“Yeah.”
“But while he’s trying to protect everyone, who’s protecting him?” She whispers as the lift comes to the floor and opens.
“All I’m saying.” I pause as she stops, turning around and looks at me. “Don’t take lightly whatever he offered. He means it.”
“I know he does.” She tells me as she looks up. “That’s the problem.”
* * *
The locker room reminds of when we were in high school; there are cliques, except this time I’m an outsider to all of them.
In front of the sink, Sherman walks up next to me. Glancing at him in the mirror, I roll my eyes. I would usually not speak to him, but I know what he did, even if Tate doesn’t know, I do.
“Congrats.” I sarcastically mumble.
He says nothing in response, just gives me a look.
“Hopefully, the baby gets her personality.”
“Why would she tell you about that?” he gives me a questioning look.
“Do you realize she has her job because of me?” shaking my head. “She was my neighbor when I was in the apartment.”
He’s silent as I just shake my head, walking towards the door.
I’m almost expecting him to say something to me… anything,but he doesn’t. He just watches me as I leave.
I’m not surprised when the door opens as soon as it closes completely.
“Leech, let me ask you a question.”
“What?” groaning as I turn around and look at him.
“The compound, got any secrets?”
I can’t help but laugh as I step into him. “You’re transparent, you know that, right?”
“What?”
“You might be able to get her to believe it was an accident, but I know…”
“Know what?”
“It wasn’t an accident.” Shaking my head.
He roars at my comment. “Well,” he shrugs as he glances around and back at me. “Who would raise another man’s baby?”
“I would.” I shrug.
“What?”
Stepping closer to him, smirking. “When you’re raised by people who don’t regard family as just blood, you think a little differently. You know that blood doesn’t make a family.” Shaking my head. “I wasn’t blood, but I was damn sure family.”
Pushing past me, he moves back down the hallway.
“Darren,” the words continue without turning around before Irealize what I’m saying. “You better be careful because I know he thinks the same way.” Finally, glancing back to make sure he’s still there. “You make one small mistake —”
“He tries anything, I’ll make sure he never gets out.”
