Beside me, Mallory grows still and silent because she knows I’ll do it. I can be an asshole, everyone knows that, but cross my girl and I’ll take that shit to the extreme. It won’t be pretty. I wouldn’t do any of these things to this woman because it’s Mallory’s fucking mother but I’m okay with scaring the dumbass into doing what I want.
“If you keep a leash on Ricky, I’ll send you money every month. It won’t be a lot. Just enough to feed you, clothe you, get you clean. And if you do get clean and sober and want a relationship with Mallory, we can re-evaluate, but it all depends on you making sure that Mallory gets to live her life free of any fear from this asshole here or anyone else. Got it?”
Mallory’s mom doesn’t have to think twice. This deal sounds great to her. “Yes. Yes.” She nods eagerly. She rubs her hands together as if she can feel the money.
“This work for you, babe?” I ask.
With sad eyes, Mallory nods. “Yes. It’s good for me.”
I take the wallet and toss it on top of Ricky’s back. “There you go. Keep your promises, lady, and there’s more where that comes from.”
To my great surprise, the mom doesn’t immediately fall on the wallet. She reaches out a hand in Mallory’s direction. “I’m sorry, honey. I really am. The drugs make me do things I don’t always want.”
Mallory releases a shaky breath. “I know, Mom. Get help, though, please?”
The woman nods her head. “I will. I love you, honey.”
Mallory closes her eyes for a moment, almost as if she can’t believe her own mom just said those words to her.
“Get yourself clean, Mom,” Mallory responds. She squeezes my hand and draws me out of the room.
“You all right?” I ask.
“Yes and no. I’m glad she’s getting help but I’m sorry for all that happened before. I don’t like seeing her in that condition.”
“I know. Just remember, though, you’re not alone anymore. You’ve got me.”
Mallory smiles. “I do, don’t I?”
I bring her hand to my lips. “Always and forever.”
“Getting into your car was a real gamble, Deuce, but it paid off.”
I grow hot under that sweet grin of hers. “Let’s get out of here,” I growl. I pick her up in my arms and walk out of her past into her future.
Chapter 32
Mallory
“You think I can be a chef?” I ask Carter as I stir the sauce I’ve had on the stove for most of the afternoon. The sun is setting and Carter lights a fire. It’s hard to believe that this is my life. I’m still in high school but Carter and I are playing house. My cooking for us has become our normal and I’m finding it’s something I love to do. It also relaxes me. It feels natural and I’ve never really had the luxury of cooking whole meals before. Hell, I’ve never had an abundance of food to cook with. The pantry here is never ending. I think it’s bigger than my old bedroom at my mom’s place. Food always seems to be popping up and being refilled. I’m pretty sure Felton comes over while we’re away at school and stocks it for us. When I’ve asked Carter about picking some things up they always seem to appear the next day.
“Think you can do anything you want, babe.” Both Carter and I are more relaxed since we got home from seeing my mother. We made love and passed out in each other’s arms. I think that nap was the best of my life.
I didn’t know how heavy the weight on my shoulders had been until it was gone. I think Carter had been carrying some too. He wanted his turn with Ricky and to give my mother a warning. I was never more grateful for him being an asshole than I was when we were at their place. Carter delivered the message loud and clear in his arrogant way but also showed compassion for my mother by offering her a way out of that life. He gave her an option to get help. Something that I didn’t even know I wanted him to do until he’d done it. Carter was good at gauging me and he had hit the nail on the head. I loved him more than I ever thought was possible at that moment. That’s the thing about Carter, he always takes care of me and does what he thinks is best for me.
“I have to do something.” I shrug, going back over to the counter to chop the vegetables for our salad. I crafted homemade dressing for it. Gertie had passed on the recipe to me. She’s actually taught me a bunch of quick meals to make for two people. She has been Carter’s family chef for many years and she was more than happy to help me.