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“Myles, do I need to remind you that you have two children? Did they hit you too hard on the head?”
“Penelope wasn’t planned, but when I got my shit together, I wouldn’t change it for anything. I learned being a father didn’t change me in the way I expected it to. She changed everything for me.”
“Do you reckon Mase needs the same? Because he basically told me that he doesn’t want this baby.”
“I couldn’t say, but I can say that my brother loves you, and he won’t let anyone or anything come between you.”
“He let me leave, Myles. That’s not him. If I weren’t pregnant, he never would’ve let me walk out like that.”
I snort. “Yeah, and I bet he’s regretting that now, huh.”
“I’m not so sure.” She sighs. “He’s changed since he was released from prison.”
“I’ve noticed. He just learned that he could lose anything now. He’ll work through it. I wouldn’t worry. My brother isn’t going to let you go, not for any reason. Just give him timeto come to terms with being a dad, and you’ll see, he’ll come around.”
A gangfuck comes through with a towel and a bowl of water. I watch his every move as he kneels in front of Aspen and proceeds to clean her face.
“You’re too beautiful to be covered in blood.”
He runs the backs of his fingers over her cheekbone, and I kick my feet out to stop him. He just laughs and leaves us alone once again.
“How hurt are you?” she asked me.
“I won’t lie, I’m hurtin’, but nothing so far that will kill me.”
“You must’ve been keeping that mouth of yours shut.” She snorts.
“I have been, actually. My mom used to say it’d be my mouth that got me in trouble. I guess she had a point.” Mentioning Mom, I ask, “Does she know?”
“Yes. She wanted to come with your dad, but she stayed behind with Pope.”
“Dad would’ve known it’ll be easier to do what he needs to do without her here. I’m surprised that Mason asked you to make the drive.”
“He’s so confused at the moment. I don’t think he actually wanted me here, but with you taken, he needed someone around.”
“But you left?”
She sighs sadly. “He hasn’t got his head together. Until he does, we’ll just say things we don’t mean. I’m terrified there’ll be something said we won’t be able to come back from.”
“That’s the thing about love, there’s not much that can rip it apart. Not true love.”
“You should start a podcast.” She laughs.
“A what?”
She shakes her head. “Never mind. It’s too modern for you.”
It’s my turn to snort. “Did you see Em before you left?”
She nods. “I checked in. She’s worried and keeps checking in with Mase. She and the kids went to stay at the club before we left. They’re with your mom and Pope.”
“If anything happens to me… if I don’t make it out of here, tell her that I’ll be waiting for her on the other side, that I’ve never loved anyone, only her. And if I lived to a hundred, she’d be the only woman to have my heart.” A hot tear rolls down my cheek at the thought of not seeing her again. “If this is how it ends for me, she’s gotta know that her and my kids will be the last faces I see, that it’ll be them I’m thinking of as I take my last breath.”
Aspen forgets her wrists are tied to the pipe when she goes to reach for me.
“Myles, as cute as you’re being right now, this isn’t how it ends for you. The great Myles Simmons will eventually go out in a blaze of glory. You’re not going out of this life tied to an old radiator pipe on your ass. Besides, Mason will never forgive you if he’s not at your side.”
“Blaze of glory, huh?” I tip my chin. “I like the sound of that. But still, I need to know you’ll make sure you tell her everything I’ve said.”
