Page 101 of Seduction

“You think so?” He raises a brow. “For a smart man, you’re being a real dumbass right now. What happened to all the shit you spewed to me not too long ago?”

“Yeah, but even after everything I told you, you had to figure it out on your own, right?”

“Well, this is my sister, motherfucker, so you better figure that shit out fast. I don’t want to have to kill your ass. The cleanup would be a bitch, even for Crow.”

“Whatever.”

“Listen.” He pushes to his feet. “I’m going to give you some advice that a sometimes-smart man gave me. Stop being a fucktard. Just patch her and be done with it.”

He leaves me after tossing my own words back at me, joining Raven. I watch him kiss her neck, laying his palm on her stomach. I wanted what he had, and I’m so close to having it. I’ve loved her since she was born. There’s no doubt there. I care about her, know without a doubt that she’s mine. My gaze flicks to Mikey, asleep in Nita’s lap. I love him as if he were my own, even before I got with his mother. All this time, I’ve been asking Ellen to open her heart, but it seems I’ve been keeping mine sheltered. I guess a part of me has been afraid that she’ll reject me, that she’ll never be over Eddie.

Ellen’s getting my patch, no doubt about it. Whether or not she’s getting my heart is another matter.

***

“Babe?”

Her lids flutter, head slowly turning toward my voice. The surgery went well. They didn’t have to remove too much breast tissue, and with the help of the cosmetic surgeon, scarring will be minimal. I know she’ll be happy about that.

When her eyes open, a smile graces her lips. Chopper, Gage, Raven, and Nita move closer, crowding around the bed.

“Hey, darlin’.” Chopper brushes her hair away from her face.

She looks around the room, losing the smile while studying everyone’s faces individually.

“Shorty, you okay?” Gage asks, voice laced with concern.

She turns back to me, brows furrowed.

“Ellen?”

Vacant eyes blink up at me.

“Who are you?”

***Ellen***

They all look at each other in confusion. I’m trying my best not to break character and burst out laughing. I can’t believe they’re falling for this! Daddy and Gage concentrate their stares on Jon, like he’s supposed to know what’s going on. He shrugs, as clueless as the rest of them. Turning back to me, he takes my hand.

“Do you remember what happened?”

“I….” I’m about to embellish on the lie when I notice the fear in Raven and Nita’s expressions. Suddenly, it’s not so funny anymore. “Sorry. Bad joke.”

A collective breath is released.

“Don’t play like that, Ellen,” Daddy chastises me.

“I’m sorry. But come on, they operated on my boob, not my brain.”

“Doesn’t matter. Things are tense enough around here.”

“You’re right. I shouldn’t have done that.” I drop my gaze, feeling eight years old again.

Daddy takes a deep breath, moving closer. “How do you feel, baby girl?”

“Okay. Just ready to put this all behind me.”

“Darren says we should be able to take you home tomorrow,” Jon says.