Page 22 of Filthy Secret

“What was that?” I ask, wishing to know what is happening in the room.

Rose coughs but tries to hide it with the clearing of her throat. “Adam was wondering if Atomic would be here from now on. He asked if you were boyfriend and girlfriend.”

“He also said you have never had a boyfriend,” Atomic adds, turning his head and looking directly at me.

My cheeks heat, and I’m sure they turn red, but since I’m one gigantic bruise, thankfully, he can’t see that. I’m not sure how to answer, but Atomic has no problem clarifying our relationship, giving me news that even I didn’t know.

“You and your mom are coming back with me to my place after it’s safe enough for her to travel. And your mom hasn’t had a boyfriend because I’ve been her boyfriend since she was eighteen years old.”

Fuck.

My eyes widen as much as they can. I suck in a breath and hold it, unsure if he’s just said what he has. Rose murmurs something, and I hear the door open and close. I assume they’ve left, but I can’t bring myself to look away from him. He reaches for my food and takes it from my lap, setting it down somewhere before he reaches out, curling his fingers around the side of my neck gently.

“Atomic?” I ask on a whisper.

“Legs,” he replies but doesn’t say anything else.

“I left you, and I know there’ve been others. There were others when we were together, so why are you telling my son this?” I ask.

His lips curve up into a grin. “Yeah, legs. I know there’ve been others. I’m not a good man, but I will protect you with every fiber of my being. I loved you then. Love you now. Nothing has changed.”

Lifting my hand, I wrap my fingers around his wrist and squeeze gently. “I don’t want to be the idiot those girls laugh at behind my back. I know they do it. You can say everyone knows their place, but remember, my sister was one of those girls. She made sure to tell me in detail about how they made fun of the naive old ladies.”

“Before or after she talked you into leaving with the Nomad Kings?” he barks.

He’s angry, but his hold doesn’t tighten. He stays gentle even though if looks could kill, I might actually be dead right now. “Before,” I whisper. “And after.”

“I’m sure she did.”

Squeezing his wrist, I keep my eyes connected to his. “It doesn’t negate the fact that I saw you with them more than once, Atomic. She wasn’t making that part up. You were with those women, probably with her, too. And in your world, there’s nothing I can say or do about that. It wears on a girl, especially a young girl.”

He dips his chin in a single nod, then leans forward until his lips barely brush mine. It hurts, but only a little. He lifts his head, shifting backward slightly as his eyes find mine again. “I want to tell you that it will be different this time.”

“Then tell me that,” I say, pleading with him.

He smiles. “How about we get you there and settled, then we go from there?”

“I have things we need to talk about.”

He nods once. “We have the time now. I have my own questions. We can get to know one another again. We can figure it all out.”

I’m not sure he’ll feel the same way once he finds out that the money I stole was for Elle and that Adam is his son. Although it’s been made clear that there wasn’t anyone else, I thought he would have it figured out.

I wanted to date. It’s not like I sat around and pined over Atomic. I mean, I did for months, for well over a year actually. But when Adam was about three, I thought I would try to date again. I wanted to find someone, a good man. But between Adam being so young and my sister being… well, my sister, that dream died at inception.

So, I’ve been alone, not necessarily by choice, but by necessity. And just thinking about it all makes me feel really, really damn stupid.

CHAPTER

NINE

ATOMIC

After gathering her shit, I stand beside the wheelchair as Ryan signs paperwork. There is a nurse standing behind her, and after the last document is signed, we begin to make our way out of the room.

Rose and Adam are waiting downstairs with a car, and I am on high fucking alert for that motherfucker pimp or her cunt of a sister. When we’re finally down in the front of the hospital, the doors automatically slide open, and I see the car waiting for us.

I get Ryan in the car, then hand her the prescriptions. “You’re going to get the meds and go straight home?” I ask, my gaze flicking from Ryan to Rose.