Page 20 of Out of Bounds (Atlanta Demon Series #4)

“They’ve known for months that something was up. You’ve been spending time with them at your house. They can sense the shift; may not know why there is one, but they know it’s there. It’s time for you to lay it all out so you guys can heal.”

“I know.”I sighed. “I never wanted to break their hearts.”

“We never set out to do half the shit that we do. But it’s life, and unfortunately, you can’t take it back. Proof of your infidelity is sitting back there. They’re kids. Eventually, they will get over it and embrace him.”

“That’s all I want.”

“I know, baby.”

“Let me get them to my house and settled. Tell Sai I’ll hit her up later.”

“Will do.” She smiled before sauntering away.

Cracking my knuckles, I craned my neck from side to side before pulling open the driver’s side door. It was now or never.

Four sets of eyes stared back at me in bewilderment. Aurora was confused as hell. I could easily spot that because her mouth was slightly ajar and she was just there—watching. Sophie was steadily watching me, too, but at least I could tell that she understood a little of what I’d just explained.

Maddie Claire and Charleigh Anne’s eyes were filled with tears.

When I got them back to my place, I tried to soften the blow with pizza and a game of Uno.

That worked for a little bit until Kreed woke up and started crying.

His presence led to Sophie asking why he had my name and how was he their brother.

I’d explained to them that Mommy and Daddy were separated because Daddy made a mistake, which resulted in a baby brother who didn’t come from their mom.

I was on the edge of my seat waiting for somebody to ask me anything.

The four of them were just there, still staring.

“Bug… You got any questions?”

Maddie Claire shook her head and rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand. It was Charleigh Anne who broke the awkward silence. “I want my mommy,” she finally cried out.

“Shit.” Getting up from my chair, I ambled toward the couch they sat on and pulled her to her feet. “Baby girl, tell me what you’re feeling,” I begged. “Whatever it is, I can take it.”

“I want my mommy,” she cried harder. I’m guessing the other three felt the same way because shortly thereafter, they started crying too.

Masai ’bout to curse me the fuck out.

Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I walked away and dialed her number.

“Hello,” she answered in a whisper.

I knew she’d gone back to work today, and I hated to do this, but I low-key needed her help. I guess I was taking too long to respond because she asked, “Kreed, is everything okay?”

“Nawl, Sai. I need you to come over to the house, please. The girls are crying and asking for you.”

She sighed. “Damnit, Kreed. I’m on the way.” Masai ended the call quickly.

I went back into the living room, where the girls were huddled up on the sofa, holding onto each other.

I felt like shit. I thought for sure it was going to go better than this.

I kept trying to get Maddie Claire to say something, but every time I spoke to her, the harder she cried.

Eventually, I gave up trying and just sat there, waiting for their mom to show up.

It took Masai thirty minutes to get to the crib. When she walked through the door, the first thing out of her mouth was, “Where my kids at, Kreed?”

I scrubbed my hands down my face and pointed. “In the living room.”

Masai looked me up and down before sauntering away from the door. When she made it to where they were, she took one look at the girl’s face and broke down in tears. I’d gotten them to stop crying, but now that she was here, their faces were full of tears once again.

“Mommy, he cheated, and now we have a brother.”

“Yes, Bug,” she confirmed Maddie Claire’s analysis of what I’d told them.

“Is that why we don’t live together anymore?”

“Yes, Bug.”

“I don’t want to be here. I wanna go home,” Maddie Claire spoke up and began to weep again.

“You can’t leave, Bug. Your dad wants to spend time with you. He wants you to meet your baby brother.”

“I don’t want a baby brother!” Charleigh Anne fretted. “I already got one. We don’t need two!”

“Can we at least give your father a chance?” she asked and tossed her eyes over to me. “Can you girls at least do that for me?” she pleaded.

Sophie and Aurora both nodded while Maddie and Charleigh just stared at me.

Seconds later, Maddie Claire asked, “If we give him a chance, can you take us home to Nana?”

“Let’s just see what he has to say, and if you guys still want to leave, then we can.” Sliding down to the floor beside the sofa, Masai brought her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around them.

