Insolent (Crimson Elite 4)

“He’s devilish handsome, though, isn’t he?”

“Johnny…” I warn him.

“Admit it, you want to sit on that man’s face then take him for a ride.”

“You’re disgusting.”

“I speak the truth.” He laughs. “But honestly, I should be back in a few weeks, two months at the latest. Stay until at least then. Help a man out!”

“If he doesn’t fire me first.”

“He won’t. Creed’s the one in charge of the women.”

“So, don’t piss off the scary man.”

He chuckles. “If you don’t do that then you should be fine.”

We say our goodbyes as I look up at the dark building in which I’ve been living another life.

It feels good—to be someone else.5DarbyShe’s a feminist, I’m sure of it. Everything I say she turned into me hating woman. I don’t hate fucking women, my business is built from women. Without them I wouldn’t be where I am today, of that I have no doubt. Walking into my house, I find Ma asleep with Charles on her chest. Picking him up from her, I carry him to his bed, kiss his beautiful little cheek, and step out.

Ma’s already walking out the door with a wave as she goes. “He was good today, you’re a lucky man, Darby.” She closes the door behind her.

I collapse into my chair. It’s the first day I’ve spent away from him since he was born. Granted, I’ve taken an hour or two here or there when El was here with Annabelle, but that’s it. The rest of the time it’s my boy and me. And that has to change now because I need to get back to work, and today proved that with how everything is. I run the place. I built it to what it is today. And if I don’t go back, I’m afraid of what it will become. But my hours will have to change. Charles will come first, he will always be first in my life no matter what’s happening at the club.

I start flicking through my phone at the resumes I saw of the girls I didn’t want to give a chance to today. Echo did security checks on all of them, and I can’t rely on Ma for the rest of my life. She has her own grandchild she’ll want to see and should be spending time with. Turning to check the clock, I notice it’s early, or late, I’m not even sure which anymore. My mind is so all over the place with how I’m feeling. So, I call the one person who’s constant, even if he doesn’t know it yet.

“Son…” He knows it’s me without me even uttering a word.

“Dad…” Our relationship is strange, no doubt about that. We are two completely different men, always have been. We don’t see eye to eye on many things, but something we do agree on is that we don’t like people. Or maybe it’s just a trait I picked up from him, and I’ve run with it.

“Are you just getting in?” He huffs through the phone, and I know he’s just getting up and more than likely making his morning coffee before he starts the day. He does this every day, a man of routine, before the sun has even risen, whereas I’m only just about to go to bed.

“Yes, look… we need to talk.” I haven’t told him about Charles yet. Because I’m not sure how to tell him. He saw when I was growing up that farm life wasn’t for me, so he used all his money for my education to make my life better, to give me what I needed. That also meant our relationship struggled because we didn’t like the same things, and we couldn’t have normal conversations. They felt forced all the time.

“I’m listening.” And I know he will be—if you have the man’s attention he gives you his all. No one else can interrupt him. It’s something I’ve admired growing up with him, because not once was I ignored. Granted, over time, he gave me his full attention when I wanted it or even when I didn’t want it. But nonetheless, he gave it to me anyway.

“I have a son,” I rush out.

While waiting for him to speak, to tell me I’m crazy, no words come. So, I wait, knowing he’s processing everything, and soon, when he’s ready, he will speak. I stand up to make my own coffee as I wait for him.

“And the mother?” he finally asks.

He’s a smart man, one of the smartest I’ve ever met.

Why he stuck to farming and didn’t go after more I will never know.

“She died after childbirth.”

“I see.” He doesn’t, but he will be trying to work it all out.

“You have the child then?”

“I do.”

“He would be best cared for in your hands. Let me guess… you haven’t been working?”

“I worked today.”

He chuckles. “Ma stepped in?”