AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Son of a bitch,” I hissed. Dumping the bag out onto the carpet; I no longer cared if I was quiet or not. Sorting through all of my things, I already knew what I’d find.
The ring was gone.
Falling back onto my butt, I sat on the cold floor, contemplating my options. I’d failed. I couldn’t go home a failure. My first solo mission, and I’d been compromised already.
“Babe, what are you doing on the floor?”
Wiping the tear that had dared fall, I stood up, looking at the guy I prayed would help me out. “Someone stole all my money. I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
Mason sat up, rubbing his eyes. Standing, he walked over to me, placing his hands on my shoulder. “Hey, don’t cry, hot stuff. You can stay here as long as you need. I kind of like ya, you know?”
“You wouldn’t mind? It’s just, I was supposed to do a job for my dad, and I failed. I don’t know how to return home if I don’t have it.”
“What kind of job? Maybe my family can help?”
“Well, um, you see, I um.” I bit my lip, not sure how to respond. His fingers tightened, and he leaned down.
“What, are you like, a contract killer or something? I knew you were too hot to like someone like me.”
“No, that’s not it. I’m just, I steal things. My family steals things.” I hung my head, not wanting to see his reaction.
“So?”
I looked up at his response, not sure I heard him right. He shrugged his shoulders, and his casual acceptance of the matter had me stepping closer, sealing my lips to his. The kiss became heated, and he lifted me up, carrying me to the bed. This time when we fucked, I directed him on where to touch me, and I at least was able to orgasm before he did.
“Fuck, you’re so good at that.” Mason struggled to catch his breath, a sense of female satisfaction flowing through me. He curled into me, pulling me close afterward. I didn’t love it, but it wasn’t horrible either.
This night hadn’t ended how I’d imagined, and I wasn’t completely sold on my bed mate. But in the grand scheme of things, it could’ve been worse. I wasn’t in jail or sleeping on the streets, which was a big win in my book.
The knowledge that I couldn’t go home until I made my dad proud sat at the forefront of my mind.
Except the longer I stayed, the more I realized how different my family was from others. Conning wasn’t the typical profession, nor was baby’s first pickpocket trophy. Mason wasn’t horrible, and I started to tolerate his company, even enjoying it at times when he wasn’t high.
He helped me find a real job and taught me how to do things other people learned as kids, like using a debit card and making a shopping list on a budget. When everyone else had been learning that in school, I’d been taught ‘the five ways to fake an injury to garner sympathy.’
So, when I got the ‘pregnant’ screen on the test a few weeks later, I knew I couldn’t return home empty handed and knocked up.
Changing my name, I vowed to make a life for the baby and me—one I could be proud of—with or without Mason.
I had no idea the course life would set me on or how the two men I’d met that first day would soon become the two I couldn’t have.
Two
NATALIE
Toys littered the floor,and I cursed as I stepped on yet another Lego. “Lily! I swear you’re gonna be the death of me.” Hopping on one foot, I breathed through the pain, praying for the immense agony such a tiny object could inflict to be over.
“Oops, sorry, Mom.” She bent down and picked up the toys that had spilled out, putting them in the cubby. Once I no longer felt like I was dying, I took a moment to breathe, knowing I wasn’t really angry with her; it was just easier to direct it all toward the tiny obstacles in my way versus the big ones.
And boy, were they big.
“It’s okay, sweetie. Just try to do better with the toys. I know it’s different being here and not at our home, but it’s where we need to be for the time being.” Bending down, I rubbed her shoulders, squeezing her forearms.
“Until Aunt Cami is safe?”
Nodding, I gave her a wobbly smile. It was hard to explain to a seven-year-old that they had to hide out in a safe house so that the crazy mafia leader who’d kidnapped their aunt couldn’t retaliate.
Fucking weird ass problems.
