Page 50 of Slayin Villain
“And so is another girl, Ember.”
He didn’t say anything for a long second.Then, “Shit.”
“Yeah.”
“You know who the father is?”
I shook my head.“Rachel’s is mine.No doubt.Ember’s…” I exhaled through my teeth.“Could be Rome’s.”
“Prospect, right?”
My brother had the memory of a fox.I nodded.“The one she used to fuck before she started using me to make him jealous.”
Rocky snorted.“And now you caught feelings.”
“I don’t know what the fuck I feel.”
“You feel like dying, that’s why you’re here.Why you were called home.”
I looked up at him.“I knocked up another man’s daughter.Not just a man, if you know what I mean.That man?He’s got a vendetta the size of hell, and he doesn’t even know she lost the first baby.”
“The first?”
“And the second.”
Rocky’s expression darkened.“That’s what this is about?”
I nodded.“It was years ago.She came to me.We were young, stupid.She didn’t tell me about the baby until it was gone.And when her old man found out…”
“You ran.”
“Fast.He’s been hunting for me ever since.Doesn’t know it was me, but if he finds out…” I trailed off, throat tight.“That’s why I left you.Why I left Knoxville.Why I went nomad.To keep y’all safe.”
“You could’ve told me.”
“I couldn’t bring that heat to Knoxville.And now with Knox, Eliza and the kids.Not with you finally finding peace with Birdie.”
Rocky leaned forward.“Villain, you think I haven’t made my share of enemies?”
“This one’s different.He don’t want a shootout.He wants slow revenge.The kind that makes you bleed from the inside out.”
I clenched my fists.
“And now, I got two women.Both carrying maybe-bastards.And I don’t know who the hell I am anymore.”
Rocky stared at me for a long time, then said, “You’re a brother who’s drowning.But you don’t have to do it alone.”
I looked down.
“You came all this way to confess?”he asked.
“No.I came to remember who the fuck I used to be.”
Rocky stood, walked around the desk, and clapped a hand on my shoulder.“Then ride back and stop running.Make your choice.Face your mess.Take a mate.”
I nodded, jaw tight.“That’s the plan.”
“Good.”He smirked.“Because if you keep knocking women up like this, we’re gonna need a new clubhouse daycare.”
