Page 12 of Undone

“Nowhere far, probably Malibu.”

“Duke lives there full-time now. I’ll make sure he keeps an eye on you.”

“We’re straying off the subject. You’re going to be thirty-five next month. I want grand babies.”

“That’s not happening.”

“Talk to me…what’s really going on with you? I can’t even see your face through all that scruff and hair.”

“It’s part of my look. The Prez of Creed needs to be feared. Respected.”

“Can’t you do that with less…,” she gestured to my face, “you look like you walked straight out of the stone age.”

Grinning, I beat my chest with both fists, “Feed me woman. Man hungry. You cook over fire.”

She couldn’t help it. Fits of giggles escaped. Her eyes were bright as she stared at me across the table. And I saw it. My mother is still young and if she wants to sleep with that Viagra, toupee wearing douche—who was I to stop her?

She got up right as the coffee pot beeped, “Steak and eggs?”

“Yes ma’am.”

“Fine. But this conversation isn’t over. It’s been over a decade since that girl hurt you. Don’t let her have all that power over you. I’ve lived like that. I won’t have you.”

“What? Ma, you have no idea what you’re talking about. I was done with her over a decade ago.”

“I know. But you let the damage she inflicted keep you from falling in love again.”

“Bullshit.”

“No. I’m calling bullshit on your bullshit.” She raised the spatula in the air.

“Fine. You might be slightly right. But can you blame me? I’m a damn fine catch. The women in California are hyenas. All looking for a rich man to latch onto.”

“Honey, I hate to tell you this—but the way you look right now—even a hooker on the sunset strip wouldn’t take a hundred-dollar-bill from you.”

“Oh yeah? Well the club chicks can’t stay away.”

“That’s different. They just want you because of your power.”

“I’d never sleep with one anyway… they repulse me.”

“Well, good. I don’t want my first grand baby coming out with ink and smoking a cigar.”

“Oh, that’s definitely going to happen,” I joked. “You might think I’m lost, but I love the club. The men are my brothers… my family. Which reminds me, one of my men will be stopping by when I’m away in Oregon. To check in on you. I didn’t know about, Richard.”

“I’m surprised. I didn’t think you wanted Creed to know that you come from money.”

“I don’t. But I trust Will. The man knows how to keep his mouth shut. He won’t breathe a word. I’m sorry about earlier. I just... never want to witness that again. Hang a sock on the door, or better yet—lock it.”

She shrugged, taking a sip of her coffee as she flipped over the steak. It sizzled in the frying pan, the sound and smell of it making my mouth water. “Richard was just a booty call. He took an Uber over from Brentwood.”

“Jesus, Ma, you really are making up for lost time.”

“Your father didn’t touch me for years. Not that I wanted him too, anyway.”

“Please, stop. I can’t hear anymore.”

She reached into a cabinet to pull down a fresh plate, piling it high with fluffy scrambled eggs and that juicy steak—then placed it in front of me harder than necessary. My eyes watched helplessly as a few pieces of egg slid off my plate to the floor.

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