Page 106 of Slayin Villain
“He hurt me,” Ember said, voice breaking.“And he said if the baby wasn’t his, he’d make sure it didn’t live long enough to find out.”
Irish cursed low and sharp.Kingpin’s jaw clenched.
“Pagan found her,” Cece explained.“Tracked her phone.If he hadn’t…”
I didn’t want to think about the if.
Kingpin bellowed, “This is all old news.Tell the fuckin’ truth.The whole truth.”
Ember frowned.“Rome was dirty the whole time.Always has been.He’s from New Orleans, sent to spy.”
“How do you know?”Kingpin asked, like he already knew the truth, and wanted me to hear it.
Ember hung her head, “Because I knew.But hear me out.He changed sides at some point.He decided to stay and patch over.Don’t kill him.I’m begging you.I will do anything.He might be the father of my child.”
“Why didn’t you tell us about this sooner.”
Ember stood up, pointing at her bruises.It was all the answer we needed.
Back at Royal Road, Kingpin pulled me aside into his office.No beer.No chair offered.Just him standing like a mountain I had to climb.
“She’s gonna stay here, protected,” he said.“We’ll keep her safe.”
“You gonna spare Rome?”
He gave me a look like I was stupid.
“Rome’s patched in,” he said.“I’ll get what I need from him first.”
“What about Rachel?”
“She’s yours, boy.But she left once.That’s twice too many for my taste.”
“I know that.”
“She’s been takin’ care of you.Been actin’ like an Ol’ Lady without even wearin’ your brand.But if you want her to stay, you better give her a reason.”
I nodded.
“And if Ember’s baby’s yours, you’ll still take care of it.”
“I will.”
“But that girl don’t love you, Villain,” he said, straight up.“You know that now.You know the kind of secrets she kept from you.”
I swallowed, the truth like grit in my throat.“Yeah.I do.I couldn’t tell you if I knew much about her anyhow.”
Later, I heard the car before I saw her.Her new little hybrid pulled into the gravel with a soft crunch, and I stood up too fast from the porch, wincing as my ribs flared.
Rachel got out holding two bags, sun catching the flames in her hair.The sight of her never got old.Not even when my whole life was on fire.
“Hey,” she said.
“Hey.”
She handed me one of the bags.“Pickles and ice cream.You’re welcome.”
I cracked a smile.“You know how to spoil a man.”
