“Um, Al, did Warren tell you where he was going?”
“No. The bastard was too busy telling me how to live my life,” he mumbles as he lights a cigarette and blows smoke out the small kitchen window. “Kid thinks he knows better than his old man. I fuckin’ tell ya…” He puffs out smoke, almost directly into my face. I take a step back. “You looking for him?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t bother. He isn’t worth the time.” He puffs out more smoke.
My jaw tightens in response to his hateful words. He couldn’t be more wrong. I would turn around and walk away, but this man is likely the last person to have seen Warren, and I have a feeling he could be useful.
“What did he say right before he left?”
“‘Go to hell, Dad,’ I believe.” He leans back onto the counter, and for a second, Warren’s arrogant persona is in his place. His eyes hold the same teasing gleam, though Warren’s is far more likeable.
“And before that?”
“I don’t fucking know.” He drops the cigarette into the ashtray, and my teeth grate against each other. “Listen, I don’t know you, but you’re wasting your time. This kid is a magnet for disaster. Not even his own mother, God rest her soul, could find it in her to stick around. You’re better off—”
I don’t let him finish. “You know, you’re a real piece of shit.” I can’t control the words that tumble out of me, and I let them linger between us as Al blinks, stunned.
This man is not my father, or my mother, and he’ll probably never change—but fuck it. I’m done. I’m done holding back my anger towards people who don’t care about the impact their decisions have on others. The manipulation, the emotional immaturity, the narcissistic tendencies… I’m done with it all.
Warren and Luke are my family, and I refuse to let this man take any more of our happiness. Him or anyone else.
I lift my chin and look him dead in his wide eyes. “You have two incredible sons. They’re some of the best people I know, and you choose to come in and out of their lives when it’s convenient—leaving nothing but hurt and broken promises behind you. Screw that. You don’t get to have an opinion about them. So if you have any helpful information, I’ll take it now… please.”
Sure, I added apleaseat the end, but the rest of it was not polite at all. I give myself the win and stand a little straighter in response.
Al pushes out his mouth, lips turned upwards. “Well, I see why the kid fell for you, though he didn’t seem to think you’d come looking.”
“What?” I ask as he crosses his arms in front of his chest.
“Something about it being my fault that he gets so angry. About how he scared you… lost you like he loses everyone—because of me. It’s always my fault, you see. Boy can’t take any of his own…”
I close my eyes, blocking out whatever nonsense he’s spewing. I told Warren I’d fight for him—why didn’t he believe me?Why won’t he answer his phone?
“Did he say anything about where he was going?” I interrupt his rambling.
“All he said was that he wasn’t going to be around to help Luke move into this”—he uses air quotes—“shit-hole.” He lowers his hands back to the counter behind him. “Something about his kid… which I didn’t even know he fucking had, by the way. Am I a grandpa?”
“What did he say about a kid?”
“I won’t get to see her grow up becauseyouhad to show up.” He points at himself, acting out Warren’s part.“I was going to be happy, you asshole.” He finishes the scene with an unnerving curtsy.
This is useless. I spin on my heel to head towards the front door.
“Chloe, wait.” Footsteps get louder behind me. “I’d check where he works. He’d make himself useful if he can’t be at home—that’s the Davies way.” Not a terrible suggestion, but I see why Warren wants a name change.
I hesitate but give a polite nod. “Thanks. Bye, Al.” I descend the stairs and take a deep breath of fresh air as I exit the building. Next stop, Ram’s shop.
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
I pull into the parking lot of the garage. Warren’s spot is empty. My stomach twists in knots. Still, I park and get out to check—I drove all this way. I approach the entrance, where Belle sits behind a service window.
“Hello, darlin’! What can I do for you?” Belle’s voice soothes me, even on this shit-storm of a day. But if she isn’t sure why I’m here, then Warren definitely isn’t.
“Hi, Belle. Um… I’m looking for Warren.” I twitch my lips.
“Ah… come on in, girlie.” Belle leaves the service window and steps around to the side door, opening it just enough for me to step inside the reception office. She pats a chair and sits across from it. “Did something happen?”
