Page 151 of Treason's Temptation
“Stop! You really think you’re that good of an actor? I know you’re not fine. You haven’t been in a long ass time, but you need me to believe it. So I did because it’s the only thing I can do for you when you do so much for me, but fuckin’ stop. For once.”
Treason signaled Mr. MPPD to give us a moment. He hesitated, then Treason gave him that look. The one that made me comply too.
“Five minutes. That’s all I can spare,” he said before stepping outside.
“What do you want me to say? That I’m scared shitless. That I didn’t tell you about the baby because I don’t think I’m keeping it. I’ve already failed my child, and I don’t want it growing up feeling about how we feel about Sloane. How I was finally genuinely happy, then everything got fucked up, and now I don’t know who to trust. Oh, and I’m angry, so fuckin angry.”
“I’m not a baby, Vie. You don’t have to keep things from me,” Rayven reasoned, now just as teary-eyed as I, only mine were much more stubborn. They didn’t fall, but Rayven’s did because she was a lot braver than she gave herself credit for.
“I know that, Rayven.”
“Do you?”
“Please. I can’t do this right now,” I begged, lowering my head.
“I don’t want to upset you, but you have people. I know you’re used to doing this on your own, but you don’t have to anymore,” Rayven coached.
Yeah, I had people. Ones that brought my fuckin’ sister to see me like this. Thankfully, the door opened, so I didn’t have to respond to Rayven’s declaration. Usually, I was sad wheneverour time together ended, but today I was thankful that Mr. MPPD interrupted. She hugged me tight and kissed my cheek before leaving the room.
“Who was that?”
“Somebody who owed me.” His gaze never wavered. “Nobody fucked with you, did they?”
My breath stuttered, shaking my head in between bites.
“Why would you bring her here?”
A frown locked between his eyes, “What was I supposed to tell her? She’s scared and needed to see you.”
“Why is she here anyway? She needs to be at school.”
“Because you were fuckin’ stressed and needed something I couldn’t give you. I arranged for her to come visit for you,” he snapped.
“Keep Rayven far away from Sloane. I mean it, Treason.”
“I know that, Blue.”
Those stubborn tears finally rolled down my face, but I refused to wail. Hell, I needed to, but it wouldn’t change anything.
“Give it to me. I can take it.”
Treason sat on the edge of the table, watching me. Moments passed before I worked up the courage to share my fear.
“I can’t do this. I can’t spend the rest of my life in here, and I won’t have my baby in jail?! That would make me worse than her.”
“That’s not happening. Why the fuck would you say that?”
“Look where I am, Treason!” My voice was laced with so much frustration and anger that I forgot we weren’t in the privacy of our home. My cadence lowered, but the bitterness in my words was still there, giving him a piece of his own advice. “Actions have consequences. Even yours, so I don’t have the luxury of not thinking about it. I have to protect myself and this innocent life until I decide what to do with it, and I can’t evenfuckin’ do that in peace! It’s on me right now. Me all by my fuckin self! Not us!”
“You think I have this shit so much easier? Like, I’m at home fucking bitches and throwing parties? I can’t eat. I can’t sleep because you’re here and I’m there. Home isn’t even home without you! I’m going crazy without you! You’re in here with my baby, and I can’t fix this shit!”
“I want a lawyer.”
“You have a lawyer, Blue,” he sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“A real one.”
His forehead wrinkled, “What the fuck do I look like?”
