Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 69577 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 348(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69577 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 348(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
“Romeo, could you go start my truck?”
“Sure.” Romeo took my keys from my hand as I caught up Birdee’s jacket.
I only slipped it onto one side of her body, once again keeping her arm free. “Just tuck your shoulder in.”
She did, just as Vito said, “What the hell, Birdee? I’m your father. I should know things like this. Were you in the hospital?”
“For three days, yes.” Birdee moved toward me when I gently tugged on the empty sleeve of her jacket.
I pulled her into my arms as gently as possible just as Vito went on a tirade.
“That’s something a father should know,” Vito continued.
“You know now, don’t you?” I asked. “And also, back up. She just got out of the hospital and you’re scaring me. If this repair breaks, she could literally bleed out right here. She’s already done that once in the last week, I’d rather not ever have it happen again.”
Vito’s angry eyes came to me. “What are you doing with her?”
My brows rose. “I’m taking care of her. What’s it look like?”
“Why?”
Birdee flinched.
“Because she’s someone extremely important to me, Vito,” I pointed out. “She’s mine.”
Birdee’s breath hitched.
“Yours?” Cody asked curiously.
“Mine.” I looked down at the top of Birdee’s head. She’d dropped her gaze to my chest so I could no longer see her face. “She’s mine and I’m hers.”
Birdee inhaled deeply.
“As in boyfriend and girlfriend?”
“As in her man, my girl, yes.” I rolled my eyes as the waitress appeared with to-go containers.
“Here, here. I’m so sorry again.”
I took it. “It’s no problem, Peg. Thank you.”
“I know,” she whispered. “But I feel like it is. Y’all get out of here anyway before this storm hits.”
“We’re goin’,” I agreed just as Romeo came back in and gestured toward my truck that was now pulled up close to the front door.
“You’re just going to go?” Vito asked.
“Vito,” I replied as I started to guide Birdee away. “There’s a time and place, and this isn’t it.”
Because everyone and their fuckin’ brother was paying attention right now, and Birdee hated attention.
Vito said something else, but I halted him with a swift glare that clearly read “I will fuck you up if you continue.”
He snapped his mouth closed, obviously reading the intent in my eyes.
Romeo held open the door, but I stopped him at the door and said, “Can you help her get into the truck? Be very gentle with her.”
Romeo jerked his chin toward me, and Mable rushed outside to go with them.
When it was only the room full of “acting like they’re not listening people,” Vito and his family, I said, “There are a lot of things that I like about you, Vito. A lot. But there are a few really major things that I hate. Every time that I see you, Birdee’s nowhere in sight. A few days ago when Birdee almost died—and she really did almost die. Think bleeding out in a horror movie with blood spurting everywhere almost dying. I got to talk to one of two friends that Birdee has. She said that you have texted Birdee twice. Twice, Vito, in months. Was that whole thing with Mable, Romeo and the other girls just a show? Did you act all ‘fatherly’ with her because you knew you’d be under heavy scrutiny? Or did you actually care? Because if you actually care, I’m going to give you one piece of advice. Try harder. Because if you don’t, I’m going to encourage her to cut you off, because she knows damn well and good that she’s not your priority.” I leveled him with a scathing look. “She had the chance to put her own father down as her emergency contact, and she didn’t. She put me down, a man that’d just literally assaulted her with his words. But still, I’m better than you.”
“You yelled at her?” Vito asked in indignation.
“Yeah, and I busted her door down to do it. I was pissed as fuck, and I yelled at her when I shouldn’t have. I’ve spent the last few days trying to apologize, and it was when someone called me to tell me that she was about to die that I got to finally apologize for being the biggest asshole in three states. She forgave me, because she’s one of the best people I know. But you? You’ve been messing up for most of her life, Vito.” I looked at his wife then. “And you’ve been letting him.”
Grace looked down at her feet, a look of shame crossing her features.
“All of you have misjudged her.” I looked at Cody. “You started something a few months ago. Something that I have a feeling you all three should be bonding over. Yet, here you are with only Mable. That’s how it’s been since. You both put on this false sense of camaraderie, then dropped her when it was no longer convenient for you.”