be back in a bit.” Chance’s attempt at a smile in return was almost painful to watch and that was when Gabe realized he was missing two of his teeth in front as well. His friend’s blue eyes watched his girl leave before he said...in what sounded like a painful lisp:
“I tried to leave yesterday. Sharon called Blackheart and tattled on me. I was told in no uncertain terms that if I didn’t want my ass to look like my face, I had to stay here until the doc said it was okay for me to leave.”
Gabe chuckled. He could hear the boss’s voice saying that in his head. “I’m glad you’re gonna be okay,” he said, then clearing his throat he started, “I’m sorry...” Chance’s eyes went to Patrice and she said:
“You know what? I’m going to grab some coffee too. I’ll be back in a bit.” Gabe squeezed her hand and waited until she was gone before going on.
“I’m so fucking sorry it took me so long to get there...”
“It’s not your fault. Blackheart didn’t hold back about me going out there alone in the first place. He was right, I was asking for this shit. Besides, before I even put the phone back in my pocket after talking to you, I was out. No way anyone could have made it in time. Bastard snuck up on me.”
“Blackheart tell you anything about what’s been happening while we’re in here? Only word I got was from Brain and all he would say was that he binged Gregor in the head with a cue ball.”
Chance’s body shook with a laugh, but his face contorted in pain. “Fuck, man, don’t make me laugh,” he said. “Shit. Wish I woulda been there. Blackheart hasn’t said anything to me, but Sharon says they went out there and that Blackheart told her she never had to worry about Gregor hurting her, or anyone, again.”
“I’m pissed that I missed it,” Gabe said, “but glad it’s done. How’s Sharon doing?” Gabe didn’t know she was pregnant until Chance said:
“She wants to keep it.”
“Keep it? Keep what...?” That was his “Aha” moment. He didn’t know if the look on Chance’s face was from the physical pain he was in, or the thought of his girlfriend having a baby that belonged to one of the men who raped her.
“She’s pregnant,” Chance said, confirming it. “I thought you knew.”
“No...shit, those fuckers...”
“It was him—Gregor. She told me that morning and that’s why I just followed the fucker on my own. I couldn’t see anything but red, and if he hadn’t been with that woman, I would have just killed him and never called you. Fuck, I wish I would have.”
“Jesus, man, I’m sorry. She wants to keep the baby?”
Chance looked like he was in agony as he nodded. “She says she doesn’t believe in abortion, and it’s not the baby’s fault. Man, I see her point, I do...but I’m not sure, bro, I’m not sure I can look at that baby every day, knowing how it was brought into this world.”
Gabe didn’t know what to say, so for several minutes, he just sat with his friend, in silence. He could see both sides. He was raised Catholic and he’d been taught since he was old enough to understand that it was wrong, and against everything the Bible taught. His Maw Maw started leaving condoms around his room when he was barely sixteen and not saying a word about it. His Paw Paw, though, he’d been the one to sit him down and tell him to make damned sure he didn’t make any babies he wasn’t willing to take care of. Gabe wasn’t a player, but he’d had quite a bit of sex since becoming a Joker. The girls that hung around the club were mostly careful about birth control, but just in case he’d never had sex without a condom. He knew this was an entirely different scenario, though. This baby wasn’t just a “mistake” that Sharon would have to live with. This baby was birthed in chaos and trauma, hate and violence and Gabe wasn’t sure how Sharon would ever be able to look at him and not remember...he wasn’t sure, if he were Chance, that he could do it either.
He changed the subject after a few minutes and by the time the girls came back, they were talking and laughing about something stupid Brain had said or done. When it was time to go, Gabe stood up and