Chapter 23 #2
“And it’s not like he’s your responsibility,” I pointed out, my voice softer but still direct.
“He’s not your son.” I paused, my eyes narrowing slightly.
“Or is he? Because at this point, I don’t know what to believe when it comes to mom.
Every time the topic of Kyrin father comes up, it’s a remix.
First, it was a one-night stand… then suddenly he’s in prison.
And after that, she switched it up with this narrative saying he ‘found himself’ in there and wanted nothing to do with Kyrin, which she said worked in her favor because she didn’t want Kyrin growing up ‘confused about what a man is supposed to be.’”
I gave a small, dry laugh.
“Like… which version are we going with today, lady? So yeah… excuse me if I’m trying to separate facts from fiction, and what’s just another story she told to make things easier.”
His expression didn’t shift much, but something behind his eyes softened.
“No, I’m not his father,” he answered plainly. “I was long gone before your brother ever came around. But everything she told you about his father?” he added, giving a slight nod. “That part’s true.”
My brows pulled together.
“When I found out Vanessa was pregnant with your brother,” he continued, “I did what any man with a daughter should do. I looked into who she was bringing around you… not for her, for you. That man was, still is in prison, with his little situation going on. And from everything I gathered, he’s not in a place to be anybody’s father…
especially not the kind a child could depend on.
So no, he’s not mine,” he said again, firmer that time.
“Still… that doesn’t mean I don’t care.”
His eyes flicked briefly, like he was thinking about something deeper.
“That little boy matters because you care about him. I can see it all over you; he’s literally your heart walking around outside your body.
And anything that holds that kind of weight in your life is something I’m going to care about too.
Seeing you happy? That’s what matters to me.
And I don’t need a title tied to him to want him protected. ”
I just sat there, letting it make sense in a way nothing else ever had. I was so used to things shifting with Vanessa that hearing something stay the same from a different source felt unfamiliar. I didn’t press the issue. Maybe because it had nothing to do with her and everything to do with Kyrin.
“Ajori, I didn’t become who I am for myself; I did it so that no one tied to me would ever have to beg, steal, or bleed just to survive.”
That sat with me heavily, because I had done all three.
“But that’s exactly what I had to do.”
The words seemed to hit him harder than any accusation.
He nodded slowly. “A child shouldn’t have to grow up and figure life out alone.
That’s not independence; that’s survival.
And I can be man enough to say I carry my share of the blame for the weight you had to carry too early, for the lessons you had to learn the hard way, and for every time you had to stand in the gap when I should’ve been there. ”
There was no defense in his response, just truth. It didn’t even feel like something he practiced to say; if felt more like something he long grown to accept.
I sighed, some of the tension easing out of my shoulders. “Look, I’m not telling you this to make you feel guilty; I’m telling you because this is my reality, and this is what your absence left behind.”
“Ajori, I can’t change what you went through, but I can change what happens next.”
I studied him, searching for empty promises. I didn’t respond right away, because part of me wanted to believe that and whatever “next” even meant.
“Whatever she took, I’ll replace it ten times over. And when it comes to your brother, he will not suffer another day because of my choices. How old is he?”
“He’s ten. Why?” I asked respectfully, but curiously.
Alejandro slowly raised one finger; not to me, but toward the phone on the table. Then he dialed without hesitation.
“Put me through to Dr. Vega,” he ordered into the receiver.
Pause.
“It’s me. I need a heart donor. Priority search—ten-year-old male, congenital defect. No delays! I’ll owe you one.”
From my side of the table, I just stared, stunned.
“Yes, today!” he demanded, his tone sharpening slightly, “I don’t care what list you have to move, what favors you have to call in, or what rules you have to bend! Make it happen!”
He listened for a moment, then replied, “Call me back before the sun sets.”
“What… what was that?” I asked slowly.
“That,” he smirked, picking his coffee back up, “was me making sure we get your brother a heart. We’re going to fix this.”
I blinked at him, almost speechless. “You have that kind of pull?”
A faint, almost dangerous smile touched his lips. “I have more than that kind of pull.”
I folded my arms. “You don’t get to buy your way into being my father.”
His expression didn’t change. “I know, which brings me to something else. What do you think of Domino?”
I narrowed my eyes. “What about him?”
“I saw the way you two exchanged looks at dinner,” he noticed.
