Debt Collector's Due

“Because he knew I’d take care of my family.”

Kier narrows his gaze. “What is he talking about?”

“Alfie is more than an old friend. He’s your father.”

Kier pulls away from me, and I stumble before I find my balance as he takes off toward his room. The door slams. I cringe. “Well, at least he didn’t slap me,” I say.

“I’d have spanked his bottom if he ever treated you with anything other than respect.”

“Let me go after him. This is a lot to hear.”

“No.”

“Excuse me,” I say.

“From now on we’re in this together. No more facing this by yourself. All in. Remember?”

It’s a foreign concept, sharing him with someone else this way. I want to hold him to me and roar like a mama bear ready to defend her cub, but I can’t. This is his father. His rights were taken away without his knowledge or consent. He didn’t run away from his responsibility, so I can’t treat him as If he did. Kier needs to feel supported and loved. He needs a win to combat the losses, so I swallow my pride and nod.

“Y-yeah?”

I continue forward with Alfie at my side. This is going to take a hell of a lot of getting used to. I knock on the door.

“Kieron Are you going to allow us to explain this?”

“You knew who he was all this time. Did you know he was here?”

“No, K. I had no clue. I mean yes, I figured if. If he made it, he would have returned to the United Kingdom. After seeing what happened to him, I thought he was dead.”

The door opens, and his frightened, tear-stained face appears in the crack. “You saw it?”

I cover my mouth and node as the memories rush back in.

“So you understand, she couldn’t tell you what she didn’t know, and I didn’t know at all, or I would’ve moved heaven and earth to reach you. Both of you. I was under the impression staying away would be best for both of us. The man who did this –he threatened to end my life if we ever had contact again, and I was afraid for your Ma. I’m sorry all of this kept us apart for so long, son. But I’m here now, and we’re going to become a family.”

“Mom, we aren’t going home?” he asks wide-eyed.

“Baby, we can’t. It’s not safe.”

“Because of what Papa does?”

His words make me gasp. “You know?”

He nods his head. “I’m not dumb or blind Ma. People talk, and I’ve pieced together things. I knew you didn’t like talking about it, so I didn’t.”

“Oh, baby. I never want you to feel you have to keep things for me.”

He glances down and shrugs his slender shoulders. All this time I wasn’t fooling anyone but myself. My cheeks heat as embarrassment fills me. Alfie squeezes my shoulders. “We’re dealing with a lot. But there are things we need to do to keep you safe, yeah?” he says.

“Like what?” He mumbles.

“Well for one, a name change. These men after you. They care about legacies. I’ve told them yours rests with me.”

“Mom too?”

“Yes, we’ll get married.”

“Mom, you said you were never going to do that,” Kier says.