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"Language," I say in a mild tone, more to get him off the topic, then wince. I’ve heard men Felix’s age swear using the kinds of words I wouldn’t. I’ve seen men his age shoot to kill without displaying any emotion. And here I am, scolding Felix for using a four-letter word. I’m not only duplicitous, I’m turning into my father. I squeeze the bridge of my nose. "Fuck, I am turning into him, aren't I?”
"Glad it’s sinking into your thick skull," he says with satisfaction. He throws himself into the seat opposite my desk and moves around until one of his long legs is thrown over an arm.
“Why are you here?”
"To gloat when you make a fool of yourself of course." He flashes me a pleased smile.
"What do you mean?” I frown.
"Jesus, you’re so full of shit."
“I don’t need my own son insulting me."
"I’ll do more than that, considering you’re acting like a dickhead."
Anger lassoes a chokehold around my neck. "Watch where you’re going, boy."
He scoffs, "You don’t scare me, old man." He lowers his feet to the ground. "I told you if you did anything to make her unhappy, you’ll have to contend with me, so here I am.” He narrows his gaze, “How could you hurt her like this? Don’t you ever learn from your mistakes?”
"The fuck you talking about?"
He levels an accusing look at me. "My mother left you because you weren't attentive enough to her."
"Is that what you think?"
"Isn’t that the truth?"
"The truth"—I rub the back of my neck—"is more complicated than that.”
"The truth—" I begin but a new voice interrupts me.
"The truth is that I am happy to find you both here."
I whip my head in the direction of the door, and so does Felix.
He gapes at the woman standing in the doorway.
Her dark hair is pulled back in a chignon. Her lips are painted a dark red, and there’s a pinched look to her features. She’s thinner than I remember, and there are new lines around her eyes and mouth. She walks forward, and the skin on her thigh flashes from between the slit in her skirt. She pauses on the side of the desk between me and my son and looks between us.
"I hadn’t expected a family reunion, but… Never too late.” Her smile is almost genuine.
And I’d have believed it if I didn’t know her better.
Fucking hell. I knew this was going to happen when Arthur told me he’d announced my upcoming nuptials in the newspaper. I knew she’d hear about it and turn up to piss all over my life, the way she has the last few times. Always, always when something of significance occurs.
Good thing my wife isn’t here. If the two of them came face to face, it’d make matters between Raven and me more complicated.
"M-mother?" Felix’s Adam’s apple bobs. Once more, he seems younger than his years. His blue eyes, so like mine, are fixed on the woman like he’s seeing a ghost. And with good reason. He hasn’t seen her since the day she walked out on him when he was two-years-old.
"You grew up handsome, Felix." Her features soften as she takes him in. "I see you’ve still got that piece of hair that won't lie down.”
Felix reddens. He runs his fingers through his hair, trying to smooth it down, but the tuft of hair he pulls back springs forward again.
Her throat moves as she swallows. "Aren’t you going to give your mother a kiss?" she chides him gently.
He has a dazed look on his face as he gets to his feet, closes the distance to her and pecks her cheek. He pulls back and stares at her, no doubt, trying to make sense of the situation.
I, on the other hand, have no doubt the mother of my son is back to create trouble for me. "What do you want, Shiloh?" I bark.
