Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 75642 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75642 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
I chew the inside of my cheek, all of this information just a little too much, making me want to slow things down as much as I can so I don’t make the wrong decision.
“Mila wasn’t listed as their godparent or guardian or whatever?”
He shakes his head.
“Is there something wrong with her?”
Mr. Dobbs’s lips form a flat line. “Not that I know of. The will was drawn up right after Jace was born. It named you the godparent and responsible for Jace and all other kids they might have, which now includes Luca. It’s very possible that Mila wasn’t listed because she was still in high school when they had it drawn up.”
That explanation makes a little more sense.
“Like I said, she’s willing, but the chance of the court awarding her custody is slim because she’s just not financially capable.”
I look to Kincaid. The man is my boss, but he’s also a mentor.
“We’ll do whatever it takes,” he offers. “Just let me know how you want to proceed.”
Mr. Dobbs breathes a sigh of relief as if he thinks I’ve already made up my mind.
“I’ll be in touch,” I tell Mr. Dobbs, dismissing him.
The man may suck at delivering unwanted news, but he sure knows when he’s being asked to leave.
Kincaid opens the door for him, nodding at someone standing out there. I know Mr. Dobbs will be escorted to the front door, and someone will watch and makes sure he leaves the property. Everyone who isn’t directly related to Cerberus is considered a direct threat to the club until proven otherwise. There’s even talk of acquiring the land the road that runs to the clubhouse is on and surrounding all the acreage with a fence and entry point a half a mile down the road. The gunman who was injured a few months ago during the attack on Lindell named Cerberus as the reason for a job they did in relation to Raul Cortez. It means that Cerberus isn’t safe no matter where they are.
I drop my ass into one of the chairs surrounding the conference table, my head falling into my hands.
“What do I do?” I mutter into my hands.
“I can’t really give that sort of advice.”
I’d ask what he’d do, but I already know what his answer would be. Kincaid, along with nearly every other person in the club, wouldn’t blink at taking in two young boys to raise. It wouldn’t feel like a burden to them. It would be an honor to be chosen for such a task by their friend.
“It’s a life-altering situation,” he continues. “But those boys are welcome here if that’s what you decide. There’s no shortage of people here willing to help. It may not be very traditional, but they’ll be well-loved and taken care of.”
As good as that sounds, I also have to consider Mila. She’s their blood relative, and despite the way she acted the other day, I imagine I’ll discover after some research that she’d be a great fit for them. It’s more likely she was just frustrated with everything. We did say goodbye to her sister and brother-in-law only hours before.
“It also doesn’t make you an evil person if you decide it’s not something you want to do.”
“We never discussed this,” I tell him. “I never had a conversation with either of them about being willing to take on this responsibility. If they had asked, I would’ve told them no. I’m not fit to be a parent.”
“I won’t argue that point with you right now, Stormy, but I know the kind of man you are, and I think you may be wrong about your abilities on this. What I do think you need to do is go to St. Louis long enough that those boys don’t end up in foster care. I think it’s important that you at least abide by your friends’ wishes long enough for that. They trusted you with this. You need to see it through.”
I look up at the man. He has never been secretive about his own life and how he grew up with an abusive father who eventually killed his mother. If he hadn’t had an aunt willing to keep him, he would’ve ended up in foster care as well.
I nod, knowing he’s right. He may not realize it, but he gave me the exact advice I needed despite him saying he couldn’t.
Chapter 6
Mila
I take a deep breath as I pull another box of cereal from the shelf and drop it into the shopping cart. I fight the tears that threaten to fall. I can’t lose my shit in the middle of the grocery store, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to be able to stop it.
Is this how Carlen and Janet felt? Were they at the end of their rope, left wondering as they bought food for their boys if they were going to have to put some of it back once they saw the total at the register?