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“I’ll explain more when we land and I can talk freely, but understand that he had that coming in more ways than you could possibly know.”
She snorted in disgust, and my heart cracked a little. What if she couldn’t handle what we did? What I did for a living?
“There isn’t much you could tell me that I wouldn’t believe,” she said with a curl to her lip.
“Then why were you still working for him?”
She sighed in defeat. “My mother.”
Hearing her say that made me clench my jaw in anger. “Explain.”
It was her turn to glance around to see if anyone was listening. Satisfied we were somewhat cocooned, she palmed her face briefly, then stared at me.
“My mother had political ambitions. I’m not sure if you remember.”
I nodded, as I did remember she’d been an attorney and a city councilwoman when we were kids. After they left and I couldn’t find Korrie, I hadn’t thought much about her mother other than how much I despised her.
“She had befriended Senator Damon when she won the election for the Kentucky House of Representatives. Personally, I think she made a deal with him to win that election. Then as soon as she found out I was pregnant, she wanted me to have an abortion or give him up for adoption.” Her lower lip quivered as she picked at an invisible thread on her pants.
“Why?” I asked, but I already knew the answer.
“Because he was yours,” she whispered as a tear slid down her cheek. I reached out to catch it before it dripped off her jaw. Using my thumb and finger, I rubbed it into my skin. I had no clue why her mother always hated me so much.
“What changed?”
A deep breath raised her chest before she sharply exhaled. “I made a deal.”
“What kind of deal?” Dread churned in me.
“Lester’s father set him up as the mayor. My mother told me she wouldallowme to keep my son if I agreed I would work for Lester and cover up his indiscretions. If I didn’t, she would report me as unfit and have Trace taken from me.”
“Surely you could’ve fought that. She’d have to have proof.”
“Do you have faith in that? Because I don’t. I’ve seen the ugly, crooked underbelly that exists in everything, including politics. If people have enough money or know the right people, they can make anything happen. They can also make anything or anyone disappear.” Her jaw clenched and her eyes hardened as she looked me in the eye. “No one was taking my son from me. I would and still will do anything to keep him and keep him safe.”
Deep in my guts, I knew she was right. After all, it was what made our club very rich. When people like Lester Damon continued to get away with their evil and someone with enough money got sick of it or burned by them, we tipped the scales.
We handed out the justice that the system wouldn’t.
I didn’t fault Korrie one iota for being willing to do whatever it took for our son. Because I’d known about him for less than twenty-four hours, and I knew nothing would come between us.
“That doesn’t explain why she’d want to help him,” I continued, yet the pieces were beginning to fall together.
“That’s why I think Senator Damon helped her. She’d owe him. It’s all I can think of.”
Without proof, I still knew in my heart she was right. “Well, you’ll both be safe with us. No one will ever hurt either of you.”
The sadness I read in her soft eyes put me on the defensive immediately.
“Jude—Angel, we can’t stay.”
“Why the fuck not? What do you have to go back to there?” I was angry at the thought of her not wanting to stay and of her taking my son from me. Especially when I’d just found out about him.
“That’s the only home Trace has ever known. His friends are there, his school. Everything he knows and loves.” She sounded like she was grasping at straws, and I was more than willing to call her out on it.
“What about me? And what about his school you’re so worried about? He just gonna miss weeks of school while he’s here and pick back up?” I wanted her to see for herself that staying was the best choice, but regardless, I wasn’t letting her go.
“We’ll work something out. I won’t keep you from him if you honestly want to have a relationship with him.”
