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Kingpin pinched his beard. “There’s more you’re not telling. I don’t like it. I deserve to know all about your condition. I know you thought you couldn’t have kids before. That’s why you ran out on Hallow.” He sipped black coffee. I’d never seen him drink anything other than whiskey, even in all our times in his music room.
“I didn’t run out. And it’s complicated. Obviously, I can get pregnant. I’ve made it this far. I’m sure you’re up to date on all the possible concerns that come with having a baby on account of Sky.”
“After she recovered from the worst of it,” Kingpin couldn’t speak of how his ex-whore cut her up. “The only concerns for her have been emotional rather than physical. Physically, she’s healthy. The babies are healthy. Thank the Good Lord.”
I almost said, lucky her, but I was never one for self-pity. Besides, Sky had been through the ringer. Hearing she wasn’t coping only made it worse. The biker had to be affected too. Therefore, I tried to break my condition to him gracefully. I held in all my worry. I kept the concern off my face. I said very steadily, “The question is if I can carry to term. They’ve talked about inducing me early once the baby can survive on its own. They’ll wait as long as they can.”
“What does that mean, as long as they can?”
Shrugging, I said, “They’ll let me carry the baby as long as I can.” I wouldn’t tell Kingpin all of it. That it meant they planned to take the baby only if and when the pregnancy would almost kill me. That was the only way the baby had a chance. Basically, waiting as long as we could, we were pushing my health to the edge.
Kingpin excused himself to go smoke. My fajitas arrived, and I ate them without seasoning or tortillas. I ate alone. His tacos sat untouched, getting cold. When he finally returned, he blamed club business. After a trip to the ladies, we were out on the snowy roads again.
The biker blasted some rap songs. I reached for the knob to turn it down a hair. I never guessed Kingpin would be bopping to, “Wanna Be a Baller.” He had his phone streaming a playlist to the car. Taking it, I played DJ. Music was something he and I had in common. We both had vast, varied tastes. I agreed we should stick to dirty south classics. Kingpin laughed at me calling anything classic. I reminded him that most of the songs came out before I was even born. He was just happy I knew them. We rode to Cotton Town like we were gangstas, taking turns picking the next song.
Though covered in snow, Gran’s house looked just the same except for a big For Sale sign out front. The first buyer had backed out which was unfortunate. My dad planned to sell the house to pay for Gran’s nursing home. I didn’t want to think of the trouble he’d get into trying to pay for it now.
It had been ages since I'd been to Gran’s. One of the last times I was here was with Kingpin. I had stared down the barrel of a gun. Hallow took two bullets. And I’d almost been raped by our attackers. Kingpin busted in and blew that man’s dick off. Donette died soon after, along with too many others. I’d buried the memories. They climbed out like zombies, but I’d whack them like moles, sending them to their holes again.
Getting out of the car, I expected to hear our aging Great Dane, Killer barking, but then I remembered, I’d asked old farmer Jennings to look after him. I remembered hearing Gran, too, call me about a million names she couldn't help. Having Tourette’s and a touch of Dementia, my Gran resided in the old folk’s home back in Flipping, Arkansas currently. I called her occasionally but never worried her.
Since no one had cleared it, the carport was ice. That and my top heaviness didn’t mix. Kingpin helped me up the steps and to the door. I knocked on it, calling for Hob. My brother appeared at the screen door. His eyebrows shot up. I remembered he didn't know I was pregnant.
“Eve Angel.” Hob called back.
I went to hug my little brother’s neck. Younger by a couple years, Hob wasn’t little. Towering over me, he was as tall as Kingpin though not as wide. He was a man, beard and all. He was as blonde as me before I put my low lights in. After a pat on the back, Hob held me back from him. He studied me. “Eve Angel, you're having a baby. How did this happen? I just saw you in October. It's only been two months. Is this an immaculate conception or something, sis?”
I clutched my belly. “No, this baby is the product of pure, adulterated sin.” I flashed my eyes at Kingpin. “He's a real bastard, all right.”
Hob seemed confused, but only for a moment.
I said to my brother, “I'm only joking about not being married.”
“You’ve got to be, how far along? Where’s Hallow? This has to be his baby.”
My hands on my stomach, I asked, “What are you saying, Hob?” He didn't think so too, did he?
Hob said, “I wanted to kill him.” He turned to Kingpin. “I don't know why you didn't end him for what he did.”
I said to Hob, “Kingpin didn't, because I asked him not to. Now, are you ready to come to Royal Road? You can't stay here. It's not safe.”
Hob looked at Kingpin. “I've been here for months. It seems safe enough from everybody.”
“Eve’s right. When the Gods ambushed us one of them told me they had a kill order for you and your sister.”
Hob wasn't ready to go. He led us into the farmhouse. “I feel like it's cheating. I ain’t a cheater.” Hob didn’t want to become a member because I bargained for it.
Kingpin said, “You sound just like your sister. We need more honest men. If they know who to be loyal to.”
They wanted to talk about it some more, so I left them to it and went up the stairs. I had some things I wanted to get from Gran’s attic. If they were still there. Lord knows who all the real estate agent had let in. I knew Gran stored my baby bonnet and a blanket that had been crocheted by my mother for me. I felt like a fool for leaving anything here. I’d been so focused on Hallow I’d abandoned my past. I wanted to get everything before the house sold. I’d live in the old house myself if I could afford to buy it from my father. And if I wasn't confined to Royal Road by circumstances I couldn’t control.
I found everything I was looking for and then some. Coming out of the attic, holding a big box, I bumped right into a biker. Kingpin was behind me again like he followed me around like a puppy. No, he was my prison guard.
“Land sakes. If you don't stop scaring me, I'm going to have this baby right here on the floor.”
Chapter 19
Eve
