Page 27 of Blood & Ash

I wet my lips. “Yeah. This is why I moved you and Ash to the house.”

“I’m not stupid. I know you have a lot of women.”

“A lot of women.” I snort, arching a brow. “Outside of people helping with Ash, you’re the only woman in my life.”

“There’s no way that’s true. You’re…”

“I’m what?”

“You’re you. Everyone wants to be with you. What really happened to Shelby?”

“If I told you, you’d hate me.”

“I could never hate you, Blood. I’ve always been jealous of Shelby because she had you and whatever she did must have been pretty bad to lose you and to leave her baby behind.”

I cup a palm over the back of my neck. “Another time. How about we go home and throw some plates?”

“What?”

I shrug. “It’s therapeutic.” I put an arm around her and grab my shirt and my cut on our way out.

“You can do better, you know,” she says.

“Shut up. I didn’t ask.”

“I’m just saying. You said I should hold out for someone special. You should too.”

“Right,” I mutter.

“You’re one of the rare ones, Blood. Shelby always said that.”

“Not sure that’s a good thing coming from her.”

“That’s what makes it true. You took me in. You’re raising the baby of the girl who broke your heart. I’m not stupid. I know Ash isn’t yours.”

“Who said she broke my heart? Maybe I broke hers.”

“You may act tough, but I see you.”

“Well, let’s keep it our secret, yeah?”

Chapter Eleven

One year later

“Fuck. Do you remember prom?” I ask Gotti as Ashley and her friends take pictures in front of the clubhouse dressed to the nines.

“Feels like a lifetime ago.” He chuckles.

“Who was your date?”

“Sophia. Damn, she was a sweet little thing.” He smiles. “Let me guess. You went with Shelby.”

I shake my head, but he’s not wrong. “Yeah. Another life.”

“I hear that, man. You need a drink.”

“That I do.”

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