Page 3 of Her Unflinching Warrior (Omega Sky)
“Boy, if you do this. If you hurt your mother like this, I’ll never forgive you.” His father’s voice was the strongest it had been in months. Maybe the rehabilitation center Gideon would be able to pay forcouldhelp him.
“I’ve got to go,” Gideon said as he hefted his backpack over his shoulder.
“Please don’t,” his mother whispered. “Please don’t go, Baby.”
Gideon staggered, he thought his knees would give out.
“I’ve got to go.”
His mother jumped up and ran to him. She threw her arms around him and pulled him into the strongest hug he could ever remember. “You be safe. If anything ever happened to you, I would die.”
He dropped his backpack and crushed her to him. “I love you, Ma. So much.” He shuddered, forcing back a sob, but a tear escaped. He laid his head against her braided bun, breathing in her honey scent.
“Go hug your father,” she whispered.
Gideon looked over her shoulder. His father was watching them both. She released Gideon and pushed him toward her husband. “Go.”
“Pops?”
“Get out.” His father slowly raised his arm and pointed to the door. “If you’re so determined to leave, get the hell out.”
Gideon stood frozen.
“Henry. You don’t mean that,” his mother said, aghast.
“I mean it.” He moved his arm, then pointed his finger at Gideon and jabbed his finger at him. “You want to leave, you want to hurt your mother? Then, you get the hell out of my house. You’re dead to me, Boy.” He started to cough, and Sela Smith rushed to his side.
“Henry—”
“What are you waiting for?” Henry asked when he got his breath back. “I don’t ever want to see you again. Anyone who would turn his back on his mother at a time like this is a boy I don’t want to know. Get the fuck outta my house.”
His father meant every word. Gideon saw it in his eyes. This man he’d revered all of his life hated him. His knees wobbled. He thought he’d fall to the floor and howl with pain and grief, but he didn’t.
Gideon picked up his backpack and walked out the kitchen door. Walked to a new future with a man who was blackmailing him. But it was worth it if it could help his family.
He made it down two of the last three steps, stopping on the third where he and Mikey had carved their names. Wet hit his eyes. How could he do this? How?
He turned back to the front door, desperately wanting to go back inside.
Ma.
Pops.
He looked up into the sky.Please God, keep them safe. I’m begging you. Keep them safe.
Gideon turned around and walked away.
