Page 31 of Choices

Brushing my hands through my hair, my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.

“Is that true? Is that why you’ve been asking after her?”

My head buzzes, the questions trying to fight through the alcohol haze and craziness of this situation. Claire needs me to claim this baby. It will probably be the only thing that stops the pres from putting a bullet in her brain. Kitty will be so fucking mad—mad enough to finally move on from me. Diamond’s words echo around my head.

“I’ve seen it so many times with club girls, but Kitty isn’t like them—don’t make her one. I can’t stand watching that girl’s heart break waiting on you to claim her.”

“It was a one-time thing, I was drunk.” The words leave my mouth as air, turning into binding cement once they land in my pres’s ears.

His large hand wraps around my throat, squeezing slightly, his angry face baring down on me. “If it were anyone else…” He shoves away from me and paces the room.

“It was one time, Jericho.”

“Shut the fuck up and don’t come near me if you value your life.”

Sniffling, Claire cuts her eyes to me, asking without saying the words to keep up the lie.

“I don’t want to fucking look at either of you,” Pres growls, picking up a chair and tossing it at her feet.

“I’ll go home,” she offers, gently sobbing.

“No.” He jabs a finger at her. “You’ll stay with your baby daddy until I tell you you can leave.”

“Wait—in my room?” She can’t stay in my room. Kit’s scent is still on my bedsheets. I need it there.

“You got a problem with that, asshole?”

“No.” I get to my feet, taking Claire by the arm. “I’m sorry, Pres.”

When we enter the hall, my thoughts whirl and collide, an anxious twinge spreading across my chest.

“He’s going to kill me, isn’t he?” Claire clings to me like I’m a life raft and she’s on the Titanic.

“No, not now.”

“Oh god, you saved my life again,” she chokes out, wrapping her arm around my neck, her body quivering against me.

I saved her life and ruined my own.

But maybe I’ve given Kitty hers back.

She’s going to hate me for real now.

CHAPTER 12

FAVORS

CUTTER

“Is it okay if I lie down for a bit? I don’t feel good.”

Staring at my bed, a hundred different images of Kitty burst to life in vivid color. I don’t want Claire’s scent eclipsing Kitty’s. It’ll be all I have left of her after she hears the news.

Pulling the comforter free, I hand it to her while I rip the sheet off and bundle it in my arms. “Now you can.”

She doesn’t question my crazy ass actions, just lays the blanket on the mattress and climbs onto my bed.

Swiping up the half bottle of whisky I’d left earlier, I head to the bathroom, slamming the door closed, rattling the mirror hanging above the sink.

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