Spark of Hope (MacKenny Brothers #3) - Kathleen Kelly Page 0,38

up with Kyle, you’d hook me up, too.” She shakes her head and twists her lips into a smug smile. “The one time I asked you about Sean, you told me I wasn’t his type. You said it like I was nothing more than dirt on your shoe.”

“This is about Sean?”

“No, this about lifting others. Putting in a good word. But no, you didn’t, did you?”

Now, it’s my turn to laugh. I’m laughing so hard I have to hold my ribs. The pain is worth it to see that smug look slip off her face. Standing, I poke her in the chest with my good hand. “No one gave me anything. From the day I was born, I’ve had to fight for everything I’ve ever wanted.” Drawing myself up to my full height, I tower over her. “And Kyle? Kyle was the one thing I didn’t want tainted by my past. So, no, I was never going to introduce you to Sean because they’re good people and every one of you aren’t,” I thunder as I point at the fucked-up trio.

Garry pushes me back onto the chair with such force that it tips over, and I’m again on the filthy warehouse floor.

“Fuck you,” I growl as I scramble to get to my feet.

“Fuck me?”

Garry draws back his arm to hit me when Tommy grabs it and shakes his head.

“Look at her, Garry, she’s done. Lo’s all talk, and you’re letting her get the best of you. Don’t be an idiot.”

“Bitch deserves everything she gets,” sneers Suzie.

Garry nods and smiles. “Yes, she does.”

My temper gets the best of me. “Really? I work two jobs. I’m trying to save enough to rent a place so Logan can come live with me while you three always go for the easy solution. Easy money. Well, guess what?” I square my shoulders. “There’s no easy way. It’s hard work. It’s all about depending on yourself. I’ve never asked Kyle for anything. Hell, I never even told him about Logan. Do you want to know why?” I shout.

“Oh, I know why, sis. Because he’d know the slut you are. The woman who abandoned her child so she could hook up with a biker. Real class.”

Garry’s words cut through me, even though he’s wrong. I never abandoned Logan. I was fifteen when I met his dad, and he was twenty. When we found out I was pregnant, I begged him and his parents to take Logan. I didn’t want him exposed to my life. Logan’s dad, Clarke, was a good guy. His parents had him late in life, and they died in a car crash when Logan was five. Clarke let me visit, he sent me photographs of all of Logan’s milestones, and above all, he was the best dad.

The morning I was kidnapped by these morons, I was on my way to see a lawyer. He even agreed to meet with me on a Sunday. The plan was to get Logan away from Yvette and use some of the money that his grandparents have in trust for him to find a house. I was even prepared to move out of the state. The lawyer, from our telephone conversations, seemed to think I wouldn’t have a problem. But if Yvette got a hint that Logan had some money, she’d stick her claws in him so hard that it would be nearly impossible to get them out. My whole life, I’ve cleaned up after her, but my son deserves better.

I know I let him down, allowing him to go live with Yvette, but I needed a little more time.

Bending, I put the chair back on its legs and sit. Garry laughs and saunters away with Suzie hot on his tail. No accounting for taste. Mind you, they deserve each other. They’re both miserable human beings.

“Why did you get in the car, Lo?” asks Tommy in a quiet voice.

“You knew I’d escape?” I whisper.

Tommy nods. “He’s going to kill you, Lo. And now there’s nothing I can do to stop it.”

Tears prick the backs of my eyes, and I put my head in my hands. Tommy crouches in front of me.

“Ring Kyle, Tommy,” I plead.

“It’s too late for that now, Lo. There’s nothing I can do.”

Staring him in the eyes, I try to smile as a tear runs down my cheek. “Please.”

Tommy stands and walks away.

The three of them are huddled in the corner, whispering.

For the first time in a good long while, I close my eyes and pray.

Kyle

I’m