“Presumed?” she repeated.
“Yes.” Dr. Vines nodded.
“Meaning you don’t know?”
His pause was measured as he closed the folder and held it out to her.
“It means,” he began carefully, “that given the circumstances of the fire, survival would be extremely unlikely.”
Inari didn’t blink. Instead, she studied him. Really taking in his posture, his eyes, every gesture with his hands. He was confident. Too sure of himself as he adjusted his glasses. Finally, she took the folder from his hand.
“Is there a death certificate for the fetus?”
“No separate documentation. The pregnancy is noted within the primary report.”
“Thank you. Is there anything else you need from me?” Avoiding the inevitable, Inari stood, turning away from Kong while he processed the information he’d just received.
“No. If you have any further questions, feel free to reach out to my office.”
She moved toward the door with Kong right behind her. He paused long enough to side eye the ME before stepping into the hall with her.
“Was it mine?” Kong asked the minute they were alone.
“Yes.” Inari sighed.
Bobbing his head, he took a breath and a couple of steps forward. Ayla carrying his baby all that time and not saying a word left him wondering what else she was hiding. Not that he could talk when he married another woman and moved her into a new home with him and his children. He’d hurt her with that. Why would she feel like she could tell him anything? The weight of it all pressed down on him, and Kong turned to a nearby concrete wall. Lungs tight, air constricted, he rested both hands on the wall, pressing his weight against it and bowing his head.
“I’m sorry this is how you had to find out,” Inari murmured, voice thick with pain. “I told her to tell you. She didn’t want to. She said that this baby would be treated differently because of how it all happened, and you being married to Nayelli.” Inari shrugged. “And… she didn’t know this whole time. She found out right before we went to Hawaii for the wedding. I guess the doctor called it a cryptic pregnancy. Ayla wasn’t even sure what she was going to do.”
Kong trembled, face wrinkling in agony. As hard as he’d tried to numb his heart to this type of heartache, he was slowly submerged in it. Drowning with no life jacket with Ayla’s pretty smile and big brown eyes flicking past like a movie playing.
“She left the house that night because she was hungry.” Scoffing, he shook his head. “I went over there because I couldn’t stop thinking about her. Something kept nagging at me. I knew something was up. It had been for weeks now. Then she got sick at the party. She spent most of her time in Hawaii in her roomsleeping. She was distant. Too distant like she had something on her mind.” Pinching the tip of his nose, Kong sniffled, picked his head up and straightened his back.
“So, tell me about Danilo, that bitch Mira… and anything else I need to know.” He faced Inari with a storm swirling in his eyes.
“What are you going to do?” Inari’s brows pinched together quizzically.
“It’s better if I don’t answer that question.” Kong went into his pocket for his phone to hit Moose.
He was pissed off at him, but with Mozzi dealing with Coast and the baby, he needed him.
“This is my sister we’re talking about here.”
“Then worry about burying her and let me take care of the rest.” Kong dialed Moose and pressed his phone to his ear before stepping past Inari.
Moose picked up solemnly. “What’s up?”
“Meet me at Inari’s. Now.” Kong ordered before hanging up.
On his way out the front door ahead of Inari, Kong bypassed a young, pretty boy looking ass nigga who looked him up and down like he knew him. He didn’t say anything, but the look in his eye was like he was half afraid and waiting on Kong to spaz on him. When he didn’t, he glanced at Inari heading their way and strolled over to the receptionist desk. He leaned against the paneling so he could whisper something to her, and she suddenly turned rigid after a quick glance in Kong and Inari’s direction before they exited. Kong didn’t speak on it, but he took note and pushed it to the back of his mind.
CHAPTER TWO
GONE TOO FAR
“Look, Kong, don’t do anything stupid,” Inari warned, turning to him when he pulled in front of her house.
The day was cold and dreary, exactly how she felt inside. A world without Ayla was one where nothing seemed right anymore.
