Page 24 of Cyber
“I don't know if I can go in…” Iris mumbled rubbing her hands across her face.
My hands reached for hers, pulling them away. “You can, Iris, you are stronger than you think you are.” I wanted to touch her face, smooth my fingers across it and give her comfort, but I couldn't be sure whether she would welcome any sort of comfort from me. Our relationship was complicated to say the least.
“Can you…” Finally, she looked up at my face, and even in the dark my eyes locked on the curve of her cupid's bow. She was sat there heartbroken, and all I could think about was kissing her. What kind of asshole did that make me?
“You want me to show you the picture here?”
She nodded. “Yes, I don't want to bother Maggie if I… Well, if I lose it.”
“Baby,” I cupped her cheek in my hand, “she loves you like a daughter. She is here for you. No matter what happens now, we are all here for you.”
“Even you?”
I could feel her eyes scanning my face.
“Especially me, Iris, but if you need to see this picture here, we can do it here. Whatever you think will be easiest for you.” My hand sliding from her face, I reached upwards to turn the tiny interior light on. My other hand pulled the scrap of paper from my pocket. How many times had I stared at that copy of a crime scene photo now? Too many. Even someone like me, a heartless son of a bitch, couldn't help but be upset by the image that met my eyes. That tiny lifeless body that had been snuffed out before it had even started living could be Iris’ child.
It could be my child. Iris might have said the chances were slim that Violet was mine, but she hadn't said a definite no. The child lying dead in that photo could be my child.
I shook the thought away. I couldn't let myself think about that. Whether Violet was my kid or not would have to be dealt with after this was over.
But one thing was for sure. If she was my child and if she was alive, then I would step up. I wouldn't be the kind of man my own father was. I would do better. Make sure Iris and Violet were looked after. Hell, even if she wasn't, I would look after them.
“Here.” I held the photo out and Iris’ fingers trembled as they hovered over it. She hesitated for just a second before taking it from me. Bringing it close to her face, she studied it.
I studied her in return. Neither of us said a word. Her face was unreadable.
“Babe?”
Slowly, her eyes lifted. “That's not Violet.” Hope shone out of her tear-filled eyes, but her face was a mask of grief. I couldn't be sure whether she was telling the truth or just couldn't handle the fact it was her daughter in that photo,
“Are you sure, Iris?” I tried and failed to pluck it from her hands as she swatted my hand away, clutching it to her chest like it was a real little girl, not a picture of a dead one.
“Yes, I'm sure. Violet has this little star shaped birthmark on her arm. The girl in the picture doesn't have that.” She sobbed softly.
Glancing down at my arm, I frowned. A star shaped birthmark? Like the one covered by my tattoos? I couldn't think of the repercussions of that little remark now.
“Then why are you crying, Iris? It isn't your baby...”
“Because it's someone’s little girl, Cyber. Someone is out there, and...”
I didn’t let her finish. Pulling her towards me, I wrapped her in my arms. It was meant to be nothing more than a hug. That was it.
“Cyber.” Her face lifted, her lips searching for mine.
“Iris.” I held her face away from mine. “What are you doing?”
“Kissing you.”
I groaned low in my throat. “Why, Iris, because our little girl isn't dead?”
She didn't even blink. “Yes, and because I want to.” If she heard me properly, she didn't show it.
“You need to be sure, Iris. I need you to be sure.” My thumb slipped back and forth across her lips.
“You don't want to kiss me?”
I swore loudly, crushing her body to mine. Was she for real? If only she knew how much I wanted to kiss her. Her lips were salty with tears as they parted under mine. I kissed her roughly, harder than I meant to, but she didn't pull away. Her tongue met each swipe of mine. Her hands were desperate at my shoulders.
