All In (19 page)

“Why do you think every damn time you would threaten me with him, I would give in to whatever it was you asked me for!?” he cried, pulling the gun from my forehead and pressing the heel of his palm to his own. “And why do you think I have been doing this to you, huh? I am fucking angry! That's why!” he said through his teeth, spit flying from his angry words.

“I didn't know, Chase!” she screamed, closing her eyes.

“I tried to make it go away. I tried with the casino, woman, alcohol, drugs... but it is still there. His fist repeatedly punching me and his eight hundred dollar shoes kicking me in the face and in the ribs. It is still in my fucking head! Always in my fucking head!” he sniffed then took a deep breath. “God, I just want to tell him how much I fucking hate him. I want to punch him in the face and kick him in the ribs. I want to scream in his face to take it like the man that he should be!” he turned, punching the wall with a growl.

“Then tell me about it, son,” I heard from the doorway. Harlow's eyes went wide. Every sound in the room was suddenly gone, swallowed by this mans presence. I watched Chase slowly turn around, the fright in his eyes were that of a child being awoken by a frightening nightmare. It was their father, Jason Miller.

“Dad,” Harlow gasped.

“You have something to say to me son?” the tall, six-foot-five man came from behind me in his gray Armani business suit. His salt and pepper hair was short. He hiked his slacks at the knees and knelt down in front of Harlow who's back was pressed against the chair, if she could push through the chair, she would. I could see her heart beat move her t-shirt as he untied her ankles, and her wrists from the arms of the chair.

Their father slowly stood to his feet, picking up the chair taking slow steps toward Chase. Harlow was crying and ran straight into my arms. She was shaking uncontrollably, sobbing into my chest. I squeezed her tightly against me. Bridget took the chance and ran, knocking me in the arm with her shoulder as she went running out of the room.

“Do you want to tell me what the hell all of this is, son!?” he raged, throwing the chair against the wall, it cracking then falling into pieces on the floor. He then smacked the lip of the silver tray, flipping it up in the air. Coke and pills flew everywhere. Harlow flinched in my arms, and Chase swallowed hard gripping the pistol tighter in his grip.

“I'm not going with you,” he said quietly, shaking his head slowly. Tears streaming down his face, he pointed the gun at his father. For the first time since I met Chase, this was the first time I had ever seen him truly scared.

“Surely, this isn't acting like a man, Chase. This is acting like a scared little boy. A fucking coward!” his dad yelled in his face.

“Dad! Stop it!” Harlow cried, pulling away from me. I grabbed her by the arms and pulled her back to me.

“Babe, please. Stay out of it,” I whispered in her ear.

“You are coming with me,” he reached his hand out for Chase.

“Don't fucking touch me!” he backed up into the corner of the wall, and turned the gun onto himself.

Harlow was breathing so hard against my chest, she was watching everything. Watching her father try to manipulate her brother, and her brother with a gun to his head. I thought she was going to hyperventilate. I rubbed my hands up and down her back trying to comfort her quietly.

“Son, you won't pull the trigger. You're too scared,” Mr. Miller laughed.

“I'm not fucking scared, not anymore,” he cried quietly. “Not anymore, dad,” he looked over at Harlow. “I am so sorry, Harlow, for everything I have done to you.”

“Dad, let him stay with me, I will get him some help. He-”

“No! Harlow Jean. I am done being scared, and I am done with all of this. Everything!” he cried. “Please understand,” he gave Harlow a sullen smile. “and please, forgive me,”

“Of course I forgive you, Chase. You're my brother,” she sobbed, smiling back at him.

“Dad,” he put the gun at the back of his head.

“Please, Chase,” Harlow cried.

Chase ignored Harlow's plea and continued talking to their dad. “You may never gave two thoughts about you laying your hands on me. But, there is always something you will have to live with... for the rest of your life,”

“What might that be, son?” he cocked his head to the side, as if this were entertaining to him.

“Your sons blood on your hands,” I watched Chase's face scrunch up and I knew.

“Chase, no!” Harlow cried out. I grabbed her and turned her into my chest while closing my eyes. I placed my hands over her ears and we both jumped at the loud pop of the gun.

“Chase!” Harlow screamed.

I opened my eyes to see Mr. Miller turn slowly around, his face was that of utter shock with his sons own blood sprayed all over his face, suit, and down to his shoes. The shoes I was sure that brought Chase to his impending death. I was frozen, holding Harlow tight in my arms as I stared down at Chase slumped against the wall on the floor. There was so much blood, everywhere.

Harlow was screaming, crying, and frantically writhing in my arms. “Chase!” she cried out. I held onto her tighter, no way was I going to let her go.

Mr. Miller upon walking out the door stopped at me and Harlow. “Take my daughter home, you weren't here.”

I nodded my head, pulling Harlow with me out the door. I was completely rendered speechless, I couldn't speak.

“Take care of Harlow and my grandchild,” he said at a distance as I kept walking, I didn't turn around.

Harlow was sobbing uncontrollably against my side barely being able to walk on her own. I picked her up in my arms and carried her through Nostalgia, and out to my car.
Two Years Later

After we left the casino, we never knew what happened. Nothing was on the news, and Harlow never was able to get a hold of her father. He had disappeared without a trace; shut off his phones, his business line was disconnected and all mail she sent to his home in Malibu was marked 'return to sender'. We figured it was better that she didn't know, and that it was best to just lay it to rest.

