AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"No," Dexter says, chuckling softly. "I couldn't care less that she's dead. Honestly, I'm afraid the kid is going to hate me."
"That's a good possibility," Pop says, swiveling around to face us. "Especially at first. The thing about it is, he's still young enough to be salvaged. He'll be furious at the world. Or maybe he'll be grateful to have people give a shit about him. It's impossible to tell. No matter what, you do the same thing with him that you do with Bellamy. You show up, and you giveunconditionallove. His walls will crack. Look at you. When I first met you…"
"Point taken," Dexter says, cuddling close to Love.
Pops nods, turning around and laying a hand on Bellamy's tummy. She's out cold in the car seat. I run my fingers through Dexter's long hair until he falls asleep on Love's other shoulder.
“You better find some fucking respect. Or I will come over there and teach you some. Try me again,” Dexter growls at his little brother.
“Dexter,” Love gasps.
Declan slams his palms into Dexter's chestagain.
“No, he’s right,” Vince murmurs. “This is between them; you’ve got to let them hash it out.”
“He’s like nine years old,” Love hisses as Vince guides her out of the room.
“Yeah, and I’m guessing that’s like thirty-five in street years,” Vince says, nodding to me on his way out the door.
I’m not going anywhere. I’ll supervise this little exchange.
Issac is with the lawyer handling some of the legal stuff. They'll need Dexter eventually, but for now, Issac is dealing what he can to lessen the stress on Dex.
“What are you going to do?” Declan asks, swiping a hand over his face. “Hit me? I’m not afraid of you.”
“Good. You shouldn’t be,” Dexter says, shaking his head. “You don’t think I recognize you? I am you, you little shit. You really want to grow up to be like me?”
Declan stares, blinking.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought. Sorry to break it to you, but you’re the two-point-oh version. Everything she put youthrough, she did it to me first. If I’d known you existed, I would have gotten you out years ago—"
“Fuck you and your bullshit,” Declan hisses, spinning around like he’s going to head out the door. “You think I can't pick out lies? I’m a pro a—"
“Let me stop you right there, little man,” Pops says, taking a step in front of the door. “You’re not a man yet, but if you want to talk like one, you can stand around with the men having a grown-up conversation.”
“Screw off, old man,” Declan growls.
“Why do you think I’m lying?” Dexter asks. His face looks so damn broken. I have to hold myself back from pulling him into my arms and comforting him.
Declan shakes his head, his long blond hair falling in his eyes. “I asked Carina to call you. To ask for some help or even just to get to know my brother. She didn’t hold back. She was really clear you wanted nothing to do witheither of us.”
Dexter makes a strangled sound. “You’re old enough to have realized that woman didn’t know how to tell the truth. Do you think I’m the one exception to that? Inever, under any circumstances, would have left you with her if I knew you existed. Whether or not you hear me about anything, hear me on that.”
“What were you going to do? Drag me around on tour with you? Send me off to a fancy boarding school?” Declan asks, glaring up at Dexter.
“I don’t have all the answers,” Dexter says, swiping a hand over his face. “But I wouldn’t have left you behind.”
“Yeah, okay,” Declan says, but it’s clear he doesn’t buy it.
“You don’t know me yet, but you will, and I’ll prove to you I’m nothing like her,” Dex says, pulling his hair away from his face and blowing out a heavy breath. “We need some fucking family counseling.”
“I’m not talking to a shrink,” Declan says, glaring at Dexter.
“Yeah,” Pops says, laughing. “You can’t tell they’re related at all.”
“I’ll say it again, fuck off, old man,” Declan growls, rolling his eyes at Pops.
“Now, this shit isn't going to continue to happen,” Pops says, crossing his arms over his chest.
