Chapter 10 #4
I broke hearing his heartache, feeling it in my chest. This man had suffered so much, and yet never showed one ounce of it. He knew the pain I carried, and all this time he spent trying to help me, he was suffering himself.
He’s not a stranger…he’s the same as me.
“I’m so sorry,” I cried into him. “I’m so sorry!”
Forsythe held me close. “You don’t understand, Lucille,” he whispered into my hair. “Losing her, after only just getting her back…it broke me.” His arms squeezed tighter around my waist.
“It wasn’t your fault. You shouldn’t blame yourself.”
He fell silent for a few minutes before speaking again.
“When it happened, the only person I could blame was him.” He nestled closer to me.
“She could’ve stood a chance had she not gone back to him.
She could’ve lived a normal life and known peace.
She could’ve had freedom…but instead, he ruined her.
And when she died, I made the choice to ruin him. ”
I felt a wave of fear travel up my spine.
“When she died, I confronted my dad. He tried to laugh me off, saying how real men don’t cry over such things and that it’s only natural for a son to bury his mother.”
I stroked his hair and held him. “What a sick and cruel thing to say to someone.”
“The man was nothing less. He went on about how ashamed he was of the man I’d become, blaming my mother for my weak heart.
He went on and on, spouting shit about everything until he was red in the face.
But what he said next was what sent me over the edge.
” He nearly trembled recalling the painful past. “He told me Memphis ruined me, ruined his legacy, and would pay for what he’d done. ”
My body seized at the sentence.
Forsythe squeezed my waist as he cried, trembling while he spoke.
“I snapped, Lucille. I completely fucking snapped! Memphis, Ms. Nellie—all of you—you were the only family I’d ever known.
And to hear him threaten any of you…I couldn’t stand it.
I couldn’t stand the thought of losing anyone else.
Especially because of me. And before I knew it, I was standing over my dad’s lifeless body, holding the pistol you found in that box.
I didn’t know what happened, or how I got there—” His whole body shook.
“There was so much blood. So much blood! I must’ve beaten him to the brink of death…
and when I finally came out of it, it was too late.
I killed him, Lucille. I killed my dad! I killed him.
I killed him.” He struggled to speak. “Of course, I couldn’t just leave the Cryptids.
If I did, they’d only chase me the way they chased my momma.
No, I had to pay for my crimes.” He pulled away and raised his shirt, revealing the old brand across his heart.
“A parting gift. Call it a miracle or even sympathy from one of the other elders, being the MC’s son, even after what I’d done, earned me the chance to walk away.
An option none of the other members had.
But by choosing the easy way out, I seared any chance of ever returning.
I was no longer welcome in that world. No longer a Cryptid.
I would lose my protection as well as my family. ”
Oh Forsythe.
My fingers traced the raised scar burned into his flesh. “You can’t lose your family, because your family…your real family, is here.”
His eyes gazed at me. “After what I did, I was so sure Memphis would send me away. Hell, I wouldn’t have blamed him either.
I wouldn’t want an ex-gang member hanging around my kids.
But he only smiled and welcomed me home.
And from that day forward, I tucked that part of my life away with that vest, swearing to never let it out.
” He gently touched my cheek. “But I shouldn’t have hid it from you.
I’m sorry, Lucille. I’m sorry for not being honest, or telling you the truth of who I am.
I’m sorry for asking you to stay.” He paused.
“I know you want to leave, and I know after everything you’ve heard, you probably don’t trust me.
But would you consider giving me another chance? ”
I felt a thump in my chest.
“You don’t have to stay or make any kind of commitment to me. All I’m asking is to spend what little time we have left together.”
I sat there, overwhelmed by everything and unable to speak. But my heart…it was racing in my chest. And my mind was spinning. Even after hearing everything, knowing the truth of who he was and all the pain he carried, all I wanted was to bask in his light and bloom.
“Promise me something.”
Forsythe held my hand. “Name it.”
“Promise me that if we spend the rest of my time here together, you’ll show me the real you. No more secrets. No more lies. Just the hard, honest truth.”
He nodded. “I promise, Lucille.” He leaned in close, his mouth hovering over mine, waiting. “Can I kiss you?”
I nodded and wrapped my arms around his neck as his mouth slammed into mine, knocking me onto my back as he tackled me onto the bed. I knocked his cowboy hat off and lost myself in his kisses, feeling my heart bloom as I held him close. And I didn’t want to let go.
“Forsythe?” He slowly pulled away and looked down at me. His hair was wild from wearing his hat and working all day. Seeing him reminded me of the feeling you get when you gaze up at a midnight sky filled with stars. “You’re beautiful,” I breathed.
He smiled and brushed the hair from my face. “Not nearly as beautiful as you, little viper.”
My cheeks burned with a feeling I hadn’t felt in such a long time.
“Will you stay with me tonight?” My fingers felt the scruff of his beard. “I don’t want to be alone.”
Forsythe leaned down and kissed my forehead. “I’ll stay with you as long as you want, Lucille.”