Page 12 of Until Forever

Feeling defeated, I inhale. “Yeah.”

“Are you back permanently?”

“No. Ah.” I blink and step closer to the counter. “They called me about my dad, so I showed up.” I stop short, scrubbing my hand over my mouth. “I don’t even know what I’m doing here.”

“Things still bad between you and him?”

“We’ve barely spoken since I left.”

“Mm.” Harmony messes with a stack of papers. “Why did—?” She throws a hand up as if she’s contemplating her words. “It’s good you’re here. You can fix things—you know, with your dad.”

“Yeah, right.” I huff.

“Or Latoya,” we say in unison.

I snap my gaze to hers, and she stares at me.

“Nicolas is still the same hateful bastard, and I’m pretty sure Toya despises me.”

“So.”

I swallow a breath.

“Do you want to fix it?” Harmony asks.

“With my dad?” I joke.

I know who she means, but I’m not sure if admitting it will do me any good. Latoya can’t look at me, not even to scream or tell me to go to hell.

Harmony sucks her teeth. “With Latoya, jerk.” She laughs.

I smile and stare down the hall, hoping for the tiniest glimpse of my girl. A soft chuckle erupts inside me. How pitiful is that? I left her, and yet I still want her to be mine.

“Come by the compound tomorrow night.” Harmony rips a piece of paper and scribbles something on it. “We’re having a party for July’s husband. Everyone will be there, including my brother. We can catch up, eat, and share some drinks.”

I accept the note when she hands it to me.

“Plus, she’ll be there.”

I nod and read the address and phone number on the page.

“Show up, Jasper. Or you’ll have to deal with me.”

I laugh. “Yes, ma’am.”

Harmony returns to work, and I drag myself back into my father’s room. As I step over the threshold, I stop in my tracks. The men from earlier hover over his bed, one on either side—scar face on the left and teardrop guy on the right.

I can’t see my dad’s face because the taller of the two is blocking my view. But I don’t need to see to know that whoever they are and whatever they’re doing here isn’t good.

“What’s going on here?” I let out, my voice stern.

The guy with the tattoo releases his hold on my dad with a jerk. My father coughs and tries to adjust himself in his bed but is stopped when the man slaps a hand on his chest.

The man stares at me with a smug smirk. “We’re checking in on our friend here.”

He steps away from the bed, and his friend does the same. Soon they’re both standing only a few feet in front of me.

“Pops. You okay?” I ask while keeping an eye on his visitors.

---