“You are what I need,” she said. “I made that choice. All I need is for you to be honest with me. To prove that any sacrifice I make is worth it.”
“You shouldn’t have to make any sacrifice.”
“If you give me your word our children would never be handed over to that life, I’ll believe you.”
Any time the notion of refusing Burl had come up in the past, Score always asserted his father’s word was law. Yet, if he’d planned some notion of payback, he couldn’t be steadfast about that view. Maybe it was misdirection, just like she’d suggested. Being fervent about his support of his family would underline his commitment to them. That way, they’d never suspect him of double crossing them.
“There are three ways I can make that happen.”
Hope. That was good. Though she tried not to appear too eager, Shyla’s eyes grew wide in anticipation. “Yes? What are they?”
“Best way for you, I tell you to get the hell out of here to go procreate with some other guy.”
Disappointed, the tension left her shoulders. She didn’t want that and hadn’t considered it an option. If Score broke off their relationship, Shyla would have to leave. But she couldn’t imagine ever wanting another man in the way she wanted Score.
With a finger under her chin, he raised it up to link their eyes again. “I don’t want to be with another man, Phoenix,” she said, compelled by instinct to offer him honesty.
“Option two is I kill him.”
Nothing about that statement wrung any emotion from him. Shyla was shocked. Score just seemed apathetic both to the act and to his own father being gone from the earth.
“Your own father?”
“I’d have to take Biz too… and anyone else who got in the way.”
Resting her hands on his body, Shyla stepped nearer. “Let’s call that plan B,” she said. “You’ve already spent enough time in prison. I want my children’s father to be present. There’s more to it than just impregnating me.”
“You know I won’t make much of a parent.”
Her lips curled until they formed a grin. “I disagree. I think you’d be the most incredible father. Tough and protective. Honest and patient… I couldn’t imagine a better man for the job.” Dubious as he looked, Shyla was absolutely certain. “What’s the third option? You said there were three.”
For a moment, he hesitated. His mouth stayed closed as he examined her. Shyla didn’t know what he was looking for but said nothing during his quest.
Eventually, he relented. “I put them away.”
“Away?” she asked, not following his meaning. “Them? Including Razer and Play?”
“Not them, but I can’t trust them on the inside,” he said. “I’m not supposed to discuss it.”
With a frown, she shook her head once. “I don’t follow. The inside of what? What aren’t you supposed to discuss? Putting them away is…”
His expression hadn’t changed, but hers did. The idea that silenced her was so fantastic, as in so unbelievable, that she couldn’t bring herself to say it out loud.
He tucked her hair back behind her ear. “Maybe now you understand why I didn’t burden you with it.”
For at least half a minute, she stood there gaping at him. It hadn’t even occurred to her, not even for a split second that he would… If she didn’t consider it, no one else would, which made him perfect for the job.
“Baby,” she breathed, moving right up against him. “You’re talking about prison.”
The words came out quietly, like she feared someone could be listening. Carrying this kind of secret brought new understanding to why Score was always so vehement about badmouthing the family. If someone heard negative talk and took that back to Burl, he could grow suspicious. That could make him clam up or cut ties, which would make Score’s job more difficult.
“You don’t have to worry about it.”
“I am worried,” she said. “Why wouldn’t I be? Burl would kill you if he…” Her focus sharpened. “You think he would kill me… Beeks knows about this.” He confirmed that suspicion with a slight movement of his brow. “He thinks that Burl would come for me if I knew…” Her clarity picked up pace. “Which means this is more than an idea… this is a plan. You have a plan.”
“We had a plan,” he said, glancing around at the floor. “I told you, it’s over. Where is your shit?”
“I didn’t leave with anything except my purse. That and the bag of stuff I bought is in the foyer closet. Phoenix,” she said, grabbing his wrist when he began to turn away. “It’s not over.”
“You’re home,” he said, then came back around to her wearing a frown. “I was honest with you, where the fuck do you think you’re going?”
“Baby,” she said. Directing his arm around her, she leaned on him, reaching up to stroke his face. “I’m not going anywhere, but you are not giving up on this for me. Did you have a contact? Did you approach someone?”
“Someone approached me. While back.”
“And…”
“Doesn’t matter,” he said. “We’re through with it.”
“Phoenix,” Shyla said, holding her patience as best she could. “You said we had to do this if we wanted to be free. If we wanted to have a family.”
“We?” he repeated. “No we.”
“I want to talk to Beeks.”
His scowl snapped back into place. “No.”
“Beeks isn’t emotionally invested. He’ll give it to me straight.”
“You think I’m lying to you?” he asked, both offended and pissed off.
Sliding her hands from his chest around to his back, she pulled herself tight against him. “I don’t warm Beeks’ bed.”
Although Shyla had meant to loosen him up with a
