Page 83 of Beautiful Killer

“Nice of you to finally answer when your mother calls.”

“Sorry, things have been . . . I’ve been busy.”

Her voice softened when she spoke next. “Are you taking care of yourself?”

“Yeah, Ma.”

She made a hmm sound. “So where are you? I can hear voices in the background.”

“A restaurant.”

Silence.

“Are you there alone?” she asked far too casually.

I needed to tell her about Sunny. But I knew my mother well enough to know it would be better if she thought Sunny and I were together. For a while anyway. It’d be easier when it came time to tell her about the baby. My parents deserved to be in their grandchild’s life. I wouldn’t deny them this just because I fucked up.

“No, I’m seeing . . .”

“You have a girlfriend!” she screamed. “Thank you, lord Jesus!”

“Shit,” I muttered.

“Watch your mouth.” A long sigh. “You don’t know how happy this makes your mother.”

“I’ve got a fair idea.”

“When can we meet her?” she said.

Shit.“Mom . . .”

“Don’t you ‘Mom’ me. I’ve waited a long time for you to find someone since that bitch Diane did what she did, don’t deny me this. Don’t you dare.”

“Mom . . .”

“How long have you been dating?”

I had no choice but to roll with this. I looked at Sunny as I said, “A few months.”

“Is it serious?”

Since she was having my kid, there was only one answer I could give her. “Yeah.”

She shrieked and I held the phone away from my ear.

“What’s her name?”

“Sunny.”

“Oh I like that. Such a pretty name! I needed some good news. This is so wonderful, Zeke, so wonderful. I can’t wait to tell your father.”

I frowned. “What’s going on? Why did you need good news?”

Silence. “Well . . .”

The phone beeped, another call coming through. I ignored it. “Mom?”

It beeped again, this time a text, which meant it was more than likely the agency, and if they were trying to get hold of me, it was important. “Shit, I have a call from work coming through. I have to take it.”

“Okay, honey. I’m so happy. Say hello to Sunny for me.”

“Will do.”

I disconnected and took the call.

“We know where he is,” Van said.

My eyes sliced back to Sunny as Van filled me in on Miller’s location. She was watching me back with those big violet eyes, only now filled with worry.

“I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

Miller was about to pay for what he did to her, and I wasn’t about to show that fucker an ounce of mercy.