Harlee
“I can’t just show up and take her away from Gladys. That wouldn’t be fair.”
“She’s your kid. Did you sign away your rights?”
“No, daddy.”
“Do you want Wrecker?”
“You know I have loved Carter Runyon since I was a teenager.”
“Then go get our girl. Get him back. Make shit right. He lays his eyes on her and that will be it. He won’t fuck around no more. He won’t be stupid like me. I regret what I did to your mom. I loved her but only because she gave me you. I never told you this shit because I didn’t want to hurt you. But your mom was a one-night stand when I was just getting started. We met at a bonfire and had a damn good time. Six months later she showed up at my door with a bag and a big ass belly telling me she had no place to go. I tried with her but I didn’t love her the way a man ought to have but I loved you.”
I don’t know what to think about that. All this time I hated him and in his own way he tried to do the right thing. I guess he couldn’t love her the way she wanted.
“What are you going to do, Princess?”
“I guess it’s time to bring Ellie home.”
He nods and I allow him to hug me, even though I am still upset with him.
I walk out to the front of the clubhouse and look for Carter but he’s nowhere in sight. I go to the room we stayed in but I can tell he hasn’t been back here. I thought maybe he could take me to my house and we could take my car to go see our daughter together but I am sure he’s blowing off some steam.
“Well, holy shit, Princess Harlee is back. Come here, kid, I missed you.” I hear Ash’s voice from the door of the room.
Turning around, I see him standing there, arms opened. If he had been younger, Carter would have had some serious competition. I smile and walk into his arms, hugging him tight.
“Missed you, Ash.”
He scoffs at me. “Obviously not enough since you took off and never kept in touch.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I know, girl, I know. I’m just glad your back and I can see your sexy ass every day.”
I laugh. “You old pervert.”
He steps away from me, and mocks heartbreak. “Hey, I’m not that old.”
He goes to say more, and I know, I just know it’s going to be something to do with sex so I put a stop to it. “Nope, shut up. My dad would kill you.”
He gives me a wink. “I’ll be here if you change your mind, Princess.”
Shaking my head, I smile. As he’s about to walk away I grab his arm. “Change your mind? I can take you for a wild ride.”
“Would you stop.” I giggle. “Do you think you could take me to my house, I want to pick up my car and then go get my daughter.”
His face turns serious, and his playful demeanor vanishes. “Yeah, meet me out front in ten.”
**
Ash dropped me off at my house, but stayed with me until I got in my car. He asked if I wanted him to come with me to get Ellie, but I said no, telling him I’d see him in a few hours.
I pull into Aunt Gladys’s driveway and swiftly close my door, moving quickly up her walkway to get to my girl.
“Harlee. I wasn’t expecting you.” Gladys stands in her doorway like she doesn’t want to let me in.
“Well here I am. I’ve missed my girl.”
“You haven’t called in a week. I thought something had happened to you.”
“Had some things to take care of but like I said. I’m here now.”
“Ellie was upset when you didn’t call her. She refused to go to sleep until you called. Cried all night the first two nights.”
“I’ll talk to her,” I say, getting inpatient.
“I filed papers this morning for custody of her.”
“You did what?” My jaw drops. “You can’t…you can’t mean to take her away from me. I’m her mother.”
“Are you, Harlee? Are you really her mother, because I have raised her these past three years.”
“And I have sent you money and come to see her every free minute I’ve had when it was safe to do so.”
“You might have sent money, but I've been her sole provider while you slutted it up with any man that would have you, and while you fucked a pole at that strip club.”
“You might want to watch your tone,” I seethe at her, my jaw clenching tight.
“You only came by once a week. Sure, you called her at night to put her to bed, and facetimed her, but I'm the one that took her to kindergarten, who potty trained her, who did all the things you should have done.”
Tears sting at my eyes because to an extent she’s right but she isn’t being fair. “Yeah, because I needed your help, I worked every damn second I possibly could. I couldn't raise her and work. But I was with her when I was able! She's MY daughter. MINE!”
“No, she's not your daughter, she's the bastard of a fucking biker. She's My daughter, in all the ways that count.”
“How dare you say that about my baby girl!”
“No, she's not your daughter, she's the bastard of a fucking biker that couldn't keep his dick in his pants, just like your daddy. And you’re a whore like your mother was. I told her not to mess around with bikers but first chance she had she was spreading her legs for your father.”
She cries out, as my hand lashes out and slaps her across the face making her fall to the floor. “You'll regret that, girl. I'll call my lawyer.”
"Do it! I'll have my daddy on his way so fast, you'll wish for death"
I storm back down the walkway and get in my car, I should have not insisted that Ash go back, because I could have really used him. I just didn’t think she’d refuse me access to my daughter. I squeal my tires pulling out onto the road. As soon as I get of her driveway I dial my dad and hope she didn’t call the cops on me. She’s the type who would.
“Demon,” his gruff voice answers.
“Daddy, she’s not letting me have Ellie. Said she filed custody papers this morning.”
“That fucking cunt. Don’t worry, Princess, stay put near her house and I’ll have some guys there soon. She’s not keeping my granddaughter.”
“Okay.” The line goes dead and I do as I’m told. There’s a church not far from her house.