With one last look, he turned and left the room, leaving me to my thoughts and a stark sick feeling in the pit of my stomach that I’d just made the biggest mistake of my life.
Chapter Thirteen
Georgie
“You’ve been acting like a bear with a sore tooth lately,” my brother Frankie muttered, as King greeted the Russian Bratva, their heavy laughter filling the room.
I didn’t want to be here. I wasn’t in the mood to be nice to people, and I sure as hell wasn’t ready to babysit Cameron and his miniature goon squad, who, by the way, had already made a declaration of war, much to King’s annoyance.
Not that I thought the Russians minded, or the little shit for that matter. In fact, the big Russian in the middle actually thought it was funny.
Nope. My mind was elsewhere.
It had been three days since Josie told me she only wanted to be friends, and I walked away. I told myself I wouldn’t force her, that I wouldn’t pile on more trouble. But the truth, a bitter pill, was that I was terrified. Terrified of losing her entirely, of the gaping hole her absence would leave in my life.
Call me crazy, but giving her space felt like I was slowly watching her drift away. And the worst part? My annoying shadow for the next few days whispered that maybe, just maybe, she wanted me to fight for her. But what did a seven-year-old know?
Still, the thought gnawed at me.
Now, my choice to back off felt less like a noble act of selflessness and more like cowardly surrender. What if Carnage was right? What if Josie was testing me? What if she really wanted me? More importantly, what if she wanted me to fightfor her? It wasn’t like anyone fought for her in the past, right? What if she needed me to fight for her, to prove to her how much she truly meant to me? And what if, in my desperate attempt to avoid hurting her, I had inflicted a far deeper wound by my silence?
“You wanna tell me what the hell is wrong?”
“Josie wants to stay friends.”
“Thought you claimed her?”
“I did,” I muttered as I watched Banks hug his brother, Aleksandr.
“Never pegged you to walk away from someone you wanted.”
“Not gonna force her to be with me, Frank. She either wants me or she doesn’t.”
“Granny know?”
I nodded. “She isn’t happy, but she respects my decision.”
“And the Emily issue?”
Shrugging, I muttered, “Bitch cornered me at the clinic yesterday and made a big scene after I asked her for a paternity test.”
“She gonna comply?”
“Said she would. She’s supposed to show up at the hospital later today to get the test done.”
“How long before you get the results?”
“Depends on the lab. Can take anywhere between one to eight weeks for the results.”
“That’s bullshit. I’ll call Granny and see where the hospital sends the tests. Maybe I can light a fire under someone’s ass,” Frankie said, as I felt my phone vibrating. Reaching for it, I groaned.
It was the hospital.
“Tell King duty calls.”
“Go. I’ll keep an eye on my little buddy.” Frank’s voice held a surprising gentleness.
“Thanks, Frankie,” I said, slapping my brother on the back as I ducked out of the crowded room, the joyous celebration fading into a distant, muted hum as thoughts of Josie weighed heavily on my heart.
