[Hunter]I wasn’t expecting her to say no. Livy looks between us, confused. “Why aren’t you two kissing?” My poor niece. I shouldn’t have brought her here without knowing for certain that Addison would accept. It was foolhardy of me to just assume she would want me as much as I want her. It’s just…I can’t imagine my life without her. I want to spend the rest of my life with her.But maybe that’s too much to expect for a gangster like me. “Livy, Auntie Addy and I need to talk alone. Could you wait for us at the table?”“Okay,” she bounds off to the seat that was prepared for her. There is an elegant dinner waiting for our celebration that seems less enticing now that I know her heart. “I’m sorry, Hunter.” Addison looks down and away. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. I wasn’t expecting Livy to be here either,” her face falls as a tear rolls down her cheek. “I just can’t marry you…I…It wouldn’t be fair.” “Fair? In what way? Is it because of the money? Or is it,” I swallow, dreading this
[Addison]What if Hunter learns the truth, that I've been lying about who I am the whole time, will he still want me then?I need to tell him the truth. It wouldn't be fair otherwise. How can we build a future together if he doesn't know the truth about my past?The elevators open with a clean clear ding, opening to a grand dining space in a rooftop garden. A small, intimate table sits with three spots: One for Hunter, one for me, and one for...Livy.Running towards me, her arms outstretched, my beautiful little friend lets me scoop her into my arms, her legs wrapping round my waist. "You look like a princess," I compliment her as I praise how perfect she looks in her bright yellow dress with its full crinoline of equally bright yellow, sparkling rhinestones swirling along the bodice and hem. "You too," her voice is small and scratchy from disuse. Biting back a small moan of surprise, I try my best not to cry at the sweet sound of her words. It's been so long since she's said anythin
[Addison]My body freezes and my eyes shoot open as I gaze up at the beautiful, crass, but loving mother who just threatened me with physical violence if I break her son’s heart. Her face is stone cold without an ounce of emotion. “But you’d never do that,” her expression breaks into a smile warming her entire affect, “Besides, my Haz is smitten with you, he’d never forgive anyone who caused you harm and personally, I’d hate to lose my son.” Exhaling in relief, I’m grateful when she wraps my hair in a towel. Patting my back, she leads me over to a hair dryer. “Sorry for messing with you child, you remind me of my old friend, Suzie. She was just as easy to scare. I used to have fun with her. She was so prim and proper, I never understood why she’d be friends with a girl like me. She was a pretty blonde like you. You lack her sass though,” she sighs as she adds some styling creme to my hair. “I miss her.” As my hair dries, she rattles on about her friend, the debutant who wandered in
[Addison]“He’s your son?” I ask, more confused than ever. “I thought his mother was dead.” She smiles with a perfect set of even, white teeth, her gaze surprisingly kind as she answers, “Well, yes, the shrew who birthed him is long gone, but I wouldn’t call her his mom.” “Oh, I see,” I don’t really, but I don’t want to be rude either as she hands me a cup of tea, patting my hand gently. “He wasn’t an easy boy,” Angelique continues, “so I guess I can’t blame her too much, except to say that if she didn’t like children, she shouldn’t have had any.” She frowns as she pours herself a cup of tea as well. “I love Haz, but he was damaged as fuck.” “Excuse me,” I sputter, not expecting such foul language from such an elegant and dignified looking woman. She laughs at my expense, finding my reaction amusing. “Oh sweet summer child, you are a gem,” she shakes her head. “So are you his…” I start to say but she finishes for me by telling me the truth: Yes, she raised him, but no not his who
[Addison][A FEW HOURS AGO]The handsome young man in the fine suit and sharp looking glasses, held out his hand. Looking over his shoulder at my guards, he signals that they stay near the entrance. "Boss's orders. This is a secure site."As he moves his arms, I see more tattoos peaking from beneath the edge of his sleeve. He may be dressed to the nines, but underneath his suit, I suspect he has the markings of my boyfriend's gang, the Westside Thorns, He must be another of Hunter's reformed recruits. If he works here, that means this building, whatever it is, is likely run by Hunter's gang.Is this really a safe place for me to be? Even though the rest of my security stays by the door, their arms crossed as they watch us walk away, Charley stays firmly by my side. "I know where I'm supposed to be," her lips are pressed. "I don't care how 'secure' this place is, I'm not leaving your side." "Thank you, Charley, for keeping me safe," I nod gratefully.Monica jogs ahead of us, her shoes
[Hunter]“Do you think she’ll like it,” kneeling next to Livy, I hold her close and show her the ring I just pulled from the vault. “It’s for Addy.” She blinks twice and then gives me the first smile I’ve seen since the fire. She’s gone back to her almost mute state, like before we met Addison. Her therapist says that with love and patience, her voice should return. “She experienced a great trauma with the loss of your home, it may take her some time to recover.” After the death of her parents, she has already seen more violence than any child ever should.I need to do better to rid her world of monsters like Debrassy and Arrowheart. No more children should suffer because evil like them seeks to take advantage of the weak and innocent. The streets out there are hard. I learned that the hard way. I was a stupid kid, stubborn, and I pushed my mother and father too hard. My father threatened to disown me, and so I saved him the trouble by running away. Being a stupid teenager, I though