches someone out in the crowd and her eyes land on my dad. “Rudy, I’m going to need someone to hold onto Trigger for a minute.” My dad nods and gives a chin lift to Spook and Ryker. They come up behind me placing a hand on each of my shoulders. Razz glares back at Sadie. “Let’s try this again. Who all were you sleeping with when you were with Trigger?”

“No one. I swear.” Sadie screams with her hands flailing around.

Without taking her eyes off of Sadie, Razz speaks calmly. “Can someone please take the children into the house?” Waiting to hear the slamming of the front door, Razz pulls out her phone. She dials a number and puts it on speaker.

“Roadie,” comes through the line.

“Hey Roadie. It’s Razz. I have a question and I want you to answer truthfully.”

“Sure Razz anything for you.”

“When you were at the Georgia Chaotic’s Clubhouse who did you fuck in the garage?”

“Shit Razz that was a while ago. Her name started with an ‘S’ and she was always with Trigger. It was Sara or Sable or something like that.”

“Can you describe her?” I ask.

“Sure. She was tall, blonde hair, blue eyes and she also worked at Dani’s bar.”

My body is starting to vibrate with anger and my eyes are blazing at Sadie. “Thank you, Roadie.” I say behind clinched teeth.

Sadie presses end on her cell and starts dialing again. “Mickey.” She says.

“Hey sugar. How are you?” Mickey says in greeting.

“I’m good thank you. Mickey, when was the last time Sadie paid you a visit.”

“Ah, let’s see. It was a few days before she left to go back to Louisiana.”

A venomous snarl rips through me. “Did you fuck her?”

“Well of course. That’s what are arrangement was. She’d visit a couple of times a week and I’d pay some of her bills.”

“Thank you, Mickey.” Razz says sweetly. “Have a good day.” Putting her phone in her pocket, she glances at me and then returns her eyes to Sadie. “Do I need to continue?”

“No.” Sadie croaks.

“So it’s safe to say that you have no clue who the father of your baby is and you decided to pin it on Trigger because out of all the men you spread your legs for he’s the only one that would raise your child and give you the freedom to continue to fuck around to get what you want. What you didn’t count on was me?”

“He’ll never be completely happy with you.” Sadie screeches. “He’s always wanted me, always. You’re just a placeholder until I win him back. He loves me. He told me he loves me. NOT YOU!”

Razz is completely calm. “Sure, Sadie, keep telling yourself that. You’re the only one that believes it. At least now you’ve showed your true colors, but I’ve seen them brightly for years. While I was standing in the shadows, you had no issues flaunting and fucking with any man who would show you the least bit of attention. When they stopped wanting to play your game, you moved on to the next and the next.”

“You don’t know shit. You’re a stupid bitch who will never keep Trigger’s interest. He’ll come back to me and he’ll raise our baby with me. Fuck you, Razz. You aren’t shit compared to me. I’m beautiful and you’re average. I know how to please a man like Trigger and you could never give him what he needs.”

“That’s enough!” I roar. “You need to go back to Louisiana. You’re not welcome here. When you have your baby call me and we’ll come down for a paternity test. I’ve heard enough to know that you’re nothing but a narcissistic whore.” Sadie’s eyes flash on my last words.

“You’ll regret this, Trigger. I’m going to take you for everything you’re worth and drag your precious Razz down with you.” Sadie’s face turns beet red as she yells.

Before I can speak Razz speaks up. “Good luck with that. You just started a battle you’ll never win. I allowed you to be a part of his life because I knew he loved you, but that all changes now. See you in five to six months, Sadie.” With that Razz turns her back on Sadie and walks towards the house.

Sadie instantly calms and turns sad eyes on Dani. “Dani, can I stay with you tonight?”

Dani shakes her head. “That’s not happening. I have no clue who the fuck you are anymore. Has this been your plan? I always wondered how you could afford all the expensive shit you were always buying.”

“Dani, you’re my best friend.” Sadie cries.

“Not anymore. Have a nice life Sadie. I hope you get everything you deserve.” When Sadie begins to speak, Dani shoots out a hand stopping her abruptly and turns on her heel heading towards the house as the rest of the women follow.

“Trigger.” Sadie whines. “I don’t have anywhere to stay. You can’t leave a pregnant woman out on the streets.”

My dad doesn’t allow me to speak. “Son, head into the house with Razz. I’ll handle this.” I nod and leave without a last glance at the bitch that has been filling my life with bullshit for the past nine years.