Chapter Five
Sledge
Sledge listened intently to Beth’s story. His world was reeling all over again. The woman he loved more than anything, including his damn career, not only ripped his life apart, but kept his son away from him because of a threat from her father... What did Jonathan Andrews have against him? Sledge was a decorated war hero, he had the medals to prove it.
Sledge sat back on the floor in front of Beth. So many emotions running through his head. He was angry, definitely, but he was also hurt. Did Beth really lack so much faith in him, that she would truly think her father could ruin him? Hurt him? Obviously she did because here they sat eight years later. As much as he wanted all of his questions answered, Sledge needed a break. He needed time to process everything he learned tonight.
He needed to get Beth and Derek into a room, then he could think. He couldn’t do it with her sitting right in front of him. Standing up, he called Diesel back into the room and once again, his heart caught at the sight of his boy. HIS boy. He still couldn’t believe he had a son.
“Will you take Beth and Derek to one of the empty rooms upstairs?” He needed some time away from this situation.
“Yeah Boss,” Diesel said. “Come on kid. Ma’am.”
Sledge turned back to Beth, “Diesel will get you both settled into a room. We’ll talk later.” And he walked towards Derek, leaning down and placing the first kiss on his son’s head.
There was no way he could return to his sister’s wedding reception. Sledge headed for the gym. He needed something strenuous. Something to steady him. Sex was out of the question. Not with Beth and his son in the same building. He couldn’t disrespect the mother of his child like that, no matter what she’d done. And he didn’t mess with club girls, but leaving the compound right now was out of the question.
Entering the gym, Sledge headed to the locker room, changed into his workout shorts, and then hit the weight bench. Rep after rep, he worked up a sweat, but nothing seemed to calm his nerves. He hopped from machine to machine, but nothing was helping him tonight.
“Boss, you want to talk about it?” He never even noticed Diesel walk in. That never happened. Sledge never let his guard down, he always noticed his surroundings. Apparently, he was more distracted than he thought. Turning to look at his friend, Sledge noticed that he wasn’t alone. His new brother-in-law and his sister were both standing with him.
Stepping off the treadmill, Sledge still felt unsettled, lost... The pain he felt all those years ago, was back in full swing. “I don’t even know where to begin,” he sighed.
“So it is true? Beth is here and you have a son? She never told you?” Amber was pissed. Sledge could see it in her eyes, but she was also hurt. Yep, he understood those feelings all too well.
“Yeah. Not only that, but she needs my help. And I don’t know if I can give it.”
“What’s going on?” his VP asked. Leave it to Reaper to get down to business. He didn’t like his new bride getting upset. Especially since they were expecting their first child.
Sledge relayed the story Beth told him about witnessing her father shoot a man in cold blood. He told them about her fear that her father wouldn’t hesitate to kill her or even Derek to keep himself from being implicated in a crime.
“Okay, wait. So let me get this straight, her own father, a Texas senator, shot someone?” Reaper asked.
“Apparently so...”
“And she is afraid he will kill her and your kid? What kind of crazed fucknut are we dealing with Sledge?” It sounded crazy even to Sledge’s ears, but he really didn’t know the man all too well. Like every politician, on the surface, he was squeaky clean. Sledge had looked into the man when he had plans to marry Beth. He found nothing.
“Call Banjo. Have him do some careful digging into Senator Andrews. Don’t set off any flags. We need this to stay as quiet as possible. If what Beth says is true, we don’t want to tip him off that she and Derek are here.” Reaper inclined his head and pulled out his phone to follow Sledge’s order.
Amber walked over to Sledge and wrapped her arms around his waist. “I am so sorry Devin. Do you want me to kick her ass? Because I will!” she said holding him tight.
“Thanks Am, but there’s no need for that,” he smiled at his sister’s protectiveness.
He had no doubt Amber could cause some damage. But that was not what he wanted for Beth. He wanted her and Derek both safe. Beyond that, he didn’t care about Beth anymore, he told himself. But he honestly didn’t know if that was true. Just one more thing for him to think about. He didn’t make it a habit of lying to himself, and he didn’t plan to start now.
“Okay, Banjo is on it. He’ll call as soon as he finds something,” Reaper said, returning back to the conversation.
“Diesel, until we understand the threat, Beth and Derek do not leave the compound,” Sledge said.
“Got it, Boss. Just so you know, I put them in the room across from yours, instead of upstairs. I figured you would want the kid close.”
“Thanks. That’s fine.” He had to admit, he liked the idea of his son close to him. Damn! A son. Would he ever get used to that? He was a father. A few hours ago, his biggest responsibility was ensuring his guys behaved themselves, now he had a kid.
“There really isn’t much we can do until we hear back from Banjo. Y’all go back and enjoy the party. I am going to head to my room and call it a night,” Sledge said, heading to the locker room to get his clothes. He needed a shower and a good night’s sleep. But most importantly, he just needed to be alone.
Walking down the hall to his room, he stopped outside of his door. He could hear muffled conversation coming from Beth’s room. He wondered what she and Derek were talking about. Moving towards her door, he thought about knocking and visiting with them for a bit; at the last second, he pulled back and went into his room. Spending more time with Beth was not a good idea. He didn’t think he could forgive her for everything she had done.
Stripping out of his clothes, Sledge threw them into the basket in his closet. Placing his phone in the docking station, he hit the play button on his music player. Saving Abel filled the room, blasting from the surround sound. He walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower. Waiting for the water to heat, he stood looking at himself in the mirror. When did he become such an emotional sap? He was always the cold, calculated one. That is what made him such a good leader. He was not an emotional misfit! At least he wasn’t until Beth showed up at his damn door.
“Get your shit together, Devin,” he told himself out loud. Frustrated, he climbed in the shower. He scrubbed away the sweat and grime of the day.
When he got out, he wrapped a towel around his waist and walked into his room. Not even bothering to put clothes on, he climbed under the sheets. Sledge laid awake for a long time, staring at the ceiling, thinking of the day’s events and the past. His chest still felt tight, his stomach was still in knots. Turning to his side, he faced the door. The woman he once loved more than life itself, was right across the hall. Eight years ago, he would have given anything to hold her one more time, but now, he’d give anything to have these feelings go away. Anything to not feel, to not want or need. But no matter how many times Sledge tried to wish those feelings away, they remained. He had a feeling he was fucked, royally fucked.
He had no idea what time he finally drifted off to sleep, but his night was fitful. Waking several times, he thought about the two new people living in his home. He tossed and turned all night. Finally, as the sun started to rise, he climbed out of bed and dressed. He needed to visit the gym before breakfast.