Page 67 of The Filth Kings II

“If you saw the letter he left, you wouldn’t believe that. Even after all he has done, you still stand before me trying to cover for him. Is it for you? You don’t want to live with the fact of staying with an absolute monster?”

She opened her mouth then closed it. She crossed the room like every step was hard to take. Finally, she sat down on the edge of the bed with her hands shaking in her lap.

“I didn’t know how…I didn’t want to fight somebody that I loved even when they were wrong. I loved the both of you.” She cried lowly.

“You loved him more,” I whispered, crushed by my own admission.

“I’m sorry, I love you. I admire your strength. You always voiced your opinion…since a little girl. I loved that about you, your confidence…I wished I had that.” She sniffled hard.

I stared at her, and for the first time, I realized that she was just as lost and broken as all of us. She was a prisoner, groomed and didn’t know no other way. I turned my face into my pillow then pulled my blanket tight around me.

“I love you, Ma. I’m not ready to forgive you. I don’t know when I’ll forgive you, but I know that I have to in order to live how I want to. My home is yours now, you can have it. This is my home now, and I won’t leave, but you’re welcome to stay here until you feel comfortable enough to go live at my house alone. Time is precious, and you wasted a lot of it. I’m not going to turn my back to you, like you and James did me. I will take care of you, make sure your coffee shops are caught up on payments. All I ask is that you don’t even think to ask me to go to whatever funeral that his insurance policy will pay for. He left how he felt on a piece of paper for me to remember forever and I will stand on what he couldn’t stand on.”

Chapter33

Detavio

“What do you do when Natavi is really sad?” I cradled the phone as I leaned on the kitchen’s island.

“It’s four-o-clock in the fuckin’ morning…you calling me about some shit that you got to learn on your own!” Monster barked into the phone.

“I should have called Octavio.” I pinched the bridge of my nose.

“Be nice, Monni.”

I smirked at hearing Natavi’s groggy voice. I wanted to laugh but held that in. Monster always simmered down when Natavi said just about anything to him.

“Here, let me talk to him.” She offered.

“I swear, I’m going to end up cracking your face open. I told you that I didn’t want you and Angel’s shit leaking into my household, and I—” his words were cut short as Natavi whispered something low enough for me not to hear.

Seconds later, there was silence and then her voice broke through, no longer sounding groggy.

“She texted me and told me everything. I already know our plans for the surprise party is canceled but I was thinking that since you paid me for the decorations, you could still get her out of the house. I have an idea, and just know that it will make her good and happy with just us there to witness it.” Natavi sounded hopeful, and that’s all I needed to hear.

Angel cried herself to sleep in my arms all day yesterday. She’d wake up, cry, use the bathroom, then get back in the bed and cry some more. I forced her to eat, and ran out to pharmacy to get her some melatonin gummies and pain relief pills to rid herself of the headache that I knew she would have. I listened to her mumble things in her sleep. I felt her pain pumping through me and felt fucked up.

I had Natavi rent out a place to throw her surprise birthday party at but that was ruined.

“You still there, Detavio?” Natavi spoke loud into the phone.

“He better be, he woke us up for this.” Monster grumbled in the background.

I chuckled and shook my head at Monster always talking shit.

“I’m here, my apologies. I’m—” I took in a deep breath and held it in.

Truth was, I wasn’t used to feeling things for other people. Angel and I was connected in deeper ways that I never imagined. Besides the sex, I felt for her. Even when she left, I still felt her miles away. Right now, the pain that she was feeling inside, I imagined it to be unbearable. I felt sick to my guts, and not like myself with the bullshit James pulled before killing himself.

“You just want her to feel better. I get it.” Natavi stated sadly into the phone.

“You’re doing a good job at it, Detavio. I know all of this is still new for you, but you are doing an amazing job at being there for Angel. She might not say it, but she appreciates it. I know my best friend very good, she’s the type that always?—”

“Wants to appear strong, like she has it all figured out…even when she doesn’t.” I finished her sentence.

“Correct. It can be frustrating at times.” Natavi sighed into the phone.

It wasn’t frustrating for me at all. I loved that side of Angel. I was able to break her down and get inside of her head. At the same time, she challenged me in ways I’d kill others for trying to test me with. Angel fought back, no matter how many odds was against her.

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