Miles Away (Carrion #1)(40)

“Nicole!” Letty yelled again up the stairs.

“Who is Nicole?” Miles asked as he stepped into the parlor.

Letty appeared to be paying Miles no mind though. Sweeping through the parlor, Letty’s heels clicked against the hardwood floor as she made a beeline to the mahogany staircase. Racing up the stairs, Letty left Miles alone with his thoughts as her voice trailed off down the upstairs hallway. Miles peered around the parlor, his eyes falling against the sea foam walls. Family photos lined the walls. Eyeing each one, Miles smiled. Letty had done as he wanted her to. She led a full and happy life. Miles broke his gaze from a photograph of Letty lounging on the beach in Sea Isle City when he heard the sound of approaching voices.

Letty descended the stairs one by one with another woman in tow. Miles presumed she must be Nicole. She was a wild child, no more than seventeen years of age, with spiky purple hair, ripped denim jeans and a black t-shirt that read Rebel Punk. She and Letty gabbed incessantly as they walked down the staircase. Miles walked to the center of the room, unsure of what to do with himself. Though he was in prison for half of his life, Miles had some manners. He held on tightly to the lessons his mother taught him. He didn’t want to seem rude to Letty. This was her house, after all.

“Okay, Nicole. Thanks again!” Letty called out the front door. She then closed it with a gentle click.

As Letty turned back into the room, it was her turn to render Miles speechless. Miles’s mouth gaped open as he watched Letty come forward. A small boy, no older than two years of age by Miles’s calculation, clutched onto Letty’s arm as he peered out at Miles. With soft brown eyes and caramel skin, the child looked a lot like Letty. His nearly black hair swept gently across his forehead. The child released a hand from around Letty’s neck, stretching it out towards Miles. Miles’s breath hitched as he compared Letty’s face with the child’s own. Their eyes were identical and when he smiled he had the same deep dimple that Miles always adored on Letty. Letty watched Miles’s face carefully, scrutinizing his eyes for any sign of fear. Letty was surprised to see that there was none present. Instead, a look of amazement shone out from his eyes. Miles wasn’t frightened by the prospect of a child—he just seemed surprised by this sudden turn of events. Staring down at the gold bracelet around the child’s wrist, Miles smiled at the letter G. The wind rushed from Miles’s throat as reality set in.

“You’re a mother…” Miles said in a soft voice. There was no judgment present in his tone, nor was there any sign of disappointment. Miles sounded happy for Letty.

“I am,” Letty replied, her uncertainly revealed in her voice. “This is G,” Letty said as she brought her son closer to Miles. The child reached out his right arm to Miles. A faint smile crossed Miles’s face as G wrapped his tiny fingers around Miles’s rough hand. The child squeezed tightly. Miles was amazed at the small child’s strength.

“He’s strong! What does G stand for?” Miles asked as he took G from Letty’s arms.

Miles cradled the child, resting G’s legs on his tattooed arm as he waited for Letty to answer.

“Gabriel,” Letty said with a pause.

“Like the angel…” Miles said as he looked at the child.

“Gabriel John Alves,” Letty continued.

Miles raised an eyebrow.

“Not Juan, after your father? Did you say John?” Miles asked incredulously.

Letty had an embarrassed look on her face. “That’s right, John.”

“You know John is my middle name, right?” Miles asked with a smirk.

Letty smiled sheepishly as she nodded her head. “Yeah. I know.” A sly expression curled from her lips.

Miles stroked the child’s back softly as a dark look set in his eyes.

“Letty, there’s no husband or baby daddy that’s gonna pop out with a baseball bat, right?”

Letty laughed, throwing her head back in amusement. “Decidedly not. It’s just us.”

“Oh?” Miles asked as he caught the turmoil in Letty’s laugh. “Where is his father?”

Letty shrugged. “Oh, he’s much too busy being a local celebrity. He doesn’t bother with us.”

Miles’s upper lip snarled. “Scumbag. Who is he? Do I know him?”

Letty laughed darkly. “Oh, you know him all right.”

Miles looked at Letty for a moment. He didn’t like where this was going.

“Out with it, Letty. No secrets. Remember?”

“Look Miles, don’t judge me, okay?” Letty said as a vulnerable look crossed her face.

Miles gave Letty a serious look. “It’s not Knox, is it? Please tell me it’s not Knox.”

“It’s not Knox! No judging!” Letty barked.

Miles rolled his eyes. “I’m not judging you, baby. Just need to know whose ass I gotta kick.”

Letty sighed heavily as she stared into Miles’s eyes. Grabbing his hand, she prepared to let the truth be known.

“Miles, do you remember Richie Rizzolli?”

The second she said his name, Miles’s cool expression turned to animosity.

“Ruin?”

“Yeah. It was a one-night stand. Totally unexpected. A mistake…”

Quickly Miles covered G’s ears.

“Don’t say that in front of him.”