Page 40 of Paradox
He nods but motions for me to take it anyway. I oblige, removing the paper inside and reading the results.
“Well, it’s her kid, but probability of paternity zero percent.” A part of me heaves a sigh of relief. “What are you going to do with her?”
“I don’t know.” He perches on the edge of the bed. “The kid is a problem.”
“I know.” I look over to the crib in the corner, thinking of Chaos and Hailey growing up without me. It’s not something I’d wish on any child. “I think you should just let her go.”
“What?” He turns to me, disbelief creasing his brows. “After putting you and my kids in danger? Fuck that.”
“Not without a little scare, but… I can’t be responsible for taking a mother from her child. I won’t have that on my conscience.”
“And Lonnie?”
“Lonnie and I will never be real sisters. I accepted that a long time ago. She wasn’t involved in Deena’s scheme, and even though I can never forgive her for what she did to me, she has Daddy’s blood running through her veins.”
“So you want to let her go, too? Have you forgotten the bruises? I certainly haven’t forgotten finding you struggling against that fucker with his hand down your pants.”
“I haven’t. It’s just… I’ve had more time with this than you. I’ve come to terms with it all.”
“I’m not going to come to terms with any of it, Raven. She hurt you. Why didn’t you tell me it was her?” He closes his eyes, slowly shaking his head. “You saw me accuse Chris. What if I’d done something to him?”
I swallow hard. “You mean…?”
“Yes, Raven.” He meets my eyes, holding my stare so I know he’s serious.
“But I was nothing to you then.”
“I may not have known it then, but since the day I met you, you were everything to me, doll.”
“Gage….”
He takes my hand, raising it to his lips and kissing the back. I’ve always known he has this sweet and sensitive side, but it never ceases to amaze me. This is the side of him I need to appeal to if I want him to see things my way.
“You could banish her.”
“Yeah.” He scoffs. “Look how well that worked with Britney.”
“If I tell her not to come back, she won’t. Besides, I think she’s still in love with you. It hurts her to see us together, and that’s why she’s stayed away this long. And you… you said you want to leave that life behind. This is the perfect time to start.”
“It’s not right, Raven… letting them get away with everything.”
“I have what they want. I don’t think they’re getting anything.”
“What’s that?” He raises a brow.
“You.”
“Me?”
“Yes, you. Now that I think of it, I’m a little scared for my sanity.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Lonnie, Deena, Cassidy, Britney… I think your monster dick drives women crazy.”
He cracks a reluctant smile, then stops fighting it, throwing his head back as laughter erupts from him.
“You laugh but it’s true.”
