Page 131 of Insidious Heart
Quietly I move down the hall and stop at the top of the stairs.
“W-why, Cal? W-why would y-you want someone to k-kill my father?” My baby dove sobs as Cal speaks up.
“Don’t do this. Not like this. Just put the gun down, Beau, and let Prince go.”
Another shot. More screaming.
“Nobody is going nowhere, and if you don’t fucking answer her question…” The click of Beau’s gun has me moving quickly down the stairs, and when I get to the end I stop against the wall and listen.
“Because!” Cal blurts, panic filling his tone. “Because…”
“Tell her!” Beau screams.
“Because he’s not your father, Stevie.”
What the actual fuck did he just say?
Beau laughs menacingly. “What, that surprises you? Cat got your tongue,princess?”
I cross the bottom of the steps to the opposite wall, pressing my back to it before barely peeking around the edge.
“I…” I still can’t see her, but I can tell Stevie is close. “I don’t understand.”
“Of course not. You’re too fucking stupid to get it.” Beau laughs again. “But think about it,princess, you ever wonder why you don’t look nothing like me?” He shoves Prince to the side a little as he sways on his feet. the fact that this bastard hit the bottle between the trailer and his house is now clear, and when he staggers a bit, the little boy looks up and his eyes immediately connect with mine.
I raise a finger to my lips, giving him the sign to keep quiet, and I swear the five-year-old gives a faint nod and steels his spine.
“So… so who’s… oh my god.”
Oh my godis right, especially when Cal says, “Me. I'm your father, Stevie, and I’m so goddamn sorry I let this happen.”
“How sweet,” Beau spits as he sways again. “Let this happen, my ass. You been fucking Celeste behind my back for months, knowing damn well the bitch was mine.”
Slowly, I keep to the shadows and angle my body, facing Beau and getting a better view without coming into anyone else’s line of sight just yet.
Cal shakes his head. “Celeste and I were engaged. We were supposed to get married. She never fucking loved you, you son of a bitch. She loved me and had my baby in her belly, but you took her from me anyway! You took my Celeste from me, you raped her, and you forced her to marry you. Then you fucking killed her when you found out Stevie wasn’t yours, just like you killed my Rochelle!”
“What… “ My baby dove stumbles backwards a little, looking up at Cal as he catches her. “Cal?”
“I swear to god, Stevie. That’s the truth. Beau found out when you were three.” Cal steadies her but doesn’t let go. “He set the house on fire, staged it to look like Celeste killed herself and tried to kill you, too. You survived, though. I ran into that burning shack and made sure of it.”
“Why didn’t…” She blinks up at him, searching his face that I suddenly see so many similarities in. “You didn’t want me?”
Cal shakes his head. “I wanted you more than anything, wanted you the same way I wanted King and Prince. Beau wouldn’t let me have you, though. He—”
“Gave him two choices. Either I kill his ugly as sin daughter right in front of him, or I keep you as mine and make you both suffer every fucking day for the rest of my life.” Beau chuckles with a sneer. “And it looks like I’m gonna make you all suffer then be the one who lives to tell the tale.”
“I’m sorry, Stevie.” Cal squeezes her arm and presses a kiss to her forehead. “I’m so fucking sorry for everything. I love you.” Then, just as I step out of the shadows and aim my Glock—because I have an overwhelming feeling that shit is about to get even more intense—Cal pulls a gun from the inside of his cut and spins on Beau.
He lets go of Prince immediately, shoving him forward to cover his own ass, and just as the little boy falls into Stevie’s arms, Beau and Cal fire their guns, both hitting the other square in the chest.
“Oh this is good. Real fucking good.” Beau spits as he glances back at me. “One of them Mexican standoffs right?”
“You hurt, baby?” I don’t take my eyes off Beau, but I can feel Stevie’s on me.
“Only a little.” My little dove sounds so fucking brave, even through the trembling and tears.
I cock my gun. “This bag of soggy dicks the one that hurt you?”
