Page 34 of A Vicious Rumor

I snorted, and she gave me a look.

"But," she continued. "I really do think you should be careful. These people," she sighed. "They'll have no problem selling you out if they think they can profit off of it."

"Yeah, I know," I said. "That's why being around's gotta be more profitable for them," I said. "But, I don't need to explain it to you."

"I hope you're right," she said sadly.

"Spare me," I replied. "I don't need the pity or the worry. Not from you, anyway."

"You must think I'm some monster," she said.

I closed my eyes and rested my head against the back of the couch. I really did not want to get into this right now. "I think you'll do whatever you can for money, including bring me into this world knowing the sort of life I'd face."

"Is that it?" she asked. "You're really going to sit there and say you wished you'd never been born? After everything I went through to have you?"

I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Look, Coco," I said. "We all know the story. Stripper gets knocked up, that kid is an eighteen year ticket to child support, or at the very least, to bribe money in exchange for silence."

"I'm really glad I wasn't the one who raised you, Tyson," she said. "Because, if I had, I'd be totally ashamed of you."

"The fuck is that supposed to mean?" I asked, opening my eyes and meeting hers. I wish I hadn't though, because they were swimming with tears and full of hurt.

"You're a smart boy. You seem to know who your father is. I won't try and cover it up and tell you a lie. Your initial conception was not my choice. But," she hesitated. "when your father did find out about my pregnancy, he offered to pay me a lot of money to get rid of you."

I stayed silent as I listened to her talk.

"When I didn't agree, the threats came after that. I was forced to give you up when I finally had you. He threatened my status in the country, and there's nothing left for me back home. Your father was a very wealthy man at the time. I could have lived very comfortably had I taken his initial offer."

"So, why didn't you?" I asked her, trying to process everything she was telling me.

She was silent for a beat as she tried to sort out her answer. "I think I was intensely lonely," she admitted. "I really wanted you, Tyson."

The doorbell rang, signaling the arrival of the pizza. "Too bad. All you did was give me a life where I'd feel the exact same loneliness," I said as I got up to get the door.

By the time I'd grabbed the pie from the guy and turned back around, Coco was gone, and the door to her bedroom was shut. I shrugged and carried the food back to the couch, content to eat another meal alone.

"Yeah, what?" I said into the phone as I finally answered his tenth call.

"You're needed back in Potomac. There's a party at Scissors tomorrow and I need you to make an appearance. We're going to cut someone a deal."

I damn near growled. My date with Lily was tomorrow. "Can't we do it another night? I got plans."

"No," Paper said in his assholeish tone, as always.

"Fuck you, man," I replied.

"Not necessary. Just be at the party tomorrow by nine and be sure to be on your best behavior," he replied.

"I'm gonna need to bring someone with me," I said, trying to work it out in my head.

"I don't care if you bring the Dalai Lama, just make sure you're upstairs in the meeting room by nine."

"Fine," I said, hanging up the phone.

11

LILY

"Be right back, gotta pee," Tyson said, and I giggled.

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