She has no idea I know, and it’s not like Clare could’ve called ahead and gave her a heads up. Tariq knows better.
“I want to hear it from you.”
“What?” she shrugs.
“That you’re having my baby, and you weren’t going to tell me.”
My hands are shaking, and I shove them in my pockets.
“I tried to tell you but you’re the one who didn’t want to talk to me. You can’t have forgotten, it wasn’t that long ago. What I was supposed to do, blurt my business out for all to hear. I don’t think so.”
“So you didn’t think to come around to my house when it was quiet, or fuck, even send me the news in a fucking text?”
“You made it real clear I should stay away. You can’t have it all your way.”
“Not when it comes down to a fucking baby, Amelia!”
She looks down at the carpet and refuses to look back up at me.
“Clare said you’re keeping it, seen a doctor and had a scan and everything. Is it fucking true?”
“If you’re worried I’ll come after you for money or beg you to be with me, don’t be. My dad and I have it all worked out.”
Shocked, I clarify, “You told your father you got knocked up by a Dog’s Blood gangbanger?”
“Of course I did, it’s the truth. In fact, you should be hearing from his lawyer soon enough.”
There’s only one reason someone like her father would hire a lawyer to track me down.
“He’s going to try and pay me off to hand over my rights, isn’t he?”
When she nods, I cross the room and force her to look at me. She needs to hear what I’m about to say loud and fucking clear.
“There’s no price high enough for me to give up on my own blood. You tell your dad not to waste his time or money.”
“You haven’t heard his offer, it could set you and your family up for life.”
“The kid you’re carrying is my family. If you try and keep me away, you best be ready for a fight money can’t win.”
I’ve never fought with money. I have fought over money, but never with it. Walking back to the window, I stop and turn to face her.
“Don’t confuse us not being together with me being a good dad. It’s not what I ever planned but it’s happening, and I’ll always be there for my kid.”
“Trust me, I’m not thinking of us being together. It’s the farthest thing on my mind.”
“What is on your mind, Amelia?”
“Looking out for me and my baby. I have a plan and we don’t need you.”
She doesn’t need me. I’ve never believed she did, I was addicted to her because shewantedme. Slipping out of the window, it’s harder climbing down than it was climbing up, but I jump the last few feet and land with a thud. Strolling across the lawn, it’s no work climbing the gate and once I get back to Dog City, I sit in the car out front of Tariq’s long enough, Jermaine notices and comes and sits with me.
“What’s going on?”
“Amelia’s pregnant.”
Fuck, just saying it out loud has my gut wrenching. I ended it between us because I could see her being the most important part of my life and now she is anyway.
“I want two of our guys watching her at all times. I want to know every step she takes.”
