Page 11 of Lose to Win: Lost Trilogy: Part 3
“That’s just splitting hairs, my dear,” Bricks grins at me with only half of his face, looking grotesque the longer he does it.
“What does any of that have anything to do with me?”
“Well,” he shrugs, but only one shoulder goes up. “He took my wife, my kids, and almost my life. It is only fair that I do the same.”
Footsteps echo all the way to the high ceiling, interrupting our very informative chat. I gasp in surprise when I see who it is.
“Steve.”
“In the flesh,” he opens his arms wide and laughs. “Well,” he looks at Bricks. “Did you let her know what the plan is for the day?”
Bricks just stares at Steve, no emotion on his face. I have a feeling that he doesn’t even like him, only tolerates him. Interesting. Then why get him involved in all this?
“Did you hear back from the lab?” he asks Steve instead of answering his question.
“I did,” Steve cackles. “This is great. Perfect, really.”
“Don’t drag it, fucker,” Bricks growls at him, instantly killing the happy and confident vibe Steve was carrying around.
“She’s pregnant.”
I gasp in shock again, remembering the last words I heard from Dr. Patel right before someone hit me in the back of the head. Instinctively, one hand goes to my belly while the other one touches the sore spot on my head where I have a lump forming.
“Excellent,” Bricks smirks. “Yours, I presume?”
I think I see a slight hesitation when Steve answers, but he recovers quickly.
“Definitely,” he confirms, and I want to scream in distress and panic. The effort I’m putting into not making a sound is hurting the back of my throat.
“This is working better than I was hoping. I didn’t think you’d be capable of it,” Bricks tells Steve, disdain obvious in his voice.
Steve turns to look at me. “Isn’t this great, Emily? We’re going to be parents, you and I.”
“It’s not true,” I shake my head, refusing to accept this outcome. “It can’t be.”
“Oh, but it is,” Steve laughs in my face. “You thought you were smart taking a pill after. Lucky for me, I got connections. The pill you thought you were taking was not what you were hoping.”
I feel myself getting sick. I gag, but nothing is coming out. Tears are springing from my eyes, and I let it all out. I cry until my face hurts and my throat is raw, until I can’t think of this anymore.
“Hey, don’t make her cry,” I hear David’s voice over the sobs wrecking my body. “Why are you making her cry?”
“She’s fine, Shortie,” Bricks laughs it off.
“But she’s upset,” David insists. “I don’t like it when she gets upset. Emily is nice. She’s my favorite.” A slap sounds around the room, and I’m assuming he just did it to himself again. I can’t even begin to care though.
“Out,” Bricks barks at him. “Go check on Sugar.”
Footsteps rush out of the large room, and David is gone. I am left alone with my father’s biggest enemy and the man who is helping him to bring us all down.
“That’s enough of that shit,” Bricks’ voice booms, making me instantly stop crying with a hiccup. I press both hands to my mouth, forcing myself to not make a sound.
The calculating look with which Bricks is watching me tells me that things are far from over. He’s got more in store. My eyes go to Steve. He is standing there with no care in the world or remorse whatsoever.
“I can’t believe you did this to me,” I shake my head, tears starting to fall again. “What did I ever do to you?”
Steve just shrugs. “The problem has never been that you did anythingtome, Emily. You just didn’t do anythingforme.”
“What does that mean?” My voice sounds scratchy from crying.
