Page 143 of The Twisted Beats

My head swims in a sea of angry waves, spinning me around and drowning out all my good sense. I’m gonna lose my patience.

My rage-filled frustration is creeping through my hands like they’re burning pitchforks from hell.

I yank my keys out of my pockets, march to her side, andgive her a quick kiss on the cheek. “You’ve got an appointment tomorrow at eleven. I’ll be here at ten thirty to pick you up. I love you.”

She pulls back. “You’re leaving?”

“Yeah. You don’t seem to need my help any longer and I’ve gotta take care of something.” I stomp out the front door, slamming it on my way out.

I drive home in record time. Thoughts of how different Livianna is gut me to the core. I can’t get through her thick skull, and because of that I’m losing my mind. A scream rips from my lungs as I pull into my parking spot.

I barge into my uncle’s house. “Where are you, motherfucker?”

He jumps off the couch, wide-eyed. “Cash, settle down and let me explain.”

“Give me one good reason that doesn’t have to do with an excuse.”

“I’ll make it up to you. Just give me a chance.”

“How? Can you bring my kid back?”

He swallows hard. “No. I’m sorry she lost the baby. I swear I never wanted?—”

“The fuck you didn’t. You told me to get rid of it.” My chest burns, but I fake an evil laugh. “You took care of that for me, now, didn’t cha?”

“Sorry. I was high. I know you don’t want an excuse, but that’s the truth. It wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t messed with the drugs.”

I stare him down until I can barely see straight. “If you touch her again, I’ll kill you with my own hands.”

“You have my word, I’ll steer clear. I swear on my brother’s grave.” He motions to the couch, suggesting I take a seat. “Let me make it up to you.”

“What could you possibly do to fix this?”

“Will you sit so we can talk and figure it out?”

“Why?”

“What do you have to lose, Cash? You hold all the power.”

“Do I?”

“Tell me what you want and I’ll do it if it means we can move past this.” He runs his hand over his neck. “Since your pops died, I’ve seen you as my own. I just want to get back to being family.”

“I’ll never be your son.” I slam myself against the couch cushion. “And leave my pops out of this.”

“Forget I said anything.” My uncle sits in a chair across the room.

“Why did you hire some guy to hurt Livianna on New Year’s Eve?”

“I didn’t know he was going to do anything to her. I trusted him.” Uncle John rests his elbows on his knees and cups his hands together. “That guy was a reference from the production studio where she works.”

“Did you report what he did to her?”

“Uh…no, but I will as soon as I wake up tomorrow.”

“That’s a start.” I slouch back and try to think of something I really want that he could give me. Something hits me. I shift forward. “Get us out of our contract with Ur Boyz and hook me up with Leon Baker.”

“I can’t get you out of the tour for the new album, but we can come up with a way to sabotage it. They’ll drop you guys and you will have upheld the requirements in your contract. They’ll continue to collect all the royalties, though.”