Page 133 of The Loathing

“Daddy,” and he hangs up.

I practically fall out of my Jeep, stumbling over my own feet as I pace forward and straight into the small drug store. Opening the door, a small bell chimes over my head and I scan the small aisles and see the brands Killian mentioned. I grab two of each, swiping them off the shelves and dropping them on the desk in front of me.

The young girl’s eyes are on me and for some reason it makes me panic.

“They’re not for me… they’re for a friend.” As soon as I say it, I drag my hands down my face.

“Figured,” she says sarcastically. “That’ll be thirty-eight pounds and forty pence please.”

My eyes widen and I choke on my own gasp.

“Expensive little darlings aren’t they?” she smirks and I am unsure if she is talking about the pregnancy tests or the kids that come after the pregnancy tests.

“They are,” I nod, before throwing her two twenties.

I grab the small, white plastic bag she has packed them in, and I rush out the store ignoring whatever she mumbled as I left.

Panic sets in, not at the fact I have these tests, but the fact that I have left Amora at home, alone. If Wolfe comes back and finds her in the state she is in he will start questioning her. Slamming my car door shut, I start the engine before I have even put my seat belt on as I race down the road to get back home.

Pulling into the long and winding driveway, my heart thumps loudly in my ears, relief swarming me when I see the driveaway still empty.

Slipping the bag in the inside of my suit jacket, because I don’t trust these fuckers, I enter the house quietly and head for Amora’s room.

Opening the door softly, I freeze when I see Wolfe sitting on the bed next to her.

“Where have you been?” he asks, his gaze not lifting from Amora’s. She is stiff, her eyes wide and pinned to me.

“Had an errand to run for Xavier,” I lie smoothly and squeeze my arms by my side because I am terrified the tests will fall from the inside of jacket.

“Okay well, you will not be needed anymore this evening. Amora is unwell, so I will tend to her. Goodnight Titus.”

“That’s not the deal.”

“It is tonight, now leave.”

I see Amora nod gently and this time I stay quiet and listen. I turn, walking back out the door I just came through and walk down towards my bedroom, slamming my own door behind me. Taking the plastic bag, I place it in my bedside table and peel my jacket and shirt off me.

I am desperate to be with her, to be the one looking after her but I must step back when asked. I don’t want to risk fucking this up. If she didn’t nod and give me the go ahead, then I would have stayed. But she asked me to go.

And for her, I would do whatever she wanted.

Padding into my bathroom, I turn my shower on and try and wash the day off my aching body.

One thing I knew for certain; either way, whatever the outcome… I was there.

Right beside her.

Not five steps behind.

Not anymore.

* * *

It’s just turned eleven p.m. and I was wide awake. I have spoken to Arizona briefly, but she couldn’t wait to get me off the phone which gutted me a little but at the moment, I have bigger problems to worry about than my twenty-one-year-old daughter being short with me.

Turning my head slowly, I look over at the nightstand and I am desperate to take one out and go to her room. I mull it over, umming and ahhing to myself before I roll over, pull the drawer out with force and rip the box to one of the tests open, shoving the test and instructions in my pocket. I grab a tee from my closet and pull it over my head one handed and head out into the hallway. The house is silent and it unnerves me. I pause outside her room and listen for anything but it’s quiet. Slowly twisting the iron doorknob, I push the door open and see Amora curled up sleeping, alone. My heart slows and I smile. Stepping into her room, I push the door behind me, letting it close quietly. Moving slowly over to the bed, I climb in behind her, letting my arm rest on top of her body and I pull her closer to me, my nose buried in her freshly washed hair and her scent of apricot and coco butter gives me my hit instantly. She stirs in my arms and my heart lurches in my chest.

“Sleep Twilight, I’ll be here when you wake.”

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