“Damn that. Who they look like?” Horace questioned. “And they twins!”
“I need a minute with Giselle,” Heavy announced.
“Viggo, show me around. Let’s see if I can find something to break… I mean fix.” Horace tittered. “Come on, twins, follow me. We on a mission.”
Petal and Viggo picked up on the tension with Heavy and Giselle while clearing the room. Slowly swiping his beard, he took a breath before shaking his head.
“What the fuck is this?”
Giselle swallowed hard. Eyes on the ground, she fidgeted with her hands.
“I need to hear it from you, Giselle. Are those my fucking kids?”
“Yes,” she cracked, lifting her gaze guiltily.
Although he’d seen them with his own two eyes, he still found himself in disbelief. She was blowing the high he caught on the drive with Horace. His chest tightened, and he pushed out another harsh breath. Not one to easily compose himself, Heavy counted backward to keep from lunging at her.
“You could’ve fucking told me.” He managed to speak through gritted teeth.
“I didn’t know when I left here and would it really have changed anything back then?” she questioned.
“It would have changed every fucking thing!” he roared, turning on her.
Flinching, she couldn’t meet his eyes.
“I was scared, and… I thought leaving was for the best, for both of us.”
Nodding slowly, he lowered his gaze, anger still brewing in his chest.
“And I was wrong… about everything.”
“Why are you here now?” He faced her again.
“Because we need somewhere to live. My husband…” She paused before scoffing and shaking her head. “The man I was married to… he left. Took everything, cleaned out our accounts. So, here I am… somehow right back where I was a couple years ago.” She tossed her hands up. “Except this time, I have them. I didn’t know where else to go.”
Heavy absorbed the information, not ignoring the part about her husband but trying to process it all. He still had somany questions, but the most important thing was he had two children. Nothing topped that in this moment.
“Still selfish as hell,” he grumbled.
“I’m not asking you for anything.” She got defensive, which was all she had left because pride had gone out the window the minute she rolled within the city limits.
“Don’t get bold now, princess. The only reason you came back is because you didn’t have many options. You really sat back and raised my kids with a muhfucka who walked out on you!”
“I understand that you’re angry?—”
“You don’t understand shit! If you did, we wouldn’t be having this conversation right now! You had almost four fucking years to tell the truth! And the only reason you doing that shit now is because you need something!” He aimed an accusing finger at her.
“Alright, are we done with placing blame and screaming?” Petal strolled into the room. “Because there are two little innocent, sweet faces who can hear everything you two are saying to each other.”
“We’re done. For now.” Heavy looked Giselle up and down before snatching his toolbox off the floor and stomping off.
Petal stood there, empathy etched in her face as Giselle sniffled and did her best to keep her composure. It was obvious the situation had rattled the girl.
“So, twins. I remember when Toussaint had Heavy and Henna. I can’t believe I didn’t see it before.”
“I’m not a bad person.” Giselle voiced, tone shaky, unsure.
“Oh, I don’t believe you are,” Petal conceded. “Scared. Confused. Those things make sense. People make bad decisions when they are emotional and their backs are against the wall. The important thing is you are here right now, and so are those kids. They’re beautiful and obviously happy, and they adore you.Those are the things that matter. Heavy will be angry; we can’t control that. I’m sure you knew that would happen coming back here.”
