Page 104 of Hell Hath No Fury

I’m sorry I failed to protect you from the many hurts in your life. I’m sorry I never found a way to remove you from the hell you inherited at no fault of your own. Mostly, I’m sorry I didn’t get the chance to be the father you deserved.

I will always be grateful for you and your unflinching strength.

With love,

Papa

Shoving the letter at Antonio, I sink slowly to the floor, turning so my back is pressed against the desk drawers. Drawing my knees up, I rest my forehead against them, giving myself a moment to mourn everything I didn’t know I needed to mourn.

My childhood.

My parents.

Myself.

Antonio kneels beside me, the letter in front of him, but I shoo him away, knowing he’ll understand from my nonverbal communication to pass it along.

Soon, Antonio is sitting beside me, his warmth pressed into my side a quiet comfort. I continue to sit in this spot, surrounded by a history I never knew existed, listening to Antoinette’s excellent commentary as she reads the words I just read.

Then she’s seated beside me, mirroring my exact position, so when I turn my head to look at her, she’s already looking at me. She doesn’t say anything for a few long moments, but then she smiles and states, “We put the f-u in fucked up, don’t we?”

I look at her for a second, unsure if I heard her correctly, but then I laugh. “And the f-u-n in dysfunctional.”

Patty squats down in front of me. “I have paperwork and other such boring nonsense for you to tend to over the next few weeks. Just give me a call when you’re ready.”

I nod, sniffling a bit as I respond, “I will. Thank you, Patty.”

He gives me a small, sad smile, pats me on the back of the hand, and then exits quietly. We watch after him for a bit, and then Antoinette says, “I bet he’s related to Mickey in some way.”

Darius and Matt join us, sitting on the floor across from me, legs crisscrossed beneath them. I frown again, looking between them a few times before looking over at Antoinette, who’s giving them the same perplexed look. Turning back to Darius and Matt, I catch Darius’s eye, and he asks, “What?”

Shrugging, I reply, “I’ve just never seen you sit like that before.”

“Pretty sure you’ve seen me sit on the floor, Lils.” He raises his brows.

I shake my head. “Yes, but never like that.”

“She’s right,” Antoinette interrupts. “You’ve never been a cross-legged guy.”

Darius laughs and shakes his head. “I can assure you I am a criss-cross applesauce kind of guy.”

Antoinette gasps, and I laugh at her outraged expression as she exclaims, “Who are you, and what have you done with Darius?”

Darius gives her an unimpressed look, but she just grins, reaching her foot out and nudging him playfully.

Silence surrounds us, each of us lost in our thoughts. I take a moment to look around the room at all my treasure, waiting to be revealed. Antonio hits me with his shoulder, and when I turn to look at him, he asks, “Do you know what you want to do now?”

“With what?”

He glances around the room, then looks back at me. “With all this. With your possible freedom from the demons.”

I snort, getting to my feet abruptly, and then reach my hand down to help Antoinette up. By the time everyone is standing, I’m halfway to the door, and Antoinette calls out, “Was that supposed to be an answer?”

Pausing in the doorway, I turn, smiling at her over my shoulder as I reply, “Fuck those demons.”

Then I turn and walk out.

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