Page 116 of Sacrifice
“It’ll be our secret,” I say softly.
“You know what does make me happy?”
“What’s that?”
“Going home. I like having us in one spot. I like it when he comes in my room and thinks I’m asleep and kisses my forehead. He always whispers a little prayer and then tells me to fight. It makes me feel happy.”
My willpower is nothing against her words. The tears begin and all I can do is make sure they don’t come out in full-blown sobs.
“He says I’m a Gentry and Gentrys are fighters. We can beat anything. He makes me feel strong. I like that because I don’t feel very strong.”
I turn onto Crew’s street, thankful we’re so close. My vision is completely blurry and my heart is breaking.
“I’m really sick, aren’t I?” she asks.
“You’re sick, but you’re going to get better. Remember the doctors telling us that you have to feel yucky before you can feel better again?”
I pull into the driveway and shut off the engine. I take a deep breath before unlatching my seatbelt and twisting around to see her.
“I hope so,” she says. “But sometimes I think maybe I’m just going to see my other daddy.”
“Ever, no . . .” I feel my face twist as I gasp for breath. “Don’t say that.”
She’s completely calm. Her little rosebud lips quip up in the corners. “If I do, it’s okay, Mommy. I think Daddy misses me.”
“Everleigh Nicole, stop that. You stop this right now.” I jump out of the car and throw her door open. I start fiddling with her seatbelt, trying to get her out as fast as possible. I can’t take it. I need to hold her. I need to reassure her.
“Mommy,” she says. Her tone halts me. My eyes rise to meet hers. “Everything is going to be okay. I know it.”
FORTY-EIGHT
CREW
“He said fucking what?” I roar, stalking across the gym towards Will. “Repeat that.”
“Crew—”
“Read it again.” I look at Will. “Now.”
“‘He’s really put me in a spot, you know? Davidson says, wrapping a towel around his neck,’” Will reads from the article on his phone. “‘But at the end of the day, this is a business transaction for both of us. Everyone gets into this business for their own reasons. His is just sadder than mine, I guess. But yeah, knowing his niece won’t have the funds to get her treatment . . . that blows. But it’s really not my problem and it isn’t going to change my game plan. I’m going to end him fast and move on. I hope he has a Plan B because all this fight’s gonna do is get him another bed in the hospital.’”
“I’m going to kill him.”
“You’re going to focus on the fucking fight and not what that punk says,” Sal says firmly. “He’s saying this shit to get in your head because he knows someone will fuck up and read this shit to you.”
“I think this is good motivation,” Will says.
“I’m this close to kicking you the fuck out of this gym,” Sal tells him.
“I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that.” Will grimaces.
Sal blows out a breath and heads to his office. “We have days.Daysleft ’til this fight,” he yells over his shoulder. “Don’t lose your head now, Gentry.”
I push open the doors and head into the late afternoon sun. I know Sal’s right but it’s hard to control everything at this point. Davidson running off at the mouth, thinking he has any right at all to even discuss Everleigh.
Fuck that motherfucker.
“I think Sal’s wrong. I think you need to hear this bullshit,” Will says, stopping by his car.
