Page 17 of Cooly

“What?”

No hello. No confusion about how I got his private number. Just that cold, irritated what.

“Why do you always answer the phone like somebody interrupted you burying a body?”

“Only when you call.”

I almost hung up.

Instead, I looked out at the city from my penthouse and forced the words through my teeth.

“I crossed a line.”

Silence.

“Did you hear me?”

“Yes,” he replied simply.

I gripped the phone tighter. “I’m sorry for threatening you. And for that shit I said about raising your children.”

“Compelling.”

Compelling... What the fuck did that mean? I breathed through my irritation. “I don’t like you. You blew up my Panamera. I still don’t think you deserve her. But she chose you. I should’ve respected that.”

“Why say this now?” he finally asked.

“Because somebody reminded me that wanting her doesn’t make her mine. And I should have respected her choices because I considered her a friend.”

“You didn’t call me just to apologize. Get to the part that actually matters.”

“I miss her. I miss the kids. And I owe her a truth.”

“What truth?”

I told him about being fifteen, bleeding, and waiting to die. About the little girl with the Birkin bag full of junk food. About the two days we spent hiding together. About Indigo risking herself to bring me the phone that saved my life.

“Why are you telling me instead of her?” Malachai asked when I was finished. No emotion—his ass really was a robot.

“She told me not to call again.”

“You expect this story to change my mind about you?”

“No.” The answer came easier than I expected. “I just think she deserves to know. What you do with it is up to you. Plus, if we become friends again, you get to keep your number one enemy close.” I joked, thinking maybe he would laugh.

“Malachai?”

No answer.

I checked the screen. The motherfucker had hung up.

A few hours later, Indigo called me.

“You were the little boy?”

I closed my eyes. “Yeah.”

“Almost five fucking years and you didn’t tell me. I thought you were just fucking obsessed with me for no reason.”