Page 48 of Pope's Penance

If Birdie needs her pound of flesh to purge the venomous toxin from her blood, I’ll deliver Frankie’s barely breathing carcass to her motherfucking feet.

Once Munch takes off, Valkyrie and I step inside.Vortex is sitting on the couch with Legend, playing some shooter game.Legend’s brows are drawn together, and he has his little lip tucked between his teeth as he concentrates on the screen.When I glance at the TV and catch the scores, I peer at Vortex with lifted brows.

“Is my six-year-old kicking your ass, brother?”

“I’m almost seven, dad,” Legend mutters, keeping his eyes on his target.

My throat tightens at the reminder of how much time I’ve lost with them.

Fuck, is that ever going to get easier to accept?

Reaching out, I scrub my hand over his head.Most kids would jerk away with a scowl or some shit, but my boy leans into my touch and a smile creases his face.

“I know, little warrior.Vortex, when you finish this round, you can head on out.I appreciate you sitting with my family while I checked on the businesses.”

Legend lets out a whoop as he finally kills off Vortex’s character in the game.

Vortex holds his hand out for a high-five.“Good job, little dude.Rematch soon?”

“You betcha.A man has to stay on top of his game.”

I don’t bother hiding my smile, proud as fuck of my boy.

“The kid is definitely yours,” Vortex says with a laugh.

“Damn straight.Thanks again, brother.”

“Anytime.”

Valkyrie goes in search of her sister while I check in with Legend.

“How you doing, kid?”

Legend shrugs, his face losing its joy.“You promised Mama would be okay.”

“I know I did.Haven’t broken it, son.We have to accept that sometimes people just have some bad days, okay?Your mom is having a hard time with Frankie calling.I’m giving her space, but not much longer.She needs us as much as we need her.Where is she?”

He sighs.“She’s in the kitchen.Again.”

Valkyrie comes storming from the kitchen area with clenched fists.Anger lights each step she takes toward me, but it’s the pain in her eyes that captures me.It’s rare that Kyrie lets anyone see her hurt.

“Do something,” she pleads, her voice cracking.“She’s back to being fuckingEleanora.”

“She still in the kitchen?”

Valkyrie shakes her head.“She went into her bedroom.”She grimaces.“I wasn’t exactly nice with my words, but god, Pope, seeing her like that again after watching her slowly heal is killing me.”

“Legend, go grab your sister and go outside with your aunt.I’m going to check on your mom.”I wait for him to leave the room before addressing Valkyrie again in a grim voice.“Keep the kids out as long as you can because I have a feeling we’re going to have one hell of a breakthrough tonight.I’m going to push her.It’s going to make me an asshole, but she needs to break and as long as she’s worried about them, she won’t.”

“Why don’t I just take them with me to Manic’s?They can play with Ro.”

“She won’t be comfortable with them being out of her sight, but you know what?They’re my kids too and they’ll be with you.I won’t let her hide behind them tonight.Go grab them an overnight bag while I give them love.”

Valkyrie takes off upstairs and I head outside to where the twins are.They’re sitting on the porch swing talking quietly to each other.When they see me coming toward them, they separate enough for me to slide between them.I curl my arms over their shoulders and tuck them into my chest.My foot sets the swing into motion as I gaze out over the property, just enjoying these few quiet minutes with my little humans.

It’s still unreal sometimes that I’m a fucking dad.

“You all are going with your aunt for the night.”Legend’s body tightens against my side, but I give him a reassuring squeeze.“I’m going to continue being honest with you.Your mama needs to break, kid.She won’t do that with you all around.”

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