18. Alisha “Kitty” Quinn #2
“Kitty, you don’t have to think about it.” Exodus told me, reaching for my hand.
“I don’t want that kid to die.” I sniffled. “They didn’t do anything wrong.”
Exodus pressed a button on his dash and Bambam’s face appeared on the screen.
“Yin.” She bowed her head. “Kitty.”
I had to smile.
“How may I serve you?” Bambam leaned in.
“Moses’ kid with the medical issue.” Exodus spoke. “Find them.”
Bambam began typing and humming then broke into a very off key version of War by Edwin Starr. I glanced over at Exodus then back at Bambam who was now gliding her neck from side to side.
“What’s she doing?” I whispered to Exodus.
“Do you really want to know?” He smirked at me.
I thought about it.
“Maybe not.” I caved.
“Little Desire Halston.” Bambam read. “Oh, poor baby. She needs surgery but they don’t have enough blood. They’re afraid if they cut her open and she loses too much blood?—”
I nodded.
When we had my father secured and he was conscious again, I made my final decision.
“I’ll help Desire.” I informed him. “Not for you. But because she didn’t do anything wrong.
Because my mother would have wanted me to.
Because at some point, her mother is going to have to tell her that you’re a shit human and she’s going to be traumatized by that too.
If you’re going to salt your roots, you can’t pick which. ”
“She can’t know about all this!”
“The choice is yours.” I snapped. “Keep your secret and she dies. Or she finds out and live.”
“Save her.” He broke down.
“I thought so.” My voice cracked.
“Why won’t you ever forgive me?” Moses asked.
As I was about to answer, Yang spoke up.
“Because you’re a wasted human. This is the lesson for what you’ve done.” Yang paused, his eyes as dark as Yin’s.
“I’m your father.”
“No, you’re her doner,” Yang said. “And it kills me that I can’t wring your neck.”
Turning on my heels, I headed for the door.
“Hand him over to Tha’lab.” I tossed over my shoulder. “Isn’t he a wanted man? I don’t ever want to see him again.”
“I’ll see you again!” Moses called out. “I’m your father—you can’t get rid of me. I’m in your veins.”
“Listen to me carefully.” Exodus growled. “If you ever come for what’s mine again, I will kill you. She’d better not see you again.”
“I’m not afraid of you!” Moses retorted.
“Fuck around and find out, I guess.” Exodus replied then followed me.
“You can’t do this!” Moses was screaming. “I’ll make you pay for this!”
Both Exodus and I stopped and swerve on him,
“Not if you’re dead!” Exodus barked.
A quiet pulsed with chaos descended around us. I’d never heard Exodus’ voice like that before and it genuinely scared me.
But I was first to move again and stepped out the door.
When we were alone, I buried myself in Exodus’ arms.
Sam offered for us to gather at his place but Exodus declined and took me back to his. While he cooked, I cried in the shower hoping he wouldn’t hear.
My mother never once made me feel unwanted. But as I realized my father went out and created two other lives when he didn’t want me, broke me in profound ways.
When I was out of tears, I dried my body, pulled on one of Exodus’ shirts and made my way out to see he was moving food to the island. Without speaking, I sat on one of the stools and smiled when he set a tall glass of apple juice in front of me.
“It has a little Jamaican rum in it.” He pretended to whisper. “After the day you’ve had?—”
“You just want to get me drunk to take advantage of me.” I hid a giggle. “But you do know I don’t have to be drunk for that.”
“Is that right?”
I giggled and allowed myself a sip.
Dinner was simple—steamed fish with a side of rice and steamed vegetables. Dessert was ice cream—chocolate.
Later, I cuddled with Exodus and watched television.
We didn’t talk about the darkness that surrounded me and I relaxed in his arms, sleeping all night. When I woke the next morning, I was still wrapped in his arms.
After I snuck out to brush my teeth, I returned to find him standing at the counter, setting up coffee.
Without speaking, I wrapped my arms around him from behind.
“Baby?” He called softly.
“I could fall in love with you, Exodus Tan.”
“That’s good to hear.”
“I’m serious.” I stressed. “You have to stop being this nice to me.”
Exodus sighed and turned in the enclosure of my arms.
“I want you to fall in love with me.” He told me before bowing his head to kiss my lips softly. “wasn’t I clear about that?”
I flushed.
“What do you want for breakfast?” Exodus asked.
“Exodus—let me make you something.”
His brown eyes smiled at me and he kissed me again.
“I’ll go shower.” He kissed my head.
I busied myself making chocolate chip pancakes when Bambam called `me.
“Well, Desire’s mother seems like a good one.” Bambam reported. “She doesn’t make a lot of money. She works at a hardware store in Barry and is in Toronto living off the hospital’s dime while her kid’s in the hospital. She was fired—too much time away.”
“They can’t do that!”
“Yeah, well—how is she going to fight back?” Bambam asked. “They know she can’t afford a lawyer. But I did a thing?—”
I arched a brow as Exodus exited the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his hips. I stared at him, barely hearing what Bambam was really saying.
“What did you do?” I asked.
“I found Moses’ oversees bank accounts.” She spoke slowly.
“And?” I pushed.
“Who?” Exodus mouthed.
“Bambam.” I mouthed back.
I covered the receiver.
“Don’t you dare get dressed!” I pointed at him.
Exodus laughed and walked over to kiss my neck.
“And—I just borrowed a few millions.” Bambam replied. “I put the money in a trust that will give out a monthly allowance for Desire and Michael. Then I put aside some for?—”
“None for me, thanks.” I interrupted her. “I’m too old for child support. But these women didn’t ask for this betrayal. And raising a kid alone today is out of control expensive.”
“Okay—when they turn eighteen, each kid gets a lumpsum then the trust disappears.” Bambam explained. “The monthly payments won’t be enough to sound any alarms. They’ll be set if they handle the money right.”
“Some good should come from all of this.”
“Right, you are, Kitty.” Bambam agreed.
“Thanks, Bambam.”
“Eh, no worries.”
The moment I was off the phone, I set up a plate of breakfast and sat on the bed with Exodus who was now frowning at his phone. Taking it from his hand, I set it down and handed him the plate then a bottle of maple syrup.