Page 137 of Hate So Deep

Did Dirk “knock” someone else up? Who? When?

“Hm, I guess Dirk’s been keeping secrets from you. It’s a delicate situation, you understand,” he says, and I shake my head because I’ve got nothing but bile swishing around in my stomach and I’m afraid if I speak, it might come rushing up my esophagus.

Regardless of the words spewing from his mouth, this is a game to him, and I have no desire to be the pawn. As it turns out, Dr. Evans is a lot like my mother and that’s clearly not a compliment.

“You look a bit like Stacey, too,” he murmurs, cocking his head. “All that pretty dark hair and those curves.”

Stacy Hughes. I guess it shouldn’t be a surprise considering Dirk’s confession but I’m still caught off guard as images of the pretty girl with shiny dark hair and wide hazel eyes threaten to blind me but I manage to hold my ground as he says, “So…areyou pregnant?”

I always thought Stacey was a stone-cold bitch, but I see why Dirk, or any other guy would be interested in her. She is or was, ethereal and tiny with big tits and a China doll complexion.

Like a perfect little doll.My dirty doll.

Fuck me, did Dirk call her that too?

While he stares at me and I process the shit he just dropped like a nuclear bomb, I come to my senses and back to the door.

Although I feel stupid about coming here, knowing what I do regarding Dirk’s father, I had to at least try. Either way, I know this mission was a failure and all I want to do is get the fuck out of here which is why I mumble, “Well, thank you for your time.”

“I can help you,” he says, but I just want to escape.

The problem is that this man won’t stop talking and he’s remarkably unaware of the fact that I don’t fucking care.

Douche.

“Miss Stark?” he says, and I pause before looking over my shoulder. “You can’t be that far along. I can help you before it's too late…unless you want to keep it.”

With my father it’s all a game. We’re like pawns on a chessboard.

“Cut the bullshit. You have something to say, say it,” I bark and his lips curve into a smile. If this little weasel thinks he can manipulate me, he’s got another thing coming.

“Very well. As the potential grandfather of your child…it is Dirk’s child, isn’t it?” he asks, his eyes falling to my abdomen and even though I’m not pregnant, it doesn’t stop me from wrapping my arms around my middle.

When I don’t comment, he sighs and steeples his hands before his face, those eyes so very calculating as he says, “You’re too young to raise a child. I’d be happy to do it for you.”

He waves his hand as though what he’s saying is completely logical. Meanwhile, I’m trying to figure out the game. Since I’m not carrying anyone’s child this is a moot point but for once I’m getting a front row seat to Dirk’s life and I would be lying if I didn’t admit that I want to know more, even the worst parts.

Something stinks though and I make a show of admiring my manicure, even though I haven’t gotten one in months as I say, “I’m sure there’s a price…?”

It does the trick because I see his lips form a frown from the corner of my eyes as he says, his tone a tad chillier than before, “Of course, raising a child isn’t cheap, Miss Stark. You want the best for it, don’t you and since my son can’t fight for his own rights, I’ll be doing it for him.”

Bewildered, I can only stare until he sighs and says, “Look, I’m sure this is confusing, Miss Stark but you’re young, too young. The last time we went through this, it damn near brokemy poor boys’ heart. I don’t want to see that happen again, you understand?”

I don’t know shit right now except that Dirk was at one point going to be a father, something about the outcome cut him deeply and his skeevy dad had something to do with it.

Tsking he leans against the desk and crosses his arms, saying, “They were going to run away. Stupid kids. Can you imagine? Of course, we had to intervene. It was the only way.”

For whom?

When blackness starts to encroach on my vision, I look away. Does Dirk even know what happened to his kid?

Where’s Stacey now?

“Why are you telling me this?” I mutter.

“Because it would seem we’ve been given a second chance, and I know this would make all the difference for Dirk…while he’s serving out his sentence in prison.”

Is this fucker for real?

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