“What was my sister up to?”
“The same thing I was and still am. Making money doing what we do best.”
“And that is?” I tamp down my annoyance, as pissing her off will get me nowhere.
“You really don’t know?”
“I don’t. Care to enlighten me?”
“Anna’s stage name was Delight. She danced at a very exclusive gentlemen’s club and was very popular with the patrons. She was also an escort on the side.”
“Escort? As in prostitute?” I’m sick inside. How did I not suspect this? I visited her in Vegas, yet I never realized her entire life was a fabrication.
“High-end escort who performed whatever duties were required. It’s a lucrative job when you’re as popular as her up until she got herself fired.”
“What did she get fired for?”
“We sign agreements with the club that we won’t fraternize with patrons outside of the club. Your sister broke that agreement more than once, and they finally did something about it. She’s lucky they didn’t sue her ass, but they were happy to get rid of her. She’d become a liability because of her drinking and solicitation of the club members.”
“How long did she work at that job?”
“She started when she was young, maybe nineteen or twenty, as a cocktail waitress, and quickly worked her way up. Look, I have an appointment. I have to get going. Now you know.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t bother me again.” Noni ends the call.
It’s never easy learning that your sister lived a secret life. But this life? I’m flabbergasted. Anna created an elaborate lie in order to disguise her real profession from her family, and she did it for years, probably since she graduated from high school and moved to Vegas.
Drakos was telling the truth. He met Anna at a high-end strip club. What else is he telling the truth about and what is the extent of Anna’s lies? I’m so confused and sick about this.
And I may have thrown away the best thing that’s ever happened to me next to Noah.
What am I going to do?
Chapter 26
Let’s Wing It
~~Drakos~~
Time has a way of bringing clarity to the stickiest emotional situation. I’ve had four days to think about everything, and that time away from Portland gave me much-needed space to distance myself enough to make rational rather than emotional decisions.
We won the first game of Round Two and lost the second. I played pretty well considering the upheaval in my personal life. Now we’re back in Portland, and I’m ready to take action.
Aria and I haven’t communicated since she threw me out of her apartment, butt naked. I’m pissed at her right now, and it’s better I stay away from her, but I’m not staying away from my son.
Fuck her if she has an issue with it. Wild gave me the name of a good attorney, and I have an appointment with him in two weeks. I want to get through this next round first.
Regardless, I’m not going to poke the bear. I watch from the tunnel rather than the bleachers, positioning myself in such a way that Aria can’t see me, but Noah can.
I’m hurt by Aria’s deception, but I can’t lie. I’m still attracted to her, and I think about her more than I should. Maybe we can patch this up. Maybe we can’t. Noah’s my priority for now.
I loiter near the rink entrance where the kids will need to pass by as they prepare for practice. Noah doesn’t see me at first, allowing me to watch him without reservation. I see the resemblance so clearly now and wonder if it’s obvious to anyone else. Not that I care one way or another.
I see the exact moment Noah spots me, and my heart swells with pride so intense, I’m choked up by the raw emotions slamming into me. I quickly get myself together. He can’t see me as a blubbering fool.
“Drakos! You’re back.” My son launches himself at me, catching me entirely off guard. I stagger back a few steps and slam into the tunnel wall as he barrels into me. I’m laughing at the absurdity of a six-year-old almost taking me out. Noah hugs me, and I hug him back. I hold on as if I’ll never let go. I wish I could take him home with me, but there’s a long road to travel before that happens.
