Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 60663 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 303(@200wpm)___ 243(@250wpm)___ 202(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60663 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 303(@200wpm)___ 243(@250wpm)___ 202(@300wpm)
“And Tony? He’s okay with you calling us?”
I hate that name.
I hate everything that name stands for.
I hate that this is what it’s come down to.
“I’m not with Tony anymore, Mom.”
“Oh, sorry. We just assumed…”
“It’s okay, but Tony is dead.”
She gasps. “Oh, he, we are so sorry.”
“It’s fine. He was an asshole.” I tell her the truth. She’s quiet, so I continue with, “I’m sorry I did all those awful things.”
“It wasn’t you,” she says.
“I know, but I allowed him to do it.”
“You didn’t know any better. He was, as you say, an asshole.” And I just know she is smiling by the sound of her voice. “But you said you were pregnant?” she asks. “Is it not his?”
“No, it’s not. I left Tony over a year ago,” I admit. “It’s the man who saved me from him.”
“Oh. Well, I like him already. Are you both excited?” she asks.
Excited. What a funny word to describe someone’s feelings.
Am I excited? I don’t really know.
I glance down at my flat stomach and can’t imagine something growing in there. But there is.
“When I found out I was pregnant with you, I was flustered. I didn’t know what to do,” she says, filling the silence. “I never thought we would have kids. We tried for years and then kind of gave up. Then one day, I realized I was late. And by then, you were almost the size of an apple. How I missed all those months is beyond me. But, damn, seeing you on the ultrasound was amazing. That’s when it became real for me.”
I sit there wiping my eyes, listening to her beautiful voice.
“I’m sorry it took me so long to contact you. I thought you wouldn’t want to hear from me after… well, everything.”
“You’ll soon realize a mother’s love knows no bounds,” she shares. Then she asks, “Are you still with him, that man?”
“Yes.”
“Okay. Well, when you’re comfortable with it, your father and I would love to see you.”
“Next week?” I suggest. “I have work this week, but I have a few days off next week.”
“Oh, yes.”
“Can I come to you?”
“Of course. Your partner is welcome as well.”
“I’ll talk to you soon. Goodbye, Mom.”
I hang up, and my phone immediately rings. I see Kyson’s name flash on the screen. I choose not to answer it as I sit there staring at my phone as though it might just poison me. Then I start googling about pregnancy, and that’s where I stay for the next hour before I hear his voice.
“You get lost?” Kyson leans over and places a kiss on my forehead.
“How did you find me?”
“Alaska told me. Wasn’t sure if you were still here but figured I’d try my luck since it’s getting late. How did it go with the doctor?” he asks, sitting next to me.
I hide my screen and look up at him. “I spoke to my mother,” I tell him. “I’m going to visit them next week.” He smiles at that. “Alone.” His smile drops.
“You don’t want me to come?” he asks, sounding hurt.
“No, I don’t.”
He pulls away from me. “Are you ready? I gotta drop you off and go to work.”
I can feel his mood change. He licks his lips as he stands, not offering me his hand. I can tell he’s annoyed, and usually, that would bother me. But I don’t have the energy to argue with him right now.
“I can find my own way back,” I tell him.
He hesitates for a moment, then looks me in the eyes before he shakes his head. “Message me to let me know you got there safe,” he says before he turns and walks out. I watch him from the window as he gets in his car. He bangs the steering wheel a few times and then drives off.
I feel bad, but then I remember….
This life is now my journey, and no other man will control it.
Twenty-Seven
Kyson
“Fuck, man, he’s dead. Enough! We need to go.” Kenzo pulls at me, but I don’t budge. “Anger issues,” he says as I push him off me.
“Fuck you!”
“So what, she wanted to be alone. Do you blame her?” He shakes his head. “Before her, all you wanted to do was be alone as well. We Hunters love solitude.” He pauses and looks back at Zuko. “Except him. He is obsessed.”
She left last week, and I haven’t seen or heard from her since that day in the café.
No text messages.
No calls.
“Have you messaged her at least?” Kenzo asks.
“Of course I have.”
“Pops is asking why you aren’t taking his calls,” Zuko asks me, breaking his silence. Then he turns to Kenzo. “You are to clean this up. You’ve been doing more jobs for Pops than anyone, and don’t even deny it.”
“You have?” I ask Kenzo, surprised. We all do some solo jobs, but I didn’t realize he was doing that many of them.