Page 49 of Unconditional

Milo scoffed, the sound rough.“Safer than the same family you shoved down my throat the moment we were thrown to Kyle?”

“Yes.”

“Yeah, and what does he think of his father?Does he know his daddy’s the muscle for a drug dealer?About the things you’ve done?What about his mother?Have you told her that you have this entire secret life?”

I watched Talon’s grip tighten on the armrests of the chair, my own nerves tensing for his answer.He was getting upset and I hated Milo for it.Hated that he wouldn’t listen long enough for Talon to explain.Hated that Talon was in this situation to begin with, that any of them were.

“It’s not like that,” was all Talon said, going silent yet again.I tried to send him encouragement with my eyes, begging him to go on.Before he could get the hint, Milo was lashing out again.

“Care to elaborate?Or are you just going to keep hiding from accountability?”

There was nothing I could do to stop Talon’s outburst or the way he rose from his chair with fists balled at his sides, fury fuming through his nostrils.

“I’m not hiding from jack shit.I know I fucked up.I got a girl pregnant during a one-night stand, and let go of any ties I had to my child to fucking protect him.I told his mother to stay as far away from me as she could, but make no doubt I ensured their financially security for our son.

“I gave up my right to be that boy’s father to protect him from Kyle, or any of the many enemies you know I’ve made along the way because of him.The only reason I am even here is because I didn’t cover my trail well enough.My efforts to keep him hidden made no difference—Kyle still found him.And now he’s using him to force me into bringing you back.

“The price of you staying here, Milo, is the life of an innocent eight-year-old boy.Are you sure you’ve got it in you to pay that price?”

My stomach dropped but before I could say anything, Birdie stood up, wringing her hands together.

“O-kay,” she said in that placating way of hers that told me her anxiety had peaked and she needed to end the conflict in the room.I’d heard it so many times, I knew it on instinct.She looked to Milo desperately, the color drained from her cheeks.“I think that’s enough for one night, don’t you?Why don’t we table this for now and we’ll talk more after breakfast?Misely, I’ve made up the spare room for you.Talon…” She hesitated, then gestured to the sofa.“I can find some extra blankets for you to take the couch.”

Talon and Milo were still glaring at each other with heavily rising chests, the strain in the room a living thing.Several apprehensive moments passed before Talon loosed a breath and cocked an eyebrow in my direction.“I’ll be staying with Misely.But I appreciate the hospitality.”

Birdie’s mouth gaped open like a fish, giving me an incredulous look.I shrugged, my cheeks flushing.When I didn’t object, her hands wrung together some more.“Oh, uhm, all right.There’s not a lot of room in there but—”

“We’ve shared some pretty tight spaces, I think we can manage.”

“Talon,” I hissed, shooting him a look.I wanted him to shut up.It was hard enough knowing my best friend already believed I betrayed her; I wasn’t ready for her to realize just how far that betrayal went.

But it was too late; Milo’s eyes were bright and narrowed, one brow ticking up when I caught his glare.I dropped my gaze to the floor, shame stooping my shoulders.Talon had ensured there would be no hiding the relationship we’d developed over the last week.And I couldn’t decide how I felt about that.

After Birdie showed us to the guest room she’d done up, Talon made a quick exit to retrieve our bags from the van.Within seconds, my former roommate was descending on me.

“You can’t go on a single pity date with a normal guy like Brantley, but you can fuck Milo’s abusive asshole brother the first opportunity that you get?Did you forget all the shit he did?And that’s just to Milo, let’s not forget what he does for Kyle.The people he has hurt.”

It was like a slap to the face.And I deserved it.

“It wasn’t like that, Bird.You have to believe me.”

“How long has this been going on?Has it been happening since Wisconsin?”

The assumption that I could lie to her for so long was like a physical blow.I blinked, looking up from where I’d been staring at a groove in the ancient hardwood floors.

“No!”I exclaimed, hardening my tone.“And the fact that you would think that after everything, after all these years of our friendship, is insulting.”

“No more insulting than you begging me to tell you where we are, pleading that you needed me…” Her words trailed off briefly, a slight shake in them.“You took advantage of our friendship and my trust and stabbed me in the back.”

“You know I never would have—”

“No!”she shouted now.“That's the thing!Idon’tknow.You have always been selfish, Misely.You’ve admitted that yourself.How the hell am I supposed to take you at your word after this?”

“That isenough.You don’t get to talk to her like that.”Talon’s imposing figure was outlined in the tiny hallway behind Birdie, his expression one of barely restrained fury.

“Talon, you don’t have to—” I raised my hand in a silent plea for him to stop but his angry voice carried over mine.

“Misely brought me here because I told her that if she didn’t, Kyle would go after her family.She didn’t have a choice.”

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