Page 25

“Matthew,” she whispers. She’s physically shaking next to me. Her nerves are shot. Peering down to her, her stare mirrors my own. Her face, although etched with fear, is still flawless, perfect.

“I’m not sure what you mean. Savannah is my life, and I was scared beyond belief when I came home and she was gone. I didn’t know what had happened to her. I didn’t know if she was okay, if our baby was okay.” Savannah goes rigid next to me and I hear her suck in air as she gasps. Cursing comes from a few of the guys and my mother’s prays to Jesus. Tears start streaming down Savannah's face as she watches Tyson.

“I know, baby.” Tyson informed her. “I know about the baby. I found the tests.” He again tries to move closer to her. I pull her behind me and she instantly latches onto my shirt.

“Jesus Christ, Sin.” Cut mutters.

Hawk, Cut, Bubba, and Lick are standing at my back. Always supporting me, even when they’d rather not. That’s what family is all about. My mother, her hands covering her face. I can tell by her reaction, she knows about the baby and she didn’t tell me. Savannah hasn’t told me either. Out of everything we’ve talked about, all of her dreams and ambitions, she never once mentioned she is pregnant.

“Savannah.” Tyson calls to her. “I know you’re freaked, baby. I know we were just engaged, but I want this. I want us, you, me and the baby. We’ve always talked about having a family. It’s all coming together. Do you remember me telling you that you’ll see, soon, you’ll see how it will all come together? Do you remember me telling you that one morning?” Savannah whimpers behind me, whispering, begging God to please keep her safe.

“Aint gonna happen.” I tell him. This causes another outburst of displeasure from my brother.

“Excuse me?” He asks.

“You see, Tyson, it aint gonna happen because the baby aint yours. It’s mine.” He stares at me, a blank expression on his face. I don’t give him the opportunity to speak; there is nothing he can say that I want to hear. “The baby’s mine. It seems while you were too busy sitting behind your desk at your daddy’s oil company, and doing whatever else you do, I was busy sleeping with your woman. Making her nice and happy, fucking her just right. The baby you think is yours, nope. It’s mine. That’s why she left you, that’s why she drove across state lines, and that’s why you can go ahead and go back to where you came from. There aint nothing for you here. Not anymore.”

He takes a deep breath; gathering his composure before he lashes out. He is obviously choosing to disregard everything I say when he doesn’t acknowledge it. “Savannah, baby, please talk to me. Please tell me what’s going on.”

“You need to leave, Tyson.” Her voice is muffled in the cotton of my shirt.

“Baby, you know I can’t do that. You know I can’t do that until you leave with me.”

“I can’t leave with you, Tyson. I’ll never leave with you. I’ll never go back to you. It’s over.” She takes a step, stopping right at my side. “It was over the moment I found out I was pregnant. I can’t continue to be what you need me to be. I can’t continue to allow you to hurt me, physically, emotionally–”

“What are you talking about, physically? I would never hurt you, especially when you’re carrying my baby.” His eyes land on me. “Because I know it’s my baby.”

“And how do you know that?” I taunt him.

“Because she’s mine.” He growls. I pull her into me, leaving my arm around her shoulders. He’s becoming unhinged.

“Not anymore.” I turn around and take her with me. I look towards my brother and crew lifting my head, telling them it’s their turn. I’m done with him.

I allow Sin to lead me back into Bianca’s house. Bianca’s hand runs down my hair, comforting me as we pass her. We enter the living room and I immediately take a seat on the couch, pulling a pillow onto my lap, keeping my head bowed. My heart races with what just transpired, not only because Tyson was acting not like Tyson but also because he told my secret. Taking deep breaths, I try to calm my nerves and my rapidly beating heart. I feel sick to my stomach.

I’m not sure how to approach this. How or what I can say to explain to Sin why I haven’t told him, or anyone for that matter that I’m pregnant. He clears his throat, the sudden noise making me jump. My head is pounding as I rub my temples to soothe the ache.

“Have I ever made you feel that you can’t talk to me, Savannah? I've made time for you, been with you instead of doing my thing. Have I ever made you feel that you can’t open up to me? “

“I’m sorry.” I continue to stare down towards the carpet. I can’t meet his eyes; I know I’ve let him down.

“Mijo, go easy on her.” Bianca pulls a chair along the dining room floor. “This isn’t the time for you becoming upset, at least not with her.”

“When did she tell you, Mom? I know you know; I can tell by your face. You aren’t shocked at the news.”

“She didn’t tell me, Matthew. I just knew. It’s a mother's intuition.”

After a few seconds of silence, I feel the couch dip beside me. “Sugar, please look at me.” Taking a deep breath, I turn to meet his eyes. There isn’t anger or judgment in the depths of his steel blue eyes, only concern.

“Are you okay?” He touches my knees and I move the pillow from my lap.

“That is not the Tyson I’ve been with for these past four years. He has never shown me that much concern.”

“Are you okay?” he repeats, ignoring my comment.

“You don’t understand.” I take hold of the hand that’s on my knee. “He isn’t sweet and caring. He’s mean and cruel. The only things that normally come out of his mouth are condescending and sadistic, at least towards me. He hasn’t been ‘sweet and flowers Tyson’ since before I moved in with him, and that was only three months after we started dating.”

“He’s been abusive for that long and you just decided to walk away a few weeks ago?”