A few weeks later, Miller's lawyer had showed up at my apartment with his will. He had given everything... the casino, his cars, his house, every dime to Harlow jean, it was in countless of millions. I couldn't say I could be prouder of Harlow as she took the casino and turned it into a woman and children's shelter, and started an organization to help fight against child abuse. She sold Chase's house and all of his furniture and cars, then donating every dime from his material possessions to charities. Everyday, I fall in love with her more. As the weeks went by, I watched her belly and her smile grow. I never thought six years ago when she walked into Mad Tatter that Harlow Jean would be my everything, I love that girl.

Skip and I rebuilt Mad Tatter in the exact same location we were in. We were back in full swing in a few short months and business was booming as usual. Between clients and moving into our new house, I had spent my extra time setting up the nursery for Harlow. I wouldn't let her see it until I was finished as I wanted it to be a surprise. I had added the finishing touches to the bright pink and black nursery, and Skip set the rocking chair next to the crib with a bright pink and cheetah print bow on it. Harlow was at the woman and children's center the day I had finished, so I waited. She had come home at six and I watched her waddle up the walkway to the red front door of our black and gray stucco colonial style home. I smiled, she was the most beautiful pregnant woman in the world. She had greeted me with a kiss and knew I was up to something. I took her hand in mine and led her to the nursery. Her hand instantly reached her mouth and she started to cry. She took slow easy steps to the rocking chair, letting her fingers caress the bow. She sat down in it and was rocking back and forth. She rubbed her belly and started to sing a lullaby to our baby. I watched her, and I knew right then that I was ready to make one of the biggest decisions of my life.

“Marry me, Harlow Jean.” I had said quietly.

The wedding was simple, the way she wanted it to be. Money wasn't a thing when it came to Harlow being happy, but that is what I love about her the most. She never wanted anything elaborate... she just wanted to be happy. We decided to get married in front of Elvis at Chapel'O'Love. The funny thing about the wedding was that, Bob and my mother got married, too. Bob suffered minor burns from the explosions, but made a full recovery. I had never seen my mother so happy. I now can say that I have my family, the family that I have always wanted.

On February fifteenth, a very healthy baby girl was born. Our Harley Jo Jackson. Everyday that I look at her, she reminds me of her momma. Bleach blonde hair, big blue eyes, and a smile that could bring an army to their knees.

“Dada!” I let my foot off of the pedal and took my eyes from my clients leg to meet the eyes of my daughter, paddling her tiny feet quickly across the black and white checkered tiles of the new shop towards me.

“Hey, baby girl,” I smiled, bending down to kiss her head as she hugged my legs. “Where's momma?” I asked her.

“Ma!” she pointed to Harlow standing by the reception desk looking as beautiful as always. Her hair was still bleach blonde and short, with light purple highlights across her forehead. She was wearing a black strapless sundress that hugged her perfect breasts, it draped to her ankles and she wore black sandals. She waved at me with bright pink fingernails, her carat diamond ring glistening under the lights of the shop.

“Bebe,” Harley cooed.

“What, baby girl?” I leaned forward trying to listen.

“Bebe. Dada,” she whined, trying to get up into my lap.

“Will you excuse me for a second?” I said to the client, quickly taking my silver gloves off and tossing them into the trash can.

“Absolutely! She is such a cutie pie!” the woman with a southern accent smiled adorably at Harley Jo as she watched me pick her up.

“Bebe,” she said again pointing to Harlow still leaning against the reception desk. Harley Jo was becoming irritated as she squirmed in my arms. “Bebe, bebe,”

I kissed Harlow on the lips, she took Harley Jo from my arms. “What does she keep saying?”

“Bebe, bebe,” she whined again.

Harlow laughed. “I asked her if she wanted to tell you and she cried until we got here, she was very persistent and I couldn't get here fast enough.”

“Tell me what? What is it Harley Jo?” I asked her.

“Bebe, dada, bebe!” she said it louder.

I thought about it for a minute, I was at a loss. I shrugged my shoulders.

“She is saying baby, you idiot, God!” Skip said from over the buzzing of his gun, not taking his eyes off of his client's back.

“Baby, Harley Jo?”

“Bebe,” she smiled, bashfully laying her head on Harlow's shoulder.

“Well let me see this fabulous baby doll,” I smiled at Harley Jo.

Harlow laughed harder. “No, Vice. We are having another baby,”

“Idiot,” I hear Skip from behind me.

“You're pregnant, Harlow Jean!?” I smiled widely.

“Yes, five weeks,” she was blushing. “We just left the doctors office,”

“Bebe,” Harley Jo reached her arms out for me.

“You're going to be a big sister, Harley Jo!” I said excitedly making her laugh.

We had decided that since neither of us had a huge family, that that was what we wanted. We played it safe up until Harley Jo hit a year old and then I was all in.

“I love you, babe,” I set Harley Jo on her feet then kissed Harlow softy on the lips.

“I love you, too,” she smiled against my lips.

With nothing to get in the way of Harlow Jean and me, the possibilities for our future were endless. I wrapped my arms around her tightly, as I could never be happier than I was with her and my children-born and unborn- in this moment. I smiled against the skin of her neck, taking a big breath in realizing we would always be free. Free from our past, together.

The End
Thank you so much for reading All In! Don't forget to check out the rest of my books, too!

Glow
Immortal Souls
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