Page 108 of A Kingpin's Weakness
“Leon, Sweetie, the drugs they controlled me for so many years. I never been to rehab before. I asked God for a sign… and who walks into the house tonight? You, Stormi. My light.”
Jo’s eyes glistened. “The good out of all this bad. The one who’s always gonna protect and provide. If I don’t get clean for nobody else, I’m gonna get clean for you and my grandchild. For our future. To make up for all the years I wasn’t there. All the times I wasn’t strong enough to be a mother.”
She reached out, her hand covering mine like a lifeline. “My Storm was never supposed to get you wet. But just like everything else you faced, you’ve overcome it.”
Her voice softened with determination. “I wanna help you overcome this. I’m gonna be here for you, Jo. Whatever the rehab costs, I got you.”
Jo smiled, a fragile but honest smile. “Let me have you for once, Stormi.”
She looked away for a moment, eyes distant. “When I found out I was pregnant I was sixteen, alone in a cold clinic, judged byeveryone who heard. I’ve always wanted different for you. Let’s share that moment together while I find out if you’re carrying my first grandbaby.”
Tears spilled down my cheeks. I couldn’t stop them. I cried for the little girl who prayed for a mother who wouldn’t be sick anymore. I cried for teenage Jo, who just needed someone to stand by her. I cried for the years my mother had spent trapped and paralyzed by her past.
“I don’t have a test,” I whispered.
Jo grinned through her tears. “I got a test.”
“What? You know what, I don’t even wanna know.”
She laughed softly. “I don’t need them anymore. Won’t be having no child younger than my grandbaby. That’s just too hood for me.”
We both laughed. Leave it to Jo to smile through her pain.
“I love you, Stormi. And I’m sorry.”
She looked at me like she was hoping for a miracle. “I pray one day you’ll forgive me. And maybe we can slowly start to fix us.”
I squeezed her hand, voice steady with all the hope I had left. “I would love that.”
CHAPTER 22
Seth
Stormi had been backin town for almost a month now, and it felt like she was avoiding me at all costs. We’d hung out maybe five times, and most of those were with S3 or my mom around. Hardly any time alone. Every time I tried to pull her closer, she had an excuse lined up… said she was busy with everything going on with Jo.
Jo deciding to go to rehab had shaken her up, and now they were talking about selling the house, buying something new for when Jo got out. I didn’t press her too hard. I knew it was a lot. But still, a part of me wondered if that was the only reason she was keeping her distance.
I missed her. Not just the sex, not just her laugh or the way she curled up in my passenger seat with no shoes on and a Slurpee in her hand. I missed the way she’d go quiet when something was on her mind, or how she’d flip her hair and look at me like I was the only thing in the room that made sense.
She deserved a real break. Something just for her. Summer vacation hadn’t been a vacation at all. So I hit up Rich, and we found ourselves at the mall, carrying bags like two idiots on a mission.
So far, I’d gotten her a massage membership, one she could use both here and back where she stayed. A couple of purses caught my eye, so I grabbed them. Shoes too. I didn’t know if any of it was her vibe, but I was trying. I just wanted her to feel seen. Thought about what it would look like when she smiled opening this stuff, and maybe, just maybe, looked at me like she used to.
“Jewelry. All women love jewelry,” Rich said it like he’d just dropped the most genius idea of the day.
“I guess we can stop by the jeweler after this. But first let’s grab some food.”
We started heading toward the food court when Rich paused, squinting ahead. “Ain’t that RJ right there?” He pointed toward the pretzel stand. Sure enough, RJ and Ari were standing in line. My stomach tightened. I’d been texting and calling Stormi all damn day with zero response. Maybe RJ knew what the hell was going on with her.
“RJ!” I called out.
He turned around slowly. “Seth.”
“Hey Ari,” I said, barely glancing at her before cutting to the point. “You heard from Stormi today?”
RJ looked uncomfortable as hell and tried to grab their pretzel quick, like he was about to dip. “No, I haven’t,” he said.
“He lyin’,” Rich cut in. “Josh do the same shit when he lying. Look at him.”
