Page 7 of Rue

“I… I’m four months along.”

“That all? Yeah… I fuckin’ remember your loud little mouth. That’s mine, ain’t it? I remember you beggin’, saying you was a virgin. You was, too, that shit was fuckin’ tight. So that’s mine, huh?”

“Yeah,” she whispered, tears welling up again.

“Yeah,” he nodded. “So what you think I should do ‘bout you tryna hide that shit from me? My own fuckin’ kid?”

“I didn’t! I wasn’t! I… I didn’t even know at first, and… I don't know who you are! How would I tell you? You… were just some guy who got mad!”

“Didn’t occur to you to ask any one ‘a them there that night about me?”

“You… I have nightmares about you. Every night. I can’t sleep! I wasn’t… I wasn’t trying to keep it a secret, but I wasn’t about to hunt you down, either! I thought… I don't know, that you wouldn’t care? It was my problem now.”

He snorted, cocking his head and looking me over again. “So it is. Mig, get her some food and water in here. If that’s my kid in there... Get her a pillow, too. Blanket. Place to piss, all ‘a that shit.”

“Please! Please, sir? I can’t stay here! My mom and gramma are both sick and…”

“I told you to fuckin’ stay quiet,” HE scowled. “I don't give a shit about your old life. Right now, you’re just the bitch who’s housing my kid. You get your old life back once I get my kid outta you.”

Sailor looked up at him incredulously. “It’s MY child too, and…”

Stepping closer, he leaned in and backhanded her, putting her on her side on the mattress as the room spun.

“Oh god,” she whimpered, her hand moving jerkily to her face.

“Watch how you fuckin’ speak to me, bitch. You ain’t shit,” HE told her, then slammed the door shut and locked it.

Sailor rolled to her back, trying to orient herself, but she passed out instead.

She woke to the other man shoving her shoulder and handing her a microwave meal and a water bottle.

Grimacing, she tested her jaw and managed to sit up to take them, though she wasn’t hungry.

“Sit up and get ready, he’s got someone coming in,” the man told her gruffly.

“He… who is he?”

“Geo? He’s in charge is who he is, and that’s all you need toknow.”

“Who are you?”

“You can call me Mig.”

“Is he going to kill me?”

“Only if you piss him off.”

“My mom, she’s sick. Really sick! She won’t live much longer, and I need to…”

“Not my fucking problem. Not his either, don't bring it up again, or he’ll take care of it in a way you ain’t hoping for. Hurry up and eat and drink all of that. They’ll be here soon.”

“Who?”

“Boss is bringing in a doctor, the kind that delivers babies.”

“An OB?”

“He has questions.”

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