Page 58 of Ruthless Son

She flung her hands in the air. “I know ok, I want to go home. I’m not ready for this… this stuff.” Shoving her phone in her bag, she threw herself out of the chair, stalking toward a vending machine and staring into the glass forlornly, her reflection in the glass was of complete sorrow.

She hid behind her hair as if it was a shield, armor against the realities of the world. Even now, she ran away from the life she had started to build here—the flower shop, her friends. Life had thrown her a curve ball lately, with Margot’s murder and the very real problem with the Sinners and wherever the hell Mickey had got to. But now, with the deal going through with the Ukrainians, they were far safer than they’d ever been. The Street Kings had the backing of a man with a whole host of resources, that meant Millie could have gone back to the shop, re-opened and ran it. She knew the business inside out and it’s something she loved.

But she chose to run away. Go home to her parents who would provide her with anything she asked, she never had to lift a finger.

The tinney voice over the speaker called our flight, and I grabbed my bag, hoisting it over my shoulder, ready to get this over with.

With one last look at the family, busy strapping their baby into a harness on Dad’s chest, I walked away, refusing to look again at the life that I couldn’t have.

Rex

Whiskey burned my throat, scalding my insides. I grimaced at the taste as it hit my gut, swirling around with the rest of the bottle I’d downed.

She really left.

Link dropped Mia off this morning, and I’d watched from the back window of the funeral home as he loaded their cases in the trunk. The funeral home had been my bed for the night. I’d dozed off in the office chair, the morgue in the next room. Fitting, I slept with the dead last night considering I’m pretty sure my heart had stopped beating the minute she had told me she was leaving.

“What are you drinking?” Sly dropped beside me on the couch, the leather doing its best to prop me up. He grabbed the glass, sniffing its contents. “You don’t drink alcohol, Rex.”

“I know I don’t, and now I know why. This shit tastes disgusting.” The glass fell from my hand, hitting the table with a thud. “Figured I’d give it a try, considering getting shit-faced is the move you’re supposed to make when your woman leaves you.”

Sly snorted. “Really? You need to stay sober, Brother. I don’t think she’d appreciate coming back to a drunken slob.” He picked up the glass and the almost–full bottle. “You didn’t drink much of it, you fucking light-weight.”

“I’m not drunk, and I ain’t drinking that shit, tastes like battery acid,” I spat.

He chuckled as he poured himself a glass. “You’re just a pussy, if you drank often, it wouldn’t be a problem.”

“I’ll stick to protein shakes.” I grabbed the bottle of water, rinsing the taste from my mouth.

He threw the contents back in one hit, clapping his lips together, before slamming the glass down. “Mmmm, that’s the good stuff.” His arm was still in a sling, he’d been doing exercises on it every day since he was allowed. He hadn’t been on his bike since, and I know it killed him every time we geared up and headed out. But prez had put him on lockdown until he was back to full mobility, you couldn’t control your bike with one arm. The last thing we all wanted was to scrape his remains up from the asphalt.

“Didn't see you at the big send off.” His side-eye was perceptive, the fucker knew damn well why I wasn’t here this morning.

“She made her choice.” I growled a warning for him to drop the subject that was still raw.

He leaned forward, sticking his ugly mug in my face. “And how long is it gonna be before you head over there and get her?”

Fucker knew me so well. “I’ll give her a month.”

Sly’s laugh boomed as he threw his head back. “Brother, I give you a week before you’re hightailing it outta here.”

“He doesn’t need a week.”

Startled, I shot to my feet, I must have had more whiskey than I thought because I could swear Mia stood by the door, her hands clasped in front of her.

Sly gaped at her, before a smug smirk tilted his lips. “See you tomorrow, Brother.” I didn’t reply, too busy staring at the apparition in front of me.

I saw her leave here this morning with her bags packed. Now, she stood in front of me, the setting sun at her back.

“Aren’t you going to say anything?” I could tell she was nervous, her knuckles whitened as she squeezed her hands together almost prayer-like.

“You didn’t get on the plane.” I circled the couch so there was nothing between us, and also I needed to see all of her to make sure I wasn’t imagining things.

Her head shook side to side, and she pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, biting down on the soft flesh. “I changed my mind.”

Mia’s whisper was like thunder in my ears. She stood there, waiting for me to say something, and all I could ask was why? Why did she stay? Mia was the first and only woman I had given everything to, and if she came back, I couldn’t risk that she wouldn’t change her mind again. How the fuck was I supposed to love her and then try and learn to live without her. It had been just a few fucking hours and I was a miserable bastard already. “Why did you come back?”

I stepped closer, watching, waiting for her to tell me what I wanted… needed to hear.

---