AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“What a useless fucking dick,” Eastern snaps.
“Enough! Frank is a soldier who’s seen and done shit that warrants your respect,” Cal says, moving to stand beside Hudson now. He clasps him on the shoulder in solidarity seeing as all the hate and blame is aimed at them both now that Frank has left the room.
“Respect? You’re fucking kidding, right?” Ford growls this time.
“He fucked up. You said your piece,” Hudson says, looking between Ford and Eastern, “And you dealt a blow,” he snaps, glaring at Camden. “That’s enough. Now we need to work on figuring this shit out.”
“I’ll tell you what needs to happen. You need to get the fuck out!” Eastern continues, dropping his arm from around my back and stepping towards Cal and Hudson.
“Hey,hey!” Sonny says, stepping between them and placing his hand flat against Eastern’s chest. “It ain’t their fault.”
“Yeah, then who’s fault is it? Because it sure as fuck isn’t Asia’s,” Eastern bites out.
He’s breathing hard, his nostrils flaring. Sonny winces. Right now he’s stuck between supporting us and defending his foster family, trying to bridge the gap that’s forming.
“I know but fighting amongst ourselves isn’t helping the situation.” Sonny catches my gaze and frowns. He knows just as well as I that our tenuous bond is in danger of breaking if we don’t fix this somehow. All I know is that this is all happening because of me.
“But it is my fault, Eastern. He’smyfather,” I hush out.
“No, Asia. No!” Eastern insists, turning to grasp me by the shoulders. “You don’t know he’s your dad, and even if he is,noneof this is your fault.”
“Mum refused to speak of him,” I mutter, words falling from my lips like broken dreams shattered by ugly reality. “She made up all those stories, Eastern. She made me long for a man who wasn’t real. She turned him into a fantasy, a fairytale, because sheknewthe truth of his identity was too ugly. The Kingismy father. I know it.”
My head falls forward, the weight of this revelation heavy on my shoulders. All those questions my mum evaded over the years. All those leads that had turned into dead ends. I’d searched high and low, but it was as though my dad didn’t want to be found. Now I know why. It all makes sense. I’m an illegitimate child born to a heroin addict. Of course he walked away from that, from me. Pain and confusion lacerate my heart, making it a bleeding pulpy mess. Why didn’t he want me…?
What am I thinking? Why do I even care? Idon’twant that man as my father. Gritting my teeth, I push down all the confusing feelings inside of me. He’s taken Pink. He’s threatened her life. He’s hurt so many people. I couldneverlove a man like that.
“We don’t know if he’s your father for sure,” Sonny says, frowning. “Just because that little prick has left a note saying it’s true, doesn’t mean that it is.”
“Sonny’s got a point,” Ford agrees. In two steps he’s beside me, twining his fingers with mine. I grip hold of his hand, squeezing tightly.
“You’re right, we don’t know for certain.” Hudson scrapes a hand over his face. He looks haggard, even more so now than yesterday. He glances at Cal, a look passing between them.
“He’s my dad.Iknow it,” I glance back over at Camden who looks as pained as I feel. My dad and his mum…Oh, god… Camden’s mum. In all of this I’ve failed to remember his mum and the danger she’s in. I’m such a selfish bitch. “Your mum,” I whisper, locking eyes with him.
Like a wrecking ball, those two words barrel into the room knocking us all sideways with the impact. Camden stumbles, shock littering his features, reflecting my own. Sonny grabs his arm, hauling him upright. The fear in his eyes makes my heart vibrate like the delicate wings of a butterfly. I struggle for breath as darkness swims at the corners of my vision and my head pounds, threatening oblivion.
“I need to call her… Fuck! I need to see if she’s okay,” Camden rambles looking frantic, unhinged even, as he pats the back pockets of his jeans searching for his mobile phone. “Where the fuck is it?” He rushes to the bed he was sleeping in, throwing the duvet on the floor in search of it. When he doesn’t find it immediately, he starts ripping the room apart. Kate’s cry of fear snaps me into action.
“Camden, let me help you find your phone,” I say, pulling my hand free from Ford’s grasp and shrugging free from Eastern’s hold. I can do this. I need to focus on helping him find his phone as much for my peace of mind as his. I approach him slowly as he rips up the room around us.
“Where the fuck is it?!” he roars, pulling cushions off the bed and ripping the drawers from the bedside cabinet. They crash to the floor, making me jump.
“Camden, please, let me help you,” I beg, holding my hands out to him. I approach him slowly, just like that time on the beach. He’s so full of fear for his mum that he might just lash out like a wild animal that’s injured and cornered. When my fingers meet his back, he stills, trembling with anxiety. I rest the flat of my hand against him hoping it’s enough to comfort him, then take a deep breath and turn to face Hudson.
“We need a minute. Can you take Kate and leave us for a bit?”
Hudson meets my gaze and nods. “Sonny, bring Kate. Ford, you should come too. Grim wants to talk to you.”
Both Sonny and Ford look at me, waiting for my approval. I nod tightly. “It’s okay, just go.”
“You sure? I can stay,” Sonny says, glancing warily at Camden who still has his back to them all.
“I’ll stay,” Eastern replies, squeezing him on the shoulder.
“Watch him,” Sonny mouths to Eastern, looking pointedly at Camden.
“You got it.”
