Suddenly, he swung into a parking spot on the street, themove so unexpected, I automatically reached to the dash to hold on.
And then he turned on me.
“I had someoneworkin’ for me.Hewas a pissant.I shook him loose.He didn’t like that.He wanted payback.Heasked around, don’t know who talked, still wish I could find that motherfucker,but he found out about you and Liam.”
I sat very still and stared at him.
“It wasn’t to get something out of me.He didn’t wantanything from me, except for him to know he put the hurt on me.He was justgonna fuck you two up.”
“Oh my God,” I breathed.
“Yeah,” he said sharply.“I don’t know if he meant to killyou or beat you or rape you or all three.I just know he didn’t get the chance.I also knew I couldn’t let anyone else get the chance.So I crept around…forfuckin’ years…to give the both of you the only things I had to give.Alittle bit of time and a lot of money.I’m sorry that wasn’t enough for you,Malia, but that was all I had at the time.But when Liam was ready, fate fuckedus over yet…fuckin’…again.And after I survived that, it wasyouwhowalked away.Suck it up.I lied to see my boy.Suck it up.I couldn’t give youall you needed.You’ve made it clear you can’t live with that, now I gotta suckit up.What I don’t gotta do is like it.”
After delivering that, he turned back to the wheel andpulled into the road.
I had a lot to process as he drove me home, and I didn’thave enough time to do it.
I also hadn’t found the words to say anything after all he’dsaid before he was in my drive and idling.
I found the words and said them.“I think we need to talk.”
“Donetalkin’.”
“Darius—”
He shook his head.“I killed it.I get it.You move on.Ourboy’s old enough he can be our go between.It’s working.Let’s not fuck it up.”
“I think…I need to buy him a car.”
“Fine,” he said tersely.“Have him pick what he wants, I’llgo get it for him.”
“Darius, I only said that to demonstrate—”
“Get out of my truck, Malia.”
“Dar—”
His belt zipped back, my belt zipped back (and I didn’tunbuckle it), and then I was crowded into the corner of the seat and door whenhe was smack in my face.
“Get out…of my…fuckin’ truck…woman,” he growled.
I stared into his cold, dead eyes.
And I didn’t believe in that coldness or deadness for onesingle second.
“Do I…uh, talk to Ally about, you know, looking into thehinky clients?”I asked.
He sat back in his seat, rested his head against theheadrest and said to the roof of the cab, “Jesus.”
I put my hand to the door handle and said, “I’m justgonna…um,go.”
He turned to me.“Yeah.Do that.”
“Thanks for, like, you know, saving me from myself.”
He just stared at me.
“’Bye now,” I said.
