Hearing my name from his mouth hurts more than his absence. It’s like there’s been no time apart at all.
“I’m…” Laughter around me has me shutting up. This is so humiliating. “We need to talk,” I grind out.
He lurches forward, a path clearing to make room for him. Getting in my face, he sneers, “What? What do you need to talk about? You here to beg me to fuck you again? Not gonna happen. I’ve had a taste of rich pussy and there wasn’t anything special about it.”
There’s no warmth in his tone or his eyes. I step back and swallow thickly. It hits me, he’s loyal to his family, and to hisgang, but not to me, and he never was. Would he even care that I’m pregnant? His stare doesn’t budge but I refuse to be the first to look away. The guy I wanted, the guy I thought I was getting to know, he’s not here and I’m starting to believe he never was.
Clearing my throat, I say, “You’re right, there’s nothing to say. You won’t see me again.”
His left eye tics as I brush past him and out into the hall, everyone’s laughter chasing behind me as I pick up my pace to the door. Memories of the first time I was here flash through my mind, but I force them away. He’s nothing but a Dog, aptly named for the kind of guy he truly is.
“What are you doing here? Dar said he dumped your ass?” a girl with curly hair says.
“Trust me, I’m leaving, and I won’t be back.”
I go to push past her, but she side-steps and blocks the door. This is the last thing I need right now.
“Whatever you had would never have worked. Look around, you don’t belong. I’m not being a bitch, but it’s clear to see Darius needs someone who knows how to handle themselves, and that’s definitely not you, sweetheart.”
Inhaling deeply, I take a small step back. “If thatsomeoneis you then I wish you both luck. Now, can you please move.”
Narrowing her eyes, I wish to close mine but that would be a show of weakness and I just want to get out of here.
“That someone isn’t me, like I said I’m not being a bitch, I’m just pointing out the obvious.”
“Yeah, that’s not something I need help with.”
She moves to the side, and I watch every corner of the street as I half run to my car. Slamming the door behind me, I quickly lock the doors and let the first tear fall. I shouldn’t have come here. I should’ve known he’d be a prick. All I wanted was five minutes of his time, he couldn’t even give me that. How did I think he would want to give eighteen years raising a child?
I can’t afford any more pipe dreams where he’s concerned. Facing facts I’m on my own going forward, I turn the engine on and pull out to go home. Darius Madden was not who I thought he was and never again will I seek him out. He will never have the chance to humiliate me again.
12
Darius
Fuck. Seeing her again has me flipping me the fuck out. Not a single guy around me would be able to tell but inside, I’m fucking dying. After the humiliation shown to her tonight, she won’t come back around, and I truly know it’s done between us. I saw it in her eyes when everyone began laughing at her. She steeled herself, set her shoulders back and cut herself off from me completely.
It had to be done and as much as it felt wrong, I know it was the right thing to do. She doesn’t belong to me, and I should never have touched her with my dirty stained hands. She’s destined for a guy who doesn’t put her danger just so he can feel better about himself.
“Was that Amelia?”
I shut my eyes to the whiny ass voice entering the kitchen and mutter, “No.”
“I’m pretty sure it was.”
Fuck I hate this girl. I’m seconds away from letting the urge to ram my fist in her face overwhelm me. Opening my eyes, I glare at her, but she doesn’t give a shit.
“It wasn’t.” No one speaks up correcting my lie. “But if she does come around here again, she’ll be sent on her way.”
Grabbing a beer from the counter, I head out back and slump down on one of the deck chairs. Lighting a cigarette, I take a long pull and open the beer. As hard as this life can be, I’ve always gotten what I’ve wanted… until now. I don’t get to have a girl like Amelia. She was nothing but a false sense of happiness always just out of my reach.
“I get you don’t like my girl, but can you at least try. She’s it for me, bro.”
Most of the time I wish I could send Tariq on his way, but that thread of loyalty has me keeping him around.
“I don’t want Amelia coming around here,” I grunt ignoring his plea.
Tipping the beer to my lips, I drain half the bottle before looking to him to make sure he heard.
