Page 75 of Violent Little Thing

After talking with Noe, Charleigh and I had decided to keep her on.

A PR agent for the team was a necessity, and we hadn’t had one for two years according to the records. For once, Seraphina was right. The team was going to need someone to handle the bullshit that was coming, but it had nothing to do with Charleigh and me.

Noe liked her a lot. It was apparent that he loved her still. But I hadn’t asked why. That was their story to tell, and he’d share it if he wanted to.

Which was apparent that he didn’t plan on sharing any more than he had.

I stood up, smoothing my tie down the length of my chest, and stared at the two people that should’ve been with me no matter what.

I waited long enough to hear the elevator ding before I said, “What are y’all doing here?”

My dad shifted on his feet before he said, “We heard that you didn’t maliciously kill your wife.”

So Missy and Zee had spoken to them, probably against Seth’s wishes, and my parents had picked the best out of both their options. Going with Missy and Zee meant that my mom got to keep her social circle and her rich best friend. Going with Seth, all my parents would get was Seth. Seth who would probably be taken to the cleaners when Missy was through with him.

“I fail to see why you’re here.” I came around my desk, my legs wooden. “Let me show you out.”

They didn’t move.

My mother stared at me, tears in her eyes.

Fake tears.

I didn’t fall for it.

She was always a crier.

She’d cried over almost everything since I was old enough to know why she was crying.

My mom knew exactly how to get what she wanted, and tears usually got her almost anything.

She’d manipulated me from the moment that she knew that her tears would sway me.

But what I knew for a fact was that she hadn’t cried when she’d cut me out of her life.

“Son,” my dad started, but I walked past him to the elevator doors and hit the button for it.

I turned and waited for them to follow me.

They did, but they didn’t get on the elevator when it opened.

“We need to talk…”

“The time for talking was years ago when I lost everything,” I said. “The time for talking was when I was put away on a murder charge for a crime that I didn’t commit. The time for talking was when I lost my wife and baby and needed someone to talk to. You don’t get that anymore. Make an appointment and maybe I’ll accommodate you.”

My mom reached out, and I stepped back before she could complete the touch.

The tears started to spill.

Luckily, Charleigh saved me from making a mistake by coming around the corner.

She smiled when she saw me, not noticing the two people beside me until she’d gotten into my side and pressed a kiss to the underside of my jaw—the only part of my face she could reach.

She pulled back when my mom cleared her throat.

Charleigh twisted, not pulling her body from against mine, and said, “Whoa. Y’all are beautiful.”

They were.