Read Online Anarchy (The Stone Legacy Series Book 4) by Theresa Dalayne - Free Book Online Page B

saddened. “Not like now. Her and Blade ran the place together. After Brisa lost the baby, he never forgave her, and she took off.”
    Jayden stopped mid-stride. “Baby?” he said softly.
    Modem’s face drained of color. “You didn’t know that either?”
    He shook his head.
    She clapped her hand over her mouth.
    “Hawa was pregnant?”
    Model let her hand fall to her side. “Please don’t tell her I told you. Since you guys are dating—maybe—I figured you knew.”
    “I won’t tell her, but…” Fuck. How did he even respond to that?
    “Listen.” She shifted toward him. “It wasn’t her fault. They were both shocked when she found out she was pregnant. Blade was happy. Hawa, not so much. When she lost it, he blamed her. He said she never wanted it in the first place. But she didn’t do what he thinks she did.” The girl balled her fists. “He never should have shoved her that hard.” Her eyes darkened. “She broke right through the railing.”
    A spike of rage tore through Jayden’s gut. “What?” He worked his jaw. “He hit her?”
    Modem looked away. “More than that.” She swallowed. “It was bad.” She crossed her arms, seeming more like a little girl in that moment. “After she got out of the hospital, Brisa left, and we didn’t hear from her again, until she came back with you.”

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Ten
     
     
    Jayden walked along the narrow alleyway, toward the dead neon sign, and through the side door, straight into the hotel. No knocking. No secret password. Enough was enough.
    In the main foyer, he spotted Hawa standing with her shoulders hunched, slopping the soggy mop over cracked tile and tattered wooden floor. She wiped her forehead with the back of her hand and glanced up, spotting him. “Where the hell have you been?”
    “Out.” He walked past her, toward the stairs.
    “With Modem?” She tossed the mop at him. The handle smacked him in the head and bounced off, clattering to the floor.
    “What do you care?”
    “Because you have chores to do, asshole.” She gestured to the puddle on the floor. “I got stuck pulling your load.”
    He squared his shoulders. “ My load ? You’re talking to me like this is my home. Like I give a shit if Blade or anyone else around here says I need to do chores, which is the definition of fucking stupid in a place that’s falling apart.” He kicked the pail of water, throwing it feet away and splashing dirty water in every direction. With his jaw clenched, he shook his head. “Who are you? This isn’t the Hawa I knew in Renato’s house. You were always so hard and confident. You’re not the same when you’re here.” He wanted to tell her he knew about the baby, and about her putting up with Blade beating on her like his personal punching bag. He wanted to shake her by the shoulders and demand she explain herself—why she’d put up with that bullshit when she could have fought back.
    Hawa shifted her weight, her eyes averted to the floor. “What did Modem tell you?”
    “It doesn’t matter.”
    “It matters,” she said in a low growl.
    It doesn’t change anything, he said with his mind.
    Hawa nodded, and her lips turned down in to a frown. “It changes a lot.”
    “Brisa!”
    Hawa jumped, and looked up to the third floor. Blade leaned against the railing, staring down at them.
    Hawa cleared her throat. “Yeah?”
    He waved her up. “Come here a minute.”
    She stole a glance at Jayden, and then nodded. “Sure. Be right there.”
    Not alone, you’re not.
    “Stay out of it,” she whispered as she passed him.
    He watched her scale the stairs. Have we met? He tailed her just close enough so he could hear what was going on, but not too close to draw any attention.
    When she reached the third floor, Jayden slowed his pace and spied between the rusted railings.
    When Blade draped his arm over her shoulder, Hawa’s muscles tensed under his touch.
    “What’s going on?” Blade said in a low, steady