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“It doesn’t have a father.”
Miranda threw her head back and let loose a cackling laugh that sounded like a door in desperate need of oil. “So who’s going to take care of it? Me?”
“I’ll figure it out on my own.” Jewel turned away.
Miranda dug her fingers into her shoulder and hauled her back. “Don’t think I haven’t seen the cash you’ve been packing this past year and a half. I don’t want a whore for a daughter so you better get married or get out.”
Jewel swallowed. “I’ll leave. But not now.”
“You’ll leave when I tell you to. This is my house.”
“I’m not staying for you. I’m staying for Juney.”
“You think I can’t take care of my own son?”
“You couldn’t take care of me!” Jewel slapped her chest. Tears hovered on the edge of her vision, but she refused to let them drop.
Miranda scoffed. “Is this about Stanley again?” She rolled her eyes. “He swore he didn’t touch you.”
“And you believe him over me?”
“You chose to be someone’s sugar baby on your own. Don’t try to blame your choices on me and my ex.”
Fury filled her heart and she hissed, “I hate you.”
“Yeah, well, I’m not feeling particularly loving towards you either.” Miranda took another puff of her cigarette. “I’m not taking care of no baby, you hear me? Either get rid of it or give it away.”
Jewel pulled her fingers into fists and slammed them against the wall, screaming her head off.
It wasn’t fair. None of it was fair.
Time was a distant concept here in the darkness. Kross hadn’t just locked her in a windowless room. He’d trapped her in the prison of her memories.
Her stomach grumbled.
How could she be hungry in a situation like this?
The window in the door opened. Light flooded her tiny prison. Jewel shaded her eyes with a hand. The light hurt.
“Jewel? You hungry?”
Kross.
She stumbled to her feet and saw the microwavable dinner he’d placed on the shelf. Next to the food was a fresh cup of water.
“I’m not hungry,” she snapped.
Her stomach’s low moan chastised her for the lie.
“You need to eat. I can’t have you dying in there.”
She didn’t move.
Kross sighed and wound his fingers over the bars. “Jewel, stop being stubborn and trust me. I’m trying to help you.”
“Trust you?” She scoffed. “I’m not that gullible anymore.”
“Is this about me or… that man who took you to his hotel room?”
