Page 60 of Unconditional

Spinning on his heel, Talon stomped back out of the house, the sound of the van’s engine growling to life outside before it took off down the long driveway.Milo, looking stricken, turned to face me with apologetic eyes.“Misely, I am so sorry.I’ll talk some sense into him, you did not deserve that, and you have to know he didn’t mean a single word of it.”

It didn’t matter if he did or didn’t though.The hammering in my chest was beginning to regulate again as the realization I had lived with almost my whole life settled around me like a well-worn blanket.Even if he was just worked up in the moment, scared because of news he thought he’d learned, Talon had shown his cards.

When it came down to it, anything he might feel for me was not strong enough for him to stay.Just as it had never been for anyone else.I blinked, barely registering my own voice when I answered Milo.“Don’t bother, Pins.He’s made his decision.”

Closing myself in the bathroom, I took a deep breath and forced myself to look at the tests that sat waiting.Hysterical laughter bubbled in my chest, coming out on a choked sob as I stared down at the results.

forty-three

Talon

Everylightinsidethehouse was out when I finally returned.The only sign of life was the porch light, which had likely been courtesy of Milo.I would be crazy to expect any sort of kindness from either of the women in the house after the way I’d acted.I had driven for hours, my scalp sore from tearing my fingers through my hair over and over again.You would think I’d be tired of driving after the week we’d had, but I couldn’t be in that house.

I couldn’t stand there and watch Misely’s heart break right in front of me and know I was the one doing it.Despite my vitriol, I was angrier at myself than her.Of the two of us,Iwas the one who already had an unplanned child.Iwas the one actively in a boatload of bullshit because I hadn’t been able to keep said child away from the prying eyes of my uncle.Ishould have been smart enough to wrap it up.

It was easier to blame her though.To make her hate me.To make it easier for her to let me go.Kyle didn’t know she existed anymore.As far as Kyle was concerned, Misely had stopped being a ‘person-of-interest’ after I’d combed through her apartment last year.I couldn’t keep Leo safe, but I’d damn well try harder with Misely.

Blowing out a breath, I made my way quietly through the house in the dark, careful not to let my boots hit the floorboards too hard.I wasn’t sure what would be waiting for me once I entered the guest room, but there was a guilty hope that Misely would be asleep and any uncomfortable conversations could be reserved for the morning.

“You’ve finally decided to grace us with your presence.”Milo’s voice, hoarse from fatigue as it spoke through the pitch black of the room, made me jump three feet in the air.

“Jesus fucking Christ,” I cursed, pressing my palm to my chest.“What the fuck are you doing?”

His chuckle was low and lacked humor.“Did I spook you?”A light switch clicked and the table lamp beside him illuminated the small room.“Good.It’s the least you deserve after your little performance earlier.”

Milo’s expression was one of pure, unfiltered disappointment that I felt to my toes.If I’d thought he had been angry the night before, it was nothing compared to how he glared at me now.

“Sit.Down.”His command was no nonsense, but on principle I fought the urge to ignore it.I was the older brother, damnit.I was the one who barked orders.Yet I sat, running my hand through my hair yet again, gritting my teeth at my tender scalp.

Milo’s glare cut through me, dark circles heavy beneath his hazel eyes.I wondered absently how long he had been sitting there waiting for me.Long moments passed where we sat in the dim silence, staring at each other with a slew of unspoken words between us.I knew what he was going to say but the combination of my own self-deprecation and worry for the woman in the other room had me on edge.

“Are you just gonna sit there all night and fucking stare at me or are you going to say what you got on your mind?Some of us are tired.”

Milo’s jaw ticked, clearly irritable in his own right.“You’re so fucking selfish.Always worried about number one, right?”

Crossing my arms, I leaned back in the armchair but said nothing.

He shook his head with disbelief.When he spoke again, he sounded exasperated.“What the fuck was that?”

“What was what?”I bit down on the side of my cheek hard enough to taste copper.

His eyes rolled.“You know what.You didn’t even let her get a word in.”

I barked out a low laugh.“So she could say what?How everything was going to be okay?So she could downplay it and act like I’m not already caught up in a total fucking shit storm?”

“A shit storm of your own making, Talon.”

I felt every muscle in my body tighten.“Don’t you think I know that?Do you think that’s a great thing to bringanotherfucking kid into?”

“No, but if you would’ve shut the fuck up long enough for her to speak, you would’ve known that she hadn't even had time to see the results yet.”

An instant cold sweat beaded along the back of my neck.“What?”

A humorless twitch lifted one side of Milo’s mouth.“She’d just taken the test when we came in.So when you asked her if she was pregnant, she didn’t know yet.”

“She didn’t kno—”

“Nope.And instead of doing the right thing and shutting the fuck up, you shoved your head right up your own ass instead.”

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