Page 58 of StoryTeller's Tale

“Look,” he starts, his voice gentling. “You don’t need to be dealing with this on your own.” I go to open my mouth, to say any decision is mine, but he stops me by placing his fingers over my mouth. “Let me say my part, yeah?” After a second, I incline my head before raising it again. “What’s happened wasn’t planned, hoped or wished for. But if it wasn’t for me, you wouldn’t be in this spot. I’m not the person who’ll have to cope with the outcome and carry this burden for the next,” he does a quick calculation, “seven months.”

I don’t correct him to the accurate six and a half, and just say, “And eighteen years after.”

“Unless you go for adoption.” His face is unreadable as he offers the option. Then his eyes crease and a faraway look appears. “Or I take the kid and bring it up.”

That gets me looking at him sharply. “You want this baby?”

He shrugs. “I’ve known about it for an hour or so. Hell, Sheri, I don’t know what I fuckin’ want. There are options, that’s all.”

I’ve not known about it for very much longer.

Suddenly his hand is on mine, squeezing my fingers gently. “Whatever you want, Sheri, I’ll be beside you.” He swallows, then offers, “You want to deal with it, I’ll help you. You want to keep it? I’ll support you in whatever you decide.”

That would be simple enough. He’s not the only one to not know their mind.

It’s then he notices what I’m holding in my other hand. He prises it open, taking the notes out of my fingers and counts them rapidly.

“A thousand dollars?” He snorts. “That’s all you got?”

“It’s what my father gave me,” I explain. I choke. It’s not enough for anything and I know it. Maybe an airline ticket to get out of Texas, but there won’t be much left for anything else.

When he swears violently and says something decidedly uncomplimentary about my folks, I’m not inclined to correct him.

CHAPTERTWENTY

STORYTELLER

The moment I saw Sheri with that luscious cascade of red hair flowing down her back, my cock had shown a natural interest that I’d needed to force with the whores. It seems I hadn’t built her up in my imagination over the past couple of months. She appeals to me just as much as when I’d first seen her.

Standing back, I took the chance to examine her while she was oblivious to my presence. Two months ago, I wanted her enough to call her my old lady. What do I feel now? Leaving aside the fact that it appears that she’s carrying my child, do I still want her as much? Was I influenced by the emotion that she saved my life? Now with a clearer head, was I seeing her any differently?

The answer was a resounding no. Here, on neutral turf, not held captive at another man’s whim, Sheri’s even more than I thought when I’d first seen her.

I’m eyeing the pitiful amount of money her father had given to her and I’m overwhelmed with disgust at how her family treats her.

I’m not poor. Sure, not all I own has been made legitimately, but that doesn’t bother me. I’ve more than enough to get her situation resolved if that’s what she wants, or, conversely, enough to support both her and a baby.

A baby.

Once upon a time, I thought about having a family, but those dreams died when I walked in and found Custer with Fi. A lucky escape, maybe. I’m not sure how a kid would fit in with my lifestyle.

I clasp my hands between my knees and gaze out without really seeing. Around us people are bustling around, some coming, some going, very few standing still. Reaching into my cut, I take out my cigarettes and tap one into my hand. Without thinking, I idly offer one to the woman at my side who scoffs and turns away.

“Sorry, didn’t think. Do you mind?”

She shakes her head as though in the scheme of things a little smoke is nothing. Nevertheless, lighting up, I stand, and make sure I’m downwind.

I’d like to say the nicotine hit clears my mind, but it’s no help at all. After a few more drags, I stub the damn thing out and throw the end in the container that’s nearby. Returning to Sheri, I sink to my haunches and take both of her hands in mine.

“When did you find out?”

“This morning.”

Taking a deep breath, I sigh. “That’s no time to make any decision. What d’you say you come with me, we’ll get something to eat, then find somewhere for our heads to lie tonight.” If she thinks that means I’m going to be taking her to an anonymous hotel, well, I haven’t actually told an untruth. I know the general location, just not the room they’ll be putting us in. I’ve got the feeling that if I tell her outright, I’m taking her to the Austin Wretched Soulz’ compound, she’ll refuse to go. It’s probably not one of my best ideas, I’ve been there before, and it’s not for the faint-hearted nor the uninitiated. I have a feeling one step inside is going to make her want to run a mile in the other direction. But I can’t ignore that Knuckles is somewhere hanging around, and I need brothers around me if I’m going to protect her.

“I don’t want to go home.”

And that’s the last place I want to take her, having met both her housemate and her stepmom.

---