“I love you, Morgan Blackmoor,” she whispered back.
Emeric sat back, sipping top shelf tequila, puffing on a fine Cuban cigar, and enjoying watching how the super rich lived. Bobbing his head to the soundtrack in the background, he watched the women dance, hips winding and fingers snapping as they got into party mode. Kids filled the pool and ran around chasing each other in the yard beside the house. Feet kicked up on a lounge chair poolside, his gaze drifted over the many faces nearby. Darcy stood a few feet away, hands full as she tried to hold her son and make herself a plate of something to eat.
“You need some help?” Ayla’s sweet voice rattled her as she tried to pile a spoonful of pasta salad onto her plate.
Relieved, Darcy sighed and handed Neo over to Ayla’s empty arms. She cradled him naturally, and his sweet little eyes wandered into hers.
“Thank you. I’m starving.” Darcy’s eyes shot past Ayla to her husband ogling the wives of the other men in attendance.
Scoffing, she shook her head as she used the tongs to grab a few pieces of chicken and add them to her plate. Wasn’t like he was going to offer to hold their son or make her a plate. His arrogant ass probably thought she was over here making him one. She had something for him after tonight. As rattled as she’d been, the truth was bound to set her free. Emeric had gottenaway with too much for far too long. Darcy saw that he had no intention of changing who he was. She could complain and list all his faults and the things she hated about him, but he didn’t care. Emeric was selfish. If you couldn’t do anything for him, there was no point in having you around. Darcy planned to cut off all her obligations going forward. He didn’t deserve them, and she’d fooled herself long enough.
Once she was satisfied with her plate, she grabbed a small drum and brought it to her lips. Ayla lowered her face to Neo, talking to him in that soft, whispery tone that babies loved, making him smile. He hadn’t made a peep since she’d been holding him. His tiny hand wrapped around her finger as she cooed and told him how perfect he was, gaining the cutest smile from his little face.
“You’re so natural with him,” Darcy observed.
“He’s perfect.” Ayla finally looked up at her. “You looked a little overwhelmed.”
“Yeah.” Darcy bobbed her head and scooped baked beans into her mouth.
Staring past Ayla again, she caught her husband looking for a mark outside of his wife.
“Seems like no matter what I do for him, he always manages to find a way to make me feel small.”
“Then stop doing for him,” Ayla worded sternly.
“Easier said than done,” she quipped.
“No man should ever make you feel less than what you are. He’s there to add value, not decrease it,” she recited. “Especially when you have something as precious as this involved.” She gave Neo one last loving glance.
“You good?” Kong’s strong voice intercepted their conversation, and Ayla peered up at him.
“Yeah.” She nodded as Neo’s binky slipped from his mouth and onto the stone at their feet.
“I’ll take this inside and wash it off,” Kong offered, kneeling over to pick it up.
“Thank you.” Darcy smiled tightly as Emeric’s attention finally shifted to her and their son.
Ayla couldn’t explain what she felt holding Neo as she sat down with him so Darcy could eat. As much as she missed her son, she didn’t allow herself to be tortured anymore by what could have been. She knew that Kong remained diligent in what he did, and that Mozzi was going to do everything he could to dig into Mira’s past, but that wasn’t a guarantee. Her son was gone. He was a tiny little baby and had no voice in this world. She didn’t even allow her hopes to rise, thinking she’d ever see him again.
“I don’t mean to pry. Kong told me that you two lost a baby,” Darcy mentioned, taking a seat beside Ayla at a table with an umbrella.
“Yeah, we did.”
“Do you still want more kids?”
“Eventually,” Ayla answered, playing with Neo’s little hands as he latched on and tried to root toward her breasts like he had the first time she held him.
Kong stood in the kitchen at the sink with Neo’s binky in his hand, studying it. He wasn’t sure why, but he didn’t wash it off. Instead, he stared out the window, eyes shifting from Emeric, to Darcy, and finally to Ayla. She was so beautiful and content holding Neo as he drifted off in her arms. Darcy was talking, but Ayla was zoned out on the baby boy. Emeric sat in the background, his attention finally pulled from the scantily clad women parading around the pool. Some were wives, others girlfriends, and some even mistresses. He didn’t question how his boys moved, but him and his brothers made it clear they didn’t play that drama bullshit, so keeping everyone on one accord about their relationships and who was who mattered. Ifthe wife was out of town with the kids and you wanted to slide the mistress through, that was on you, but nobody in attendance was obligated to keep quiet for your significant other. It was some ‘what’s understood doesn’t need to be explained’ type shit.
The only chick who really made it an issue was Royal. She didn’t do that fake shit, and she didn’t associate with a lot of the women to begin with. For Royce, if she didn’t fuck with you or you came at her sideways, she was quick to hurt your feelings and go for the jugular. It wouldn’t surprise any of them if she flat out told a bitch her husband was cheating on her. A lot of women thought those titles meant something. On paper, sure, it was great to have that to stand on at the end of the day, but it didn’t earn you any kind of respect. Especially to those who knew the truth. A lot of people got away with fuck shit simply for the fact that they had dough. Same reason even more people put up with shit.
“Hey, you okay?” Coast came in with Iara on her hip and her diaper bag on her shoulder.
Kong stared off like he was a million miles away when she walked in. Snapping out of his daze, he faced her, and her brows knitted together in concern.
“Yeah. Just washing this off for somebody.” He held up the pacifier, and Coast studied it.
“I bought those same ones for Rara. I keep a fresh set in case she loses them.” She adjusted his niece on her hip. Kong looked down at the binky and then back up at her.
