That’s all I need.
Meanwhile, my secret will need to come out, eventually. Unless I decide to abort the baby and go to my grave with it.
I’m not sold either way, but it still lingers in my head like a bitch.
“Bay…” Blinking a few times, Juice’s boyish face comes into view. “What’s wrong?”
“I…”
I miss Dad.
I hate I can’t tell Ellie and Mae that Levi is still alive.
I loathe that I’m pregnant and I’m stupid enough to put myself in this position. Dad would probably kill me right now if he knew.
Well, he does now, doesn’t he?
I’m sure he’s looking down on me and can’t believe I’m a bigger fuck-up than he thought I was when he was alive.
This is a disaster.
I can’t tell Juice before I tell Levi.
IfI tell Levi.
If I keep it.
Him, her, whatever. Geezus.
“Just tired,” I surmise with a small shrug. “I’m worried about the girls.”
Juice nods. “I get that.”
“What’s the next move? Is it to get Matteo, and then what? We still have Ramsey, more than likely, but are we even going to deal with that? Is he going to talk to him? How long do I need to do this? I don’t know what he was thinking. It should’ve been you or Hot Rod?—”
“Miss Astor, your visitor is here.”
God bless Shorty.
I’m going to break him of the polite shit, if it’s the last thing I do.
Juice steps away, giving me some space, but it’s not Cairo standing there staring back at me like a mirage.
It’s Pretty Boy.
“Uh, Shorty,” Juice drones with a cluck of his tongue. “You know this ain’t Cairo Black, right?”
“Yes, sir,” Shorty replies evenly. “I just thought Miss Astor would like to handle this herself.”
He spins on his heel then and purposely shoulder-checks Torin.
I see Torin flinch a bit. His jaw tightens as if in pain, but he doesn’t utter a single word to the contrary.
He just waits.
“You got this?” Juice mutters patiently. “I can stay?—”
“Stay close,” I reply. “I’ll yell if I need you.”
