Apologies

When I shut the door to my bedroom behind me, I sunk to the floor against it. I was a lot of things but heartless wasn't on the list. I had just shot my father, the man who raised me. That shit sunk something deep inside of me, but he deserved it . He single-handedly had gunned down two of my friends and one of their deaths killed one of my sisters. I knew that he regretted his choices especially knowing he did that based on lies he was told. Yet, that didn't make anything better. It sure as fuck didn't bring back Donna, Veronica, or Dawn.

A sob escaped me more like a scream ripped out of my throat. Tears were pouring out of my eyes and I knew that they were bloodshot and puffy from my blurred vision. I hadn't realized that I had been crying since I collapsed against my door. This shit tore me apart and right now I didn't want my husband to see me like this.

"Open the door Nova, it's just me." Ope says.

I slid away from the door after unlocking it for Opie. He knew me better than I knew myself sometimes. He didn't speak, just silently locked the door and slid down to the floor beside me.

"I know that this shit hurts. I'm sorry for my part of Veronica and Dawn's deaths." He tells me.

"It wasn't you, Ope. It was Clay and his poison. My sisters are dead and so is Donna." I cry out.

"I know, Madelyn. I know that." He replies.

"I'm so sorry." I sob.

"You have nothing to be sorry for." Ope whispers to me.

"My dad killed Donna. He killed Veronica. His decisions killed Dawn." I say.

"Yeah, your dad. Tig Trager did, Not you." Opie tells me slowly.

"Why did I shoot him?" I ask.

"He hurt you so you hurt him." Ope answers with a shrug.

"I feel worse after shooting him." I say quietly.

"I'm sure he is still at the end of the path of the driveway waiting for you to call." Ope says with a chuckle.

"You think so?" I ask.

"I know so. Mads, you are a fucking force to be reckoned with. The only person strong enough to handle you is Em and even then you still give that tough fucker a run for his money." Opie says with a laugh.

"Damon has called your phone a few times." He informs me when he hands me my phone back.

"Thank you." I whisper.

"You want me to leave you alone?" Ope questions.

"Could you stay while I make these calls?" I ask.

"Of course I can." He replies.

Phone call

Damon: Madelyn?

Madelyn: hey Damon.

Damon: I'm very sorry about your sister.

Madelyn: I know that. It was business, a daughter for a daughter. You did ask I asked.

Damon: I kept the club safe.

Madelyn: I shot him.

Damon: I take it he's still alive.

Madelyn: yes. Just needed to vent my anger.

Damon: that doesn't make you a bad person, Madelyn. I'd like to meet Leilani here soon.

Madelyn: I'm usually always home. Just let me know before you show up. I have two very protective cane corsos who aren't fond of men.

Damon: understandable. You have an amazing husband. I had the chance to look him up.

Madelyn: Yes I do.

Damon: I'll see you soon, sweetheart.

I didn't feel like calling my father so I texted him and not a minute later he responded that he was outside waiting. Opie helped me up from the floor and held my hand as he led me outside to my father.

"I'm alright, Nova. Stop crying." My dad cries.

"I'm so sorry." I cry.

"Nothing you need to be sorry over. I deserve to die for what I've done. I've done nothing but hurt you lately." He says.

He eyes me waiting for me to make the move and as soon as I take a step closer he wraps his arms around me into a hug.

"I love you so much, Madelyn Nova." He whispers.

"I love you too, daddy." I cry.

He removes one hand from me as he wipes my tears from my face.

"You're way too pretty to cry, babygirl." He says.

"That she is." Emmett says confirming my thoughts that he was watching from a distance.

Opie was still a few steps behind me, staying close to me just in case he needed to show his loyalty.

"I will never follow blindly again, Nova." Dad vows.

"No more botched hit attempts?" I ask

"None." Tig says.

"Where's my granddaughter?" He asks looking towards Emmett.

"I'll go get her." Hap says as he hops in my cage, as he would call it.

........

"The house is gorgeous." Tig tells Emmett.

"Quinn, Koz, Hap, and I busted our asses to fix it up and turn it into what Mads told me that she wanted." Emmett responds.

Shortly after their conversation began to start it was stopped by Happy entering the living room with Leilani in his arms.

He glared towards Tig warning him that nothing would be happening to her.

"I'm not going to hurt her." Tig says.

"I'm not taking the chance." Happy growls.

Happy wasn't playing either, he had handed Lani to Tig but he sat down beside him and his eyes never left the two of them.

"Here I thought I was overprotective." Ope jokes.

"Me too." Emmett says as he laughs.

" You guys knew that Happy would be nuts over his goddaughter." I remind them.

"He's a menace to society in general but over his goddaughter? Fuck he's the goddamn reaper." Juice chimes in.

"They should know to stay away then." Happy responds with a shrug of his shoulders.

"I'm getting her shirts made that says 'my godfather is Happy Lowman' hopefully that does the trick." I tell them.

"Can't put Tacoma Killa on it can we?" Happy asks out of pure curiosity.

"I don't think that would be wise." Emmett says.

"Not at all considering you haven't been charged with most of the crimes you've committed." Ope says.

"Alright, you gentle giant." Hap groans.

"We will be there to warn the kids, don't worry." Ope reminds him.

"Whole armory." Emmett states.

"Exactly." Juice adds in.

"Dude you wouldn't scare anybody except maybe the Mohawk might." Hap says with a chuckle.

"Y'all are nuts, this little girl will have all of you wrapped around her finger. You won't be able to tell her no, just like we couldn't with Nova." Tig says with a scoff.

"Fuck that shit, Tigger. Em and I have been telling Madelyn no for most of our lives. That part includes smashing in heads and shit." Opie tells him.

"I knew that was you guys." I state.

"Jax was in on it too." Ope says.

"You knew it was me and you knew why I did it, too." Emmett shrugs.

Word count: 1,167