She spots me and smiles genuinely. Brooke is always happy to see me as I am her. I was never allowed to see her much after I got married, my father wouldn't allow it, he said I had my own life now, and Brooke wasn't part of that. I'd spent our whole lives protecting her from my father and his constant beatings. As soon as I wasn't there anymore, his attention turned to her.
I will forever hate myself for what she went through, but I will always be proud of her for finally plucking the courage to be with the man she loves.
Brooke practically skips towards me, her yellow summer dress flowing around her knees, and l see her baby belly showing through. “Hey, sis. To what do I owe the pleasure twice in one week?” She kisses my cheek, and I wince, hoping she didn't notice.
She did.
She squints her eyes while taking a seat beside me at the small round table I acquired for us. “Your cheek is bruised, and your lips busted.” She points out the obvious. I guess the makeup I used to hide the bruise on my cheek didn't work. “We're also inside. Take your sunglasses off.”
Great.
Slowly, I pull them off my face and look up at her.
“Oh, Marnie,”
“It looks worse than it is.”
“Marnie,” Brooke leans in closer. “You have two black eyes! I dread to think where else you have bruises.” I lower my eyes. I feel foolish enough without my baby sister, giving me a lecture. “Babe,” She takes my hand in hers, gently squeezing it. “I hate seeing you like this. You're my sister, and I want the best for you. I'm so scared for you, Marnie, I'm scared that one day soon I'm going to get a phone call to let me know that he's finally killed you.”
“I know, that's why I left him, Brooke.” Her eyes widen in surprise. “I'm serious. I can't take it anymore. Please, I need your help.”
“Of course. Anything.”
“I need a place to stay. Just until I find a place...”
“You can stay with me,” She cuts me off in a hurry with a smile. She squeezes my hand again. “We have room, and I wouldn't be able to rest if you were anywhere else. I'd just worry that Paul would find you. You'll be safe with me.”
I smile. She's such a good sister, a good person. “Are you sure Hawk won't mind?”
“Hawk will be just fine with it. He knows what you mean to me, and that man loves me.” She giggles to herself. He does love her; he loves her more than anything. You only have to look at him to see that.
“He doesn't want you with Paul either. The only reason he hasn't beaten the asshole to death is that I asked him not to, and I only asked him not to because you didn't want that. Besides, Gabriel will love having his aunt Marnie around.” I do love that little boy so much.
“Okay, but it'll only be for a little while.”
“Do you need help collecting your stuff?”
“No,” I shake my head. “Everything I need is in the trunk of my car.”
A decaf tea each later, and we're laughing about old times. The few memories we had that were good. Brooke hasn't mentioned anything about the bruises other than what she said earlier, but I know she's dying to. It's all well and good hiding the truth about Paul, but what good has that done for me in the past?
No, I'm done pretending everything is fine. I'm done letting people think that I'm happy when I'm not, and I'm done putting everyone else first. It's time I put me first for a change.
“Can I ask one more thing of you?”
“Sure, Marnie, what's up?”
“I'm pregnant.” I'm not one for beating around the bush. I don't see the point of faffing around when you can get straight to the point.
Brooke's eyes are so wide, and I know what she's thinking. How am I pregnant when my husband can't have children?
“I'm not going into it right now, Brooke, but obviously the baby isn't Paul's. I slept with someone else a couple of months ago. I'm not proud of myself, but... I don't know, Brooke.”
“Is this the reason Paul beat you? Because he found out you cheated?”
“No,” I shake my head. “He did that because he's a dumb fuck. I cheated once, he cheated... I lost count years ago. Look, I slept with a guy at your wedding, and he got me pregnant. It was reckless, but I can't change it. I won't feel guilty about it either because I have wanted this for longer than I can remember.” That's the truth.
I didn't sleep with Draven Vidal in hopes he'd impregnate me, the thought never entered my head. He was nice to me, and he made me feel things no one else ever has. I should have known the man would have super sperm to go along with that monster cock. I guess I knew deep down when he came inside of me that we'd end up like this.
“I know. Wanna tell me who the father is?”
“Well, that's what I need your help with.” I shift uncomfortably. Might as well just get on with it. “The man I slept with is Draven. Draven Vidal.”
“What the hell?!”
“I know, okay?” I hiss between my teeth while looking around the coffee shop. People are looking! “I didn't know who he was, Brooke. He was nice to me, nothing like I'd heard. No one has ever treated me the way he did. He treated me like I was worth something. We had an amazing night together,” I smile at the memory. Inappropriate right now, I know.
“Point is, I need you to help me get a meeting with him. Because regardless of who he may be, he's my child's father, and every child deserves to know both parents. So will you help me?”
Brooke looks at me for a long moment before nodding her head.
Good, but it needs to be today. I will not wait around.
Chapter Two
Draven
I'm a tough guy.
A hardened man.
A dangerous man.
I can handle anything, and everything life has to throw at me, but what I can't handle is clingy women. Serves me right for fucking everything that moves. Everything with a pussy between its legs, at least. Why the hell shouldn't I? I'm Draven Vidal, Mob Boss. King of my fucking world!
I'm not a liar, and I don't lead women on, I tell them what they're getting from me right off the bat. Half an hour if they're lucky. Two hours if I'm in the mood for more. Shit, I fuck some women all night long if I feel like it. I'm a man with a lot of energy. Never has one been to my home, I'm not about that shit, I take them to fancy hotels and give them the night of their lives. One thing they have to get through their thick skulls is that I fuck you, then I'm done with you — end of story.
So what do I do with clingy women? Fuck all. Once I'm done, I'm done. There are no gifts to keep you quiet, and no presents as a thank you. I'll have someone drop you home; I'm not irresponsible, I wouldn't put a woman in danger. Unless she's too much of psycho, then I'll pop a cap in the bitch.
There are a couple of things you should know about me. I'm a stone-cold killer with no conscience. I wouldn't say I don't have a heart, I do, however, it's all but dead.
There are but a few things I give a damn about in this life, my sister, my half-brother, their spouses – because they love them – my little niece, my nephews, my cousin and her children, and this, my crime family. I have fuck all in this life but them.