with him.”
With that he moves to stand and heads back over to Drake. I let the tears fall as I let what he said settle over me. I never meant it that way. My time with Drake has been precious and I do feel horrible that Roland didn’t get to spend those years with us.
I lean back and watch as the two most important people in my life smile and share this time together. My phone pings in my pocket. I silently thank whoever it is that they broke the tension I was feeling. Sliding my phone out I click on the message icon. Sliding my finger across the screen I suck in a breath.
Unknown: How comfortable you look with him. Such a shame it won’t last long.
My heart races. How did he get this number? Fin set this phone up when Roland went to prison. No one but Fin, Roland, and Viking have this number. My eyes jerk around, but all I see is water. We’re out here far enough from land that we can’t be seen. How does he know I’m with him? Does he just assume?
“Roland,” I say his name softly afraid Tom can somehow hear me. My breathing speeds up a little faster. He can’t fuck up the plan I had. He can’t just step in and ruin it all. “Roland. We have a problem,” I say a little louder. I glance around again. He still didn’t hear me. “Roland!” I scream this time. Both he and Drake turn around to look at me.
“What the hell is wrong with you? You look pale,” Roland says as he moves quickly toward me. He kneels in front of me and looks up at me with those big green eyes of his. “Talk to me,” he says.
“My phone. Message. He knows,” I say not quite making much sense.
Roland grabs my phone and clicks through the messages. Much the same as I did, he glances around quickly before his gaze comes back to meet mine.
“This means nothin’. He ain’t havin’ you. Either of you. Do you understand me? He is not gonna touch what belongs to me ever again,” Roland says through gritted teeth. His eyes are wild. No, they’re feral.
“Roland I won’t let him near Drake.”
“I won’t let him near either one of you. Trust me Mols. Just trust me on this, okay?”
I nod my head as he slips my phone into his pocket. He reaches for me and pulls me into his arms. I take a moment to gaze over his shoulder at Drake. He’s lost in his fishing, but I can tell by the sway of his body that something is off.
“Drake?” I call his name. Roland pulls away and looks at me funny. “Something’s wrong Roland.” He pulls away from me before spinning around to look at Drake.
“Hey Drake, you good?”
Drake turns his head and throws up before he drops to his knees. Drake heaves as his dad and I rush to his side. Roland moves around and grabs a bottle of water and a rag.
“Come on Drake. Sit up for me,” he says. His voice sounds panicked. I can’t say that I’m far behind. We pull Drake up until he’s sitting, but I can tell he’s still weak.
“I barfed on the boat,” he manages to say which causes us to laugh.
“Good thing the boat’s near water then, yeah?” Roland looks to have calmed slightly. Holding the bottle to his lips Drake takes a sip.
“Guess we better get you home.”
Roland passes me the bottle before he reaches down to lift Drake effortlessly in his arms. He walks him over and sits him back on the seat.
“We’ll get that cleaned up and head back,” he tells Drake before looking back at me.
I give him a slight nod. Roland frowns and then turns to start the boat up.
Chapter 26
Reaper
Downward spiral. The doc’s words ring over and over in my head. Fuck him. He can take his medical bullshit and shove it up his fucking ass. He doesn’t know my son like I do; doesn’t know that he’s a fighter. He has heart. I know if anyone can do this it’s him. Fuck everyone else.
I tuck Drake in and press a kiss to his head before I leave the room. Stepping into the main room I spot Viking and Fin at the bar. I walk over and drop onto the stool next to them.
“He okay?” Fin asks. I can hear the concern in his voice.
“No.” I grab the beer