Page 98 of Defect
“Solo, can we get McDonald’s?” He tugged on my hand and I groaned.
“Can we get something healthier than McDonald’s? Let’s have a black bean burger.”
“Ew. Hulk said your vegan food tastes like bushes and branches.”
“Well, Hulk needs to stop lying. He still eats my vegan food.”
“Okay then, I’ll try it. Can we have McDonald’s ice cream?”
“Okay, Tyke,” I sighed.
“And French fries?” He batted those thick lashes at me and his eyes twinkled. I’d do just about anything to get weight on him so I agreed to the French fries too.
“Solana,” Vince’s voice made me cringe when I heard him call for me from across the parking lot. Malachi looked up at me. The joy that was present in his brown eyes a moment ago vanished into thin air. My heart sank into my stomach.
“I have to go back? Solo, I don’t want to. I thought you said you were working on me staying with you forever.”
“I am, Tyke. I’m working on it but it takes time.” Vince headed over to us and I sighed heavily knowing I had to let Malachi go.
“You ready to go out to lunch again and earn yourself another few days with the boy?” He slid his index finger down my arm and smiled at me. “You know soon, I’m going to make the price a little steeper if you want to keep taking him. I miss being inside that chocolate pussy.” My hands went straight to Malachi’s ears because Vince was a disgusting human who had no regard for what he exposed his son to.
“What the fuck did you say?” A deep, angry voice sounded from behind me. I looked down and realized I was standing in the shadow of a redwood. Vince looked up and shielded his eyes from the sun. “You already have a death wish. You want to make that wish come true a little sooner?” Ezra stepped in front of me and Malachi. I felt a little tug on my hand and I looked down.
“Hulk is here. We’re okay now.”
“Malachi, you have to go with your dad. Remember we talked about this? He said you could only stay with me for a few days.”
“I don’t want to go with him,” he said defiantly.
“You must be Solana’s new man,” Vince cleared his throat and took a step back.
“I am. And you’re lucky we’re at a public school and Malachi is right here or else I’d put your teeth in the pavement.”
“I don’t want any trouble,” Vince chuckled. “I didn’t know she was spoken for. I’m sorry for the misunderstanding. Look, I don’t know what she told you about me. Things between us didn’t end as badly as she makes it out to be or else she wouldn’t still be close to my son.”
“I know exactly what happened between y’all and I know how you treat your little boy. Don’t try to smooth shit over because you don’t want smoke with someone bigger than you.”
Vince chuckled again and then cleared his throat. This was the first time I got to see him face to face with another man who was challenging him around every corner. He backed down like a little bitch and it tickled the fuck out of me.
“Hey, man, I’m just here to pick up my son.”
“Hulk, please. I don’t want to go with my dad. He’s mean and he’s not going to feed me and…” I could see the pain on Ezra’s face as he looked into Malachi’s eyes. I felt that shit in my chest too.
“I hate that we have to send you back, buddy but right now that’s how it has to be,” he said kneeling down to Malachi’s level. I hugged him and put my lips close to his ear so that only he could hear what I was saying.
“Malachi, you can always text me if you need me. Okay?” He nodded even though tears streaked his cheeks.
“Come on, Malachi. Let’s go.” He flinched at his father’s voice. I let his little hand go and Vince grabbed it way too tight, making him cry out. I had to place my hand on Ezra’s chest before he fucked Vince up.
“Please call me when you want me to come get him. I don’t care if it’s even for an hour, Vince. Don’t get so frustrated that you take it out on him when you can call me. I’ll get him no matter what time it is.” Even though I saw nothing but evil in his eyes and felt nothing but blackness wafting off him, he looked like he’d give it some thought. I knew his main issue was having Malachi around.
“Leave your boyfriend at home.”
“Wherever Solana goes, I go,” Ezra barked.
“We’ll compromise. Ezra, you can sit in the car if I have to go get Malachi. Okay?” I looked at Vince and he curled his top lip then nodded curtly before walking off, dragging Malachi behind him. Every time I heard him sniffle, I felt like shit.
“I gotta get the fuck out of here,” I said, heading to the car. “Did you finally get your mother to leave?”