“Aight, so listen…” I said and sat across from them.

“Daddy knows he messed up. I beat myself up ’bout it every single day.

It was never Daddy’s intention to hurt you, girl’s…

or Mommy. I messed up bad,” I reiterated.

“Because Daddy messed up, I had to move out. Us not being under the same roof doesn’t mean I don’t want to be there because I do.

And me having another baby doesn’t mean that I love either of you any less.

It just means that Daddy has to love on you guys a little more since I won’t get to see you every day.

“I wanted y’all to meet your baby brother because, believe it or not, he’s an only child and, as messed up as the situation is, he deserves to receive the same love Daddy gives y’all.”

“Will Mommy be his mommy?” Sophie asked.

The gasp that seeped out of Masai’s mouth proved that she wasn’t prepared to hear that question. Instead of letting me answer, she spoke up, “No, baby. I won’t. Kreed Jr. has his own mommy just like you guys do.”

“Why he gotta have our daddy then?”

“Sophie…” I sighed. “He shares a daddy with you guys, and that’s it. He has his own mom. I wished you?—”

Masai must’ve known what I was getting ready to say because she called my name. “Kreed, don’t do that.”

“You right, my bad.” Rubbing the back of my neck, I thought about how I wanted to say this. “Sophie… it’s just one of those things that I can’t explain until you get older.”

“Okay.” She dropped her head in defeat.

“Like I was saying, me being his daddy doesn’t change anything for any of you. I’m still one call away. If you need me, I will come running. It’s as simple as that.”

“Is that okay with you two?” Sai asked Maddie Claire and Charleigh Anne. Maddie Claire shrugged her shoulders while Charleigh Anne simply nodded.

Masai had gotten them to calm down, which made me extremely happy because all of that crying was making my ass feel like shit.

I still felt like shit, but their stoic faces were better than the crying, disfigured ones.

The next few questions they asked were directed at their mom.

While she continued trying to reassure them, I used that opportunity to slip out of the room to check on the boys.

I’d gotten both of them down for a nap and left them in my room while I chatted with the girls. When I stepped into the room, Kreed was squirming, so I went ahead and grabbed him up so that I could change his diaper.

I figured Masai would want to see Kree before she left, so once I’d finished getting Kreed Jr. together, I grabbed a sleepy Kree up and balanced both of them in my arms until I made it back into the living room. I walked over to Masai and held Kree out for her.

Her eyes landed on the baby, and she sat there unmoved, just looking at him until I called out, “Grab him, Sai.”

“Oh… My bad.” She grabbed Kree out of my arms and held him to her chest. I could feel her eyes on me as I walked Kreed Jr. over to the playpen I had fixed for him in the corner. Once I laid him down, I turned back toward the rest of my family.

Masai’s eyes were still fixated on the playpen. I know having to see him up close probably had her feeling a way, and although I wanted her here, I knew it would be best if she left. “Sai, if you think they’re okay now, I won’t hold you up.”

“Huh?” she asked and trailed her eyes up to me. I couldn’t miss the tears lining her lower eyelids if I wanted to. “What’d you say?”

“I was saying… if you think we’re good, then you don’t have to stick around. I know this may be uncomfortable, and I’m sorry you had to see it.”

“Oh!” She cleared her throat and stood. “Yeah, I… uh… I should leave.”

Rising from my seated position, I waited for her to tell the kids bye and that she would see them when I brought them back before trailing her to the front door. Before she slipped out, I felt compelled to apologize once again.

“They were asking for you, and I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t mean for this to happen, Masai.”

“Right.” She nodded and placed her hand in the center of my chest. “Sign the papers, Kreed. Please… I beg of you. Please release me from this hell that I’m living in. I don’t want to be on this ride any longer.”

Masai didn’t let me say shit. She patted my chest before slipping out of the door.

I stood there for a few seconds and watched her.

When she backed out of my driveway, we caught each other’s eyes.

The sympathetic smile she gave me confirmed that there wasn’t a need for me to try anymore.

My wife had accepted that this was the end. Now, it was my turn.

Damn.