Page 46 of Devil to Pay: Cutter

“She’s not with me.”

“But she called in today.”

“I took off to clear my head when she told me she’s pregnant. I got drunk and didn’t make it home last night.”

“Youleft her alone?”

“Listen, you can bust my balls later. Did she say she was taking anyone with her?”

“No. I assumedyou’dbe man enough to support her through this.”

The bitch aimed that strike perfectly and it hurts. “I’ve got to find her.”

I hang up on Dusty and call Aja’s phone again. When she doesn’t answer again, I check out of the hotel and hit the interstate. It’s a ten-hour ride from here. I’m an asshole leaving her like that. Making her have to deal with this alone. That wasn’t my intention, but what do they say about intentions? The road to hell is paved with them? If that’s the case then I’m halfway there with this fuck up. My brain’s still foggy and aches like a son of a bitch. I need ibuprofen and to be snuggled up in my warm, soft bed…with Aja.

When my gas tank gets low, I pull off at a truck stop and try to reach her again while I’m filling up. She finally answers. “Cut?”

“Finally. I’ve been worried sick about you.”

“I don’t know why. You told me to call the place. I called it.”

“You don’t knowwhy?You—did you take someone with you?”

“Who would I have taken with me? I’ve been looking after myself my whole life. Why should it be any different now?”

Once the tank is full, I hang up the pump to get going again. “Because you have me now.”

“You? That’s a joke. The man who took off at the first hurdle? I didn’t even get the chance to think about ifIwanted a kid or not.”

“You want the kid?”

I hear the pain in her words. “I don’t know. But you don’t want it and I don’t want to do this alone. We both know I’d probably make a shit mother anyway. Best not to inflict that on a kid, right?”

“Stop. Don’t say that shit. You’re a good person.”

“No. My life doesn’t happen to good people.” Her voice is thick.

“Baby, are you crying?”

She hangs up on me.

Goddammit.How did I mess this up so badly?

Before hitting the road, I make a quick call to Rough. “Brother,” he answers. “Where the fuck are you?”

I’m heading up I75 right now. I’m almost to Kentucky. Aja’s on her way to Michigan.”

“No shit. Found that out from Dusty a couple of hours ago. So I ask why the fuck would Aja take off to Michigan? You knocked your woman up, then took off like a goddamn pussy. Swear to God, I want to ram my fist through your face right now.”

“Not helping.”

“Not trying to. You’re not fifteen, brother. You’re almost fucking thirty. I don’t give a shit if you want a kid or not, you don’t leave your woman swinging. That’s fucked-up.”

“I know. It surprised me and I didn’t handle the news well.”

“Again, no shit. She needed you and you weren’t there. I’m so fucking pissed at you right now.”

“Rough.”

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