Chapter 27 #2
“Created a distraction. As soon as they thought their warehouse—where they house their shit—was in danger, they flew out of the house, leaving her behind. She was shooting up when Con walked in.”
I swallow at the mention of Con’s name. When he turned up at the trailer earlier and saw the state of Theo, he stormed right back out again. And now I know why.
“He helped her OD?”
“Seems Theo isn’t the only kid you’ve got wrapped around your finger. Con’s got a sweet spot for you and the boy.”
“He has a sweet spot for all the women. I think there’s something there. Something happened to him. I’m not sure what, but I can sense it’s bad. I guess now we know what his trigger is. Are you going to punish him?”
“For what? Being loyal and protective? That’s what we want in our prospects. I’m not happy he didn’t get the okay from me first. Going off solo is not what the MC is all about, but he’s young. He’ll learn.”
I nod, glancing over at Theo before turning back to Havoc.
“I’m not giving him up. I don’t care what has to be done, what I have to pay or sacrifice, I’m keeping him.
Think you could put all your presidential badassery to good use and get both his piece of shit parental units to give up their rights to him so we can adopt him? ”
“You couldn’t just ask for something simple like a kidney, could you?”
“You wanted me to put my faith in you. This is me doing just that.”
“Me and my big fucking mouth.”
I grin up at him. His lips twitch as he crosses his arms over his chest.
“Kruger is fucked.”
“I’ve seen you with Nevaeh. Don’t pretend you’re any different.”
He doesn’t react to that, but we both know it’s true.
“Delphi?”
I spin at the sound of my name and hurry over to the bed.
“Hey, welcome back.” I reach for his hand as Havoc steps closer, his hands fisted at his sides.
“Hey, kid.”
Theo frowns. “Kruger?”
“Kruger is grabbing some supplies. He should be back any minute. This is Havoc,” I tell him, gently wrapping my hand around his wrist.
“Hey, Pres,” Theo whispers. Havoc looks at me, and I know in that moment that Havoc will do anything in his power to help us keep Theo, no matter what it takes.
He nods to me before moving closer to Theo. “How you feeling, kid?”
“Like a dumb fuck.”
I sigh. “Language.”
“You get a free pass when you’re in the hospital. It’s in the rules.”
“Oh, is that right?”
Havoc chuckles. “Kid might be on to something.” He sighs before pulling out a chair and sitting down beside him. “You up to telling me what happened?”
“Yeah,” Theo replies, sounding like he’d rather have a root canal than tell him. But he starts anyway when I give his wrist a supportive squeeze.
“I was on my way home from school when Josh pulled up beside me. He said Mom was in the hospital, and it was bad. If I wanted to say goodbye, now was the time to do it. God, I was so fucking stupid. I was so shocked, I got in the passenger seat. Before I could ask what happened, he hit me with something. When I woke up, I was on the kitchen floor in agony, and he was standing over me, kicking and shouting. I don’t even know what he said.
I couldn’t focus. My eyes were already starting to swell shut, but I spotted my phone on the floor.
When he ran out of steam, he went outside for a smoke.
I grabbed the phone, crawled to the bedroom, and called Delphi.
I thought he’d come back and finish me off, but then Delphi was there and I knew everything would be okay.
” His voice shakes with both pain and emotion by the time he’s done.
“Hey, it’s alright, you’re safe here. You must be nuts if you think Havoc’s gonna let anyone within a mile of you.”
“It wasn’t me I was scared for. It was you. I didn’t think. I just needed you, but then I realized I was dragging you into danger—”
“You don’t worry about that shit, Theo, you hear me? It’s my job to protect you, not the other way around.”
“Language.”
I roll my eyes as Havoc grins. “Smart ass.”
We’re all quiet for a minute before Theo speaks again, this time his voice little more than a whisper. “Havoc?”
“Right here, kid.”
“She dead?”
I tense, glad Theo can’t see the anguish in my eyes. I might loathe the woman with the fire of a thousand suns, but it’s still his mom.
“Last I heard, she was still alive. The prospects went to find her to tell her about you and found her. She’d OD’d. Con called it in. She’s on her way here as we speak.”
“Okay.”
“Theo—” I start, but he shakes his head.
“Don’t. I know you’re going to make excuses for her, but don’t bother. She OD’d six times already. I know because I’m usually the one to find her. She never listens, Delphi. She never learns, and you know why? Because she doesn’t care. Not about her home, her kid, or herself.”
He lifts his free hand and swipes a tear from his face. “And I can’t keep doing this. I can’t be the only one who cares what happens anymore. It’s exhausting.”
“Then let go and let us catch you,” Havoc tells him. Straight up, no bullshit about giving it time for the dust to settle, or you only get one mom speech. Just let go, be a kid, and let the adults deal with the adult shit.
And just like that, I welcome Raven Souls back into my heart.