Page 70 of Hold 'Em Tight

I can’t leave when she needs someone. I pull out my phone, ignoring the missed calls and texts, and message the one person I know will come and not judge her—-Alex. I leave through the back door and hide once again by the tree until he comes and they both leave.

Then I order an UBER and go back to my prison.

It’s dark when I pull up to the house, and only the front lights are on. I sneak in through the side door and walk in the shadows until I reach the stairs. I don’t want to deal with Missi tonight, so I continue past the master bedroom, heading for one of the spares.

Giggling catches my ears as I pass and I freeze, listening.What the fuck?

I laugh as I smack my hand against the door, flinging it open. “You have to be fucking kidding me!” I roar, taking in the scene and wishing I could bleach my eyes.

“Lenny,” Missi gasps as she rolls off my father’s naked lap, grabbing the throw blanket from the end of the bed to cover herself.

I roll my eyes and scoff. “This is a new low even for you, Mis. I could care less that you’re cheating on me, but you heard what the doctor said. No sex until after the baby is born. Do you really care so little about our daughter?”

How could someone so evil be the mother of my child? Where did the universe go so wrong?

She huffs and crosses her arms over her naked chest, letting the blanket fall, as if trying to entice me. Yeah, not a chance in hell.

“Oh, shut your mouth, Lenny. Don’t forget that I am in charge here, and your father was only showing me some attention. You don’t even touch me. All you care about is the baby. I have needs!”

I’ve heard enough. I shake my head and turn to leave. My father hasn’t said anything, but he has a smirk on his lips and a look in his eyes, like he knows something that I don’t.

“Whatever, Missi,” I mumble and leave them. After the door closes, I turn for my room and someone grabs my hand, making me jump.

“Who–”

“Shh, come with me.”

“Mom?” I whisper, letting her lead me down the hall to my bedroom. She shuts the door, then flips on the light, making me blink from the brightness.

“What are you doing here?” She looks wrecked. Her hair is a mess and she’s vibrating, staring at the door as if someone is going to barge in at any moment.

“I came to see you for Thanksgiving. There are things you don’t know, baby, and I just can’t keep them to myself anymore. I’m sorry, Lennox. I failed you as a mother, but it stops now.”

She pulls out an envelope from her coat pocket and hands it to me. Her eyes are sad and glassy. “Please know that I didn’t have a choice, but you do. I wish I could have told you about them sooner, but you had to find out for yourself. Stupid fucking NDA.”

My eyes widen as I take the envelope, opening it. It’s a flash drive.

“What is this, Mom?” I ask her softly. She looks on the verge of panic.

“The truth, Lennox. I can’t be here. I have to leave before he finds out what I did. I love you, Son. I always will.”

She opens the door, looks down the hall, then takes off for the back staircase, heading to the kitchen.

I shut my door and lock it, then move to the closet and grab my old laptop. It takes a few minutes to boot up. I plug in the USB, and wish she never gave me this. It may be my ticket to freedom, but it only makes shit more complicated.

Everything’s a lie, and nothing will ever be the same again. I should be happy. Relieved. She just gave me a way out of this hell, but I feel the opposite. I’m fucking heartbroken.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

“Hey. You okay?” Donny nudges my shoulder with his.

I snap out of my daydream, blinking a few times to clear the fog. “Huh?”

“You haven’t touched your pizza,” he says, his brows furrowing together as he frowns at me.

“I’m not hungry.” I sigh, pushing my plate toward him. “You can have it.”

“Okay.” He shrugs, no protesting from him.