Heat crept up my neck, and I immediately deflected. “I was just getting a feel for everybody. New environment, new people. It wasn’t anything deep.”
He held my gaze for a second longer than necessary, then gave a small nod. “Alright.”
But he didn’t leave it there.
“I’ve known that man a long time. If anything happens to me, he’ll take over… and I want you to help him.”
I almost laughed. “Help him do what exactly?”
“Keep things steady and be someone he can trust on the inside. You don’t have to be in the streets or handling business the way I do, but your presence alone carries weight.”
I shook my head immediately. “Sorry, but no. This lifestyle is not for me. I just want to finish school and move on. That’s my path, not this.”
He studied me for a second, then leaned back slightly. “School, you say?” he asked, intrigued. “What are you majoring in?”
“Business,” I proudly answered.
His brows lifted. “Business? Impressive. That explains a lot.”
I frowned slightly. “Explains what?”
“The way you think. You chose a field where control matters. You don’t just react, you calculate. You weigh risk, reward, and timing; that’s not something most people your age do naturally. You’d do well… in more ways than one.”
I didn’t say anything, but I heard it.
I leaned back slightly, crossing my arms. “I’ll do well the legal way,” I simpered.
A faint smirk appeared on his face. “Again, you don’t have to do what I do, but you’re my only child. This isn’t just about business; it’s about legacy and making sure you’re protected from the inside, not just the outside.”
“I’ve survived just fine without being tied to any of this. If you really want to protect me, please don’t force me into a life that was never mine to begin with.”
“Ajori, a life like this doesn’t ask for permission; it finds you, whether you claim it or not.” Then he nodded. “But fair enough. However, one day you might see it differently.”
“And one day, you might see that I’m not here to live your life,” I countered.
He chuckled lightly. “Yeah… you’re definitely my daughter.”
That almost made me smile.
“I remember the first time I held you.”
That caught me off guard.
My brows pulled together slightly. “You were there for my birth?”
“Oh, yes! I didn’t stay long, but I remember that moment clear as day.”
I didn’t say anything or interrupt. For some reason, I wanted to hear this.
“You didn’t come out crying like most babies, and even once you got settled, you were just looking around… taking everything in. When the nurse placed you in my arms…” he paused, letting out a slow breath. “I remember thinking how something so small could feel so… important.”
I shifted slightly, my arms tightening around myself, not defensive, just holding onto something.
“You ever think about what could’ve been?” I asked before I could stop myself.
“Every day,” he replied with a hint of guilt in his tone.
I nodded slowly, looking down for a second, then back up at him.
“Well…” I exhaled, my voice softer now, “We’re here now.”
It wasn’t forgiveness or closure, but it wasn’t nothing either. It was… a start.
He gestured toward my plate, ending that conversation. “Finish your food before it gets cold. We’ll talk later.”
When I got back to the room, Lainey was already up, stretched across the bed, phone in her hand, snapping yet another selfie. Then there was Kyrin. He was laid out with his eyes closed pretending to be asleep, but the slight smirk on his lips gave him away.
Lainey peeked over her phone the second she saw me. “Well, well… look who survived Breakfast with the Boss.”
Kyrin cracked one eye open. “Was it awkward,” he asked, voice still raspy from sleep, “or awkward-awkward?”
I folded my arms, looking between both of them. “So y’all wasn’t asleep, huh?”
“Girl, no,” Lainey said, waving me off. “I been up. You tiptoed out like you was in a horror movie.”
Kyrin sat up slowly. “I heard everything; you just didn’t say anything loud enough for me to be nosy.”
I shook my head. “Well… to answer y’all curiosity,” I said, walking further into the room, “it wasn’t bad.”
Before either of them could dig deeper, there was a knock at the door. I turned and opened it, only to come face-to-face with the same staff member from earlier, standing there like he hadn’t moved since the last time I saw him.
“Miss Ajori,” he said politely, giving a slight nod. “Your father asked me to let you know he’d like to spend the day with you. He’s arranged for a driver and would like to take you shopping.”
Lainey shot up so fast one would’ve thought the mattress had electrocuted her.
“Shopping?” she repeated, eyes wide, her voice climbing an octave. “Wait—does this apply to her guests as well? Because I came with her in spirit…” she looked down at her outfit, smoothing it dramatically, “…and in outfit.”