Page 56 of Unchained
CHAPTER TWENTY
Stephanie grabbed my arm, but I pushed her away hard enough to send her flailing to the ground. Gun raised, I burst through the door and yelled Suzanne’s name.
Suzanne pulled away from Veronica’s embrace. As I look at Veronica, I realized the whole thing had been a setup. She had no intention of letting me have Suzanne. Just like everyone else, she’d been brainwashing her.
“You are fucking amazing,” I said to Veronica.
“Deacon?” Suzanne said. She looked from me to Veronica and then back to me. “What the hell is going on? You’re supposed to be dead.”
“Is that what this dick wearing cunt told you? She’s been playing you for five fucking years, Suzanne. And our son.”
“I thought you were dead, Deacon.”
Veronica eased closer to Suzanne and held her hand.
“You’ve been fucking my wife, haven’t you?”
“Deacon.” Suzanne looked behind me, and when I turned, I found the maid carrying a small child in her arms. He couldn’t have been more than two years old. The maid handed the child to Veronica.
“Her name is Alana,” Veronica said. She then handed the child to Suzanne. “You see, Deacon, not everything is what it seems, and not everything is about you.”
“Deacon, I’m sorry. I swear I thought you were dead, and Veronica took me in. She protected me.”
“You mean he,” I said. “If Veronica were a she, you would not have a child with her.” I looked back toward the house. “Where is my son?”
“He had a long night, Deacon. He turned five yesterday, and he stayed up late. Please don’t let him see us like this.” Suzanne hugged Alana, the child that was not mine. The child that should never have been born.
Stephanie put her hand on my arm. “We should go, Deacon.”
“What the fuck are you talking about? I’m taking my wife and son.”
“She’s not your wife anymore,” Veronica said. And just like the rest of the world, Veronica thought Suzanne belonged to her. “Lower the gun and leave.”
“Suzanne,” I said. “Don’t do this.”
“I’m in love with Veronica, Deacon. Not with you anymore. You’re the reason I’m here in the first place. You couldn’t protect our unborn child or me. Because of you, this happened.”
‘That’s not true. Is that what this bitch told you? Did she tell you about her father? The drugs he ran into the United States. Did she tell you about the men he murdered.” I shook my head. “You think all of this comes from a cosmetics business. Fuck, no. This is all drug money. She took over for her father.”
“I don’t care, Deacon. I’m happy here. I want to raise my kids here.”
“Deacon, we need to go. You gotta walk away from this, or people are going to die.”
“You need to leave,” Suzanne said sternly. She handed Alana to Veronica and approached Stephanie and me. “I’m sorry this has happened to you.” She hugged my waist and kissed me on the cheek. “I still love you and always will, but this is my home now with Deek and Alana. Please go.” She stepped back and returned to Veronica’s side.
I lowered the gun. “You know I’ll be back for my son. I can’t let that go.”
“And we’ll be waiting for that,” Veronica said. “Neither of you are needed or wanted here. I suggest you leave.”
I heard a gun cocking behind us. “You’re making a big fucking mistake, Veronica.” I looked at Suzanne and then went back to the house, Stephanie following.
Stephanie drove as I looked out at the trees, devastated by the fact I was leaving without Suzanne and my son. Alana had made the whole situation even messier. Suzanne had to make a choice, and her intention was to stay where both kids could be raised together.
“None of this is your fault,” Stephanie said. “Veronica does this to everyone she meets.”
I said nothing, opting instead to figure out how to fix the impossible.
“You can get the U.S. government involved and get your son.”
