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Still, I’ve been irritated all day, snapping at the smallest things. Of course, Tony’s noticed, and of course, he has questions.
“I’m fine, Tony. Just having a bad day is all. I’m frustrated the Gates deal isn’t coming through.”
He studies me for a second before nodding once, believing me. “It’ll be fine, man. I’m sure they’ll get their heads out of the clouds eventually. If they don’t, we can just blow their heads off.”
“Charming,” I mutter dryly.
He chuckles before slapping my back and moving to one of the groups, showing a guy how to choke someone from behind. The rest of the training session passes in a blur. I’m heading home when I get a text.
We need to talk.
This time, it’s not from Elena but her best friend. I drop my phone, ignoring the message altogether, but my phone dings again. And again.
“For the love of God,” I groan, reaching for the phone. I pull over by the side of the road, stopping the car to read Kiara’s texts.
I’m really fucking serious right now, Rome. I need to speak to you.
Get here now. I’m at a café on Ocean Avenue.
I grit my teeth, considering her request. There’s no doubt in my mind she wants to speak to me about Elena’s insane claim. And while it would give me immense peace not to indulge in the conversation, I can’t ignore it forever. Something’s going on and I’m sure as hell going to find out what it is.
I’m on my way
I text back, starting the car and heading to Brooklyn.
Kiara’s seated in a booth when I arrive at the café. Her black hair’s much shorter than I remember. It’s chin-length now, framing her face. She arches an eyebrow when I continue to stand, and after a second’s hesitation, I slide into the booth in front of her.
“Hello, Roman,” she starts.
“Don’t ‘hello, Roman’ me. What can you tell me about the shit Elena was talking about yesterday?” I say, cutting straight to the point.
Kiara’s eyes briefly close as she takes a steadying breath. “You know she would kill me if she knew I contacted you. She was pretty upset yesterday.”
I scoff. “She told me about a kid whose existence I had no fucking clue about and she’s the one upset?”
“So you agree that you have a kid.”
“Fuck no.”
Kiara sighs. “This is hard for you. And I promise, I get it. But it’s hard for Elena, too. It was difficult for her to work up the nerve to tell you. She expected you to be angry, she expected judgment. What she didn’t expect was you walking out on her, ignoring her.”
I let out a hoarse chuckle. “What the hell was I supposed to do? Hug her?”
“You could have done anything! Anything but walk away. That’s exactly what she was terrified you’d do. I don’t know what’s going through your head right now, Roman, but you’ve got a kid. A little baby girl. And she’s the most beautiful thing in the world.”
My heartrate quickens and my fists clench. “Stop saying that.”
Kiara fixes me with a firm look. “It’s the truth. I’m sorry, Roman but we can’t afford for you to be in denial. Wake up. This is happening. And I’m so fucking sorry we kept the truth from you. You have every right to react in any way you want to, but right now, she needs you.”
Her voice cracks on the last word. I don’t say anything for several seconds. When I speak, my voice is low and gruff.
“Thank you for talking to me about this,” I tell Kiara, getting to my feet.
Her eyes widen. “Wait, what? That’s it?”
“What do you want from me?” I ask, irritated.
“I want you to ask me to take you to your child. I want you to talk to Elena, to let her explain.”
