Page 24 of Ride

I smiled at hearing his voice. “Hi baby, where are you?” I tried to get Kayne to give me any clue.

There was rustling on the line, and then the gravelly voice of my ex. “He’s with his father, the same place you should be.”

“Virgil, we both know you barely had any interest in my son when he was born.” I ran out of the building and jumped in my car.

“My son is going to be raised in a two-parent home.”

I wiped the corners of my eyes with the back of my hand. “How when we’re divorced?”

“We’ll get remarried.”

“Where are you?” The best way to get him to agree was to stay calm.

Virgil loved to torment me. “Meet me at your parents’ house.”

I jerked back, in shock that he’d go to my parents’ home with my child. “What games are you playing?”

“Come and find out.” The dial tone came through and I blew my horn racing through traffic.

* * *

As soon as I crossed the highway, I made it to my parents’ home in less than twenty minutes. I left the car running and hopped out to see a limo parked out front, along with my mother’s car in the driveaway. His security detail stood outside ignoring me.

“Kayne!” I shouted as I ran through the front door and paused at my mother and father sitting with Virgil.

“There she is,” Virgil said.

My mind blocked out everything other than getting Kayne back. “Where’s Kayne?”

“He’s fine. Take a seat.”

I walked off and headed upstairs to search for Kayne. “Virgil, we’re not doing this here.” The thought of my parents helping Virgil crossed my mind.

“He’s not leaving with you, Amena.” Virgil jumped up from the loveseat and followed me.

“Amena, we’re on your side, honey. Virgil says you blindsided him with the divorce,” my dad said as he stood from the couch.

“He’s lying and trying to manipulate you. Virgil knows that his controlling attitude and possessiveness was too much, and I wanted out. On top of him using us as props.”

Honestly, deep down, I knew it had been my choice to stay with him after the first few years of our marriage—even after I saw the red flags of him working nonstop and missing meals, wanting me to put on a fake smile for people on the campaign trail, shaking hands with strangers and making it seem like he was the best man in the world, the one who would bring Atlanta into the future.

Every moment of our life together played in my head from what I ate to only being with his friends and family. He raked a hand down his beard, his brows pinched together, clearly hating that I was putting our business in the public eye. Virgil growled and stalked forward. I moved back. “The only thing I have done is try to give you a better life. You’re the one who wanted something different. You were tired of your parents running your life.”

“Virgil, watch how you talk to my daughter in my house,” Dad barked, stepping in front of me and blocking Virgil.

“Ma, Pops! Where are you at?” Brett coming over right at this moment was not going to end well.

“Let’s go, Amena,” Virgil commanded, then turned to walk back down the stairs and I followed, hearing Kayne laughing. I stopped at the sight of Laikin, Brett and Kayne, playing around. A flash of anger streaked across the face of Virgil as his fists clenched. The years of terror were still locked deep inside me. Virgil made it seem like his love had brought me into a bigger world, but I couldn’t have a life outside of it, and he never supported my dreams.

“Kayne, say goodbye to your mother,” Virgil said and extended a hand for him to take. Kayne looked from his father to Laikin.

I closed my eyes, stomach clenched at the pause in his reaction.

Kayne had no clue of what was happening. If looks could kill, the antique pieces on my parents’ wall would be shattered by Virgil’s head if my brother had a say. “Laikin is my friend; we’re playing video games.”

Virgil went to grab Kayne and Laikin blocked him.

“That’s not how it’s going down.” Laikin stood in front of Kayne, blocking him from his father.

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