Ten(24)

“I’m Leon,” the guy still in the room says. “I’m Alex’s best friend.”

Damn, that’s good to hear. I don’t want to compete with anyone for her affection but if it comes to it, I will, because there is no way in hell I’m losing her or this boy.

“Her Mom is on her way.”

Perfect.

“Police are saying this was intentional?”

I gesture to the door and then release DJ from my arms. “I’m just going to chat with Leon outside for a moment. Can you hold your Mom’s hand for me so she knows you’re here?”

“Will she know?” he asks, his eyes drooping.

“She will definitely know you’re here.”

He smiles and hesitantly takes his Mom’s hand. I watch him for a few seconds and then follow Leon into the corridor.

He isn’t comfortable, it shows in his mannerisms, the way he has his arms folded and the tense jaw.

“What did Alex tell you about me?”

“Only that you went to prison and didn’t want anything to do with her.” His tone is judgmental and I can’t blame him; he has no idea what really happened.

“Well, it’s not quite as cut and dry as that. Her brother caused a lot of mess.”

His arms drop and his brow furrows. “Wait. Alex has a brother?”

If he’s her best friend how can he not know that?

I haven’t spoken to Jonah since that day.

“How long have you known Alex?”

“Eight years, but she’s never mentioned a brother. It’s just her and her Mom.”

“Are you gay?” I have to fucking ask. I need to know what this is between them, because if he’s not gay then how can he just be her best friend? She’s beautiful and special; no man could be around her for eight years and not be more, or at least want more.

“What kind of question is that? What the hell does that even matter?”

“Just answer the question.” I pin him with a stare and it works.

He shakes his head and lets out an unamused laugh. “No, I’m not gay.”

“Do you love her?”

“What?”

“Alex. Do you love her?”

“Yes, of course I do. She’s my best friend.”

“No. Do you love her?”

There’s a silent beat that passes between us despite the hectic noise of people walking up and down the corridor. “Yes, I love her.”

“Does she love you?” I have to know no matter if it hurts me. I have to know what I’m up against.

“She’s never had room.” His eyelids have become heavy with the truth of his words.

“Room for what?”

“Anyone else but you. I thought she would let go and move on eventually, but she never could.” He brings his hands up and rubs them down his face. “But I love her enough to just be there for her, and I love DJ and will always be there for him. I don’t need to justify or explain myself to you and I’m only telling you this so you know that she hasn’t been alone. They’ve both had someone there who loves them and would do anything for them, and that will always be the case.”

As much I want to dislike him, I can’t. He has been there looking out for them when I couldn’t be. I was so hell bent on hating her, I left her letters unopened and refused her visitation whenever she applied for it. I punished myself by being stubborn and short-sighted. I missed everything.

“I didn’t know about DJ, and now that I do I’m going to be a father to him,” I warn him so he knows things are different now.

“That’s not up to you.”

“Like hell it isn’t.”

“Listen, Dalton, until Alex wakes up and tells me otherwise, DJ will stay in my care. I don’t give a shit that you share DNA. All I know is that you didn’t want anything to do with either of them. Whether that’s changed or not, Alex left DJ in my care.”

He walks around me and into Alex’s room. A part of me wants to drag him back out and beat him with my caveman stick but I don’t want my family knowing about DJ just yet. If ever. Especially the way things are at the moment. It wouldn’t be safe for him. I’m not safe for him.

“I need to go home to shower and change. I’m going to give you my number and ask that you call me if her condition changes.”

He nods but it’s not enough.

“I need you to promise me you’ll call me.”

“I will.”

He hands me his cell and I quickly add my number. I look in the room and inhale a deep breath as I look at our son holding his Mom’s hand.





I push through the doors to the bar and stop when I see Jimmy sitting at the bar with a bottle of Jack. There’s no one else here. “Help yourself,” I say, pointing to the bottle he’s already enjoying.

“We need to talk.”

“I need to shower and get back to the hospital.” I walk past him to the stairs.

“Did you see him?”

I don’t turn around but I stop and wait for him to elaborate.

“Your son.”

He has my attention. I join him at the bar and as he’s about to pour himself another drink, I place my hand over the glass.

“You knew?”

“Of course I did. I was her father’s best friend. He hated what he did. Who’s ear do you think had to listen to his sins?”

“He hated what he did? I don’t fucking believe it or give a shit. I still did ten fucking years for his son! He let that happen knowing Alex was carrying my kid.”

“He was the father of a sixteen-year-old girl who was pregnant by a Moore.”

“I won’t let that be an excuse for him, and if that’s how he justified his cowardly, selfish actions then I’m glad he’s gone so I don’t have to pity him for being pathetic.”

“The walls are closing in, Dalton. You can suffocate between them or you can get out now while you can.”

“What the fuck does that mean?”

He stands and pulls on his jacket. “It means I don’t agree with what Murphy did to you. You can be a father, a good man to Alex, or you can go down with your father’s empire. I’m giving you a chance to clean the books for this place. It’s the only chance I’ll give you, and when I come for your uncle I won’t go lenient on anyone who is involved with him, including you if you choose the wrong side.”

Does he have something on him? Does he know I’m the one running the empire now? No, he couldn’t I wasn’t stupid, I keep my distance from the product and work from afar to protect myself but the bar’s books along with other businesses we own are corrupt as fuck. What if he does have a way of bringing us all down? Alex.

I can’t go back down. I can’t. I won’t.

The accountant I use for the books is the best there is, and if the books for the bar were subpoenaed they would look legit. But the money in the safe would take some explaining and it takes time to get it through the bar without raising suspicions. We have Swiss offshore accounts and have runs to deliver the funds to those accounts in cash. It’s risky to carry that much money but we pay an elite few girls to do all the carrying because they come from there and have family there. They are much less likely to be questioned or have their luggage checked.

“What will you need from me?”

“Nothing. I have someone on the inside. This will be happening soon, Dalton. I’m giving you this chance to get out clean. Don’t waste it.”





That incessant noise is hurting my head. Why won’t someone turn it off? My fingers twitch and I feel someone squeeze them. What the hell is happening?

Spinning and sound of glass shattering around me flashes into my mind. I try to gasp for air and I panic. I was in a car accident.

“She’s moving, she’s moving!”

I hear DJ’s voice and want to cry at the sound. My eyes hurt and feel weighted.

“Alex, baby.”

Dalton?

“Dalton,” I breathe, and regret it when my throat burns. “Water.”

“Sure, baby. Here.” I feel something at my mouth and I open it to find a straw placed between my lips. I suck and relish the cold fluid as it coats my throat.

My eyes battle to open and when they do, Dalton’s face is looking down into mine.

“Damn, it’s good to see those eyes of yours.”

“How long was I out?”

“A couple of days. Look who’s here to see you.”

My eyes well when my baby comes into view. I lift my hands, trying to bring him in for a hug, but wires prevent me from full movement.

“I missed you, Mom.”

“I missed you too, baby I’m sorry you had to come and rescue me.” I stroke the hair back from his face.

“Hey,” a familiar voice calls out.

“Leon.” I smile. “Come here.” He’s standing so far away. He walks around the bed to stand by my side, bending down to drop a light peck to my forehead.

“You gave us quite a scare.”

“I’m sorry. What happened? Someone was so close. Did they hit me?”

The events are a little foggy.

“That doesn’t matter right now. All that matters is you getting better,” Dalton tells me, gripping my hand in his. It’s surreal seeing both of them together like this, father and son. Does he see how much DJ looks like him? Will he now regret missing out? Nurses walk into the room, distracting me from my thoughts.