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Maybe.
Coming up in his domain wasn’t the brightest idea. Especially when he wasn’t friendly this morning. Honestly, his reaction had surprised her. She figured he’d be happy to get rid of a baby. A guy who thought more about himself and the next time he could get high didn’t want a baby in his life.
She shut the door with a quiet click and looked at the cramped, tiny apartment. Although small and filled with a lot of crap, it looked cozy. Surprisingly, she couldn’t hear any of the ruckus going on downstairs.
And it was empty. Not a soul in sight.
Except for the one thing she had come for.
Amelie.
Lying by herself in a bassinet near the couch. Sleeping like an angel.
“Oh, Amelie. I’m so sorry for everything. This is all my fault.” She brushed a light hand across her forehead.
Then she flinched when she heard a noise coming from the hallway.
Shit.
Not empty. Someone was in the apartment.
She looked at Amelie.
Then she looked at the hallway.
So many choices, so little time to make them.
Without thinking, she made the only choice.
She grabbed Amelie, snuggled in her blanket, and slipped out the way she came in. Quiet as a mouse.
3
“Leave the talking to me,” Corey said under his breath as they walked down the dark alley.
It wasn’t completely dark. There was a lone light flickering near the end of the alley shining on a door. A door that he had walked through too many times. Bartering and begging for drugs and gambling too much of his money more times than he could count.
But that was all in the past. He’d walk through this door one last time and never look at it again.
Ricky grumbled in assent, yet he knew his brother would only stay quiet if he thought it was necessary. He wasn’t sure he’d ever admit it—pride and all that—but he was thankful Ricky demanded to come with. It was nice to have backup and someone by his side for once. To not feel so alone.
Sometimes, at night, holding Amelie close, feeling another heartbeat, hearing her short, sweet breaths, he even felt alone. So very alone.
He knocked once on the door and waited two seconds before someone on the other side slid open a small compartment. Piercing black eyes appeared.
“I’m here to see Jones.”
The black eyes glided from him to Ricky, then back to him. “Just you.”
Ricky cleared his throat but didn’t say a word.
“He wants his money, then we both enter,” Corey said, surprised his words didn’t come out shaking because inside he was a bundle of nerves.
The small opening shut with a hard click, then the door itself opened. Corey took a wide berth around the guy, who stared daggers at both of them as they stepped inside. He knew the way, walking quietly with his brother behind him. Tension swirled around the tight corridor. Even more tension sprang free when they stepped into a brightly lit room full of people. Poker games were going on, with some roulette and gaming tables high with energy, people surrounding them. In the corner a woman in a tight, short red dress sung in a soothing voice, lulling all the men to keep emptying their pockets. Corey knew because she had used her siren voice on him too many times. Even now, her soft, erotic voice wanted to lure him in. Take a seat anywhere and listen to her sing and empty his pockets.
“Where now?” his brother whispered behind him, breaking him of the spell.
Damn good thing he brought Ricky with him.
