6:00 PM | Freddie's POV
Graceland Hospital, Athens, Texas
This was my first time being shot and it hurt like a bitch! If it wasn't for Neveah and Mateo, Zeus's people would've found me in the field, dead. I wasn't out of the woods yet. I needed to heal and healing takes time. This means I was probably going to be stuck in this damn hospital until they deemed me healthy enough to leave. Zeus's people were still out there. This is the closest hospital to the ranch. If I was him, this place would be first on my list of places to search.
I find Kareem and Opal standing at the end of my bed, talking amongst themselves. Opal being here is not surprising. Soon as she got word that I was in danger it was only a matter of time before she put some shit in motion. The conversation between them looks heated. Kareem appears stressed, frustratedly rubbing his hands across his scalp. Opal stands with one hand on her hip and another texting away on her phone and Neveah is seated in a chair, wiping away tears...wait.
Clearing my throat, "What's going on? Why is Neveah crying?" I ask, attempting to sit up but fail miserably.
Neveah rushes over to me, "Don't hurt yourself." She says through sniffles.
I frowned, "Why are you crying?"
She stares at Opal and Kareem then returns her gaze to me with fresh tears in her eyes, "We're getting you out of here." She tells me, putting on a smile. "Opal has planned for us to fly out of Texas, privately." She takes a deep breath and then says, "Athena and I will be going to Vegas and you and Opal will return to Riverborn." Neveah could barely look at me as the words spilled from her mouth. This wasn't her doing, she would never agree to this. I glared at Opal, "I'm not leaving Neveah and Athena."
Opal pinches the bridge of her nose, "Freddie, this isn't up for discussion." She sighs deeply.
"The hell it is." I snapped.
"Watch yourself!" She warns, pointing her sharp black nails at me.
"I'm not leaving them! They are my family."
Opal gasps, "Your family?"
"Yes...Neveah and Athena are my family. I just got them back---you can't take them away from me."
Kareem steps up and speaks, "Look, Opal, it's not a problem if Freddie comes to Vegas. We have more than enough space for him. Keith will be with me too, so he'll have someone his age to be friends with."
"I'm sorry, but who is Keith," Neveah asks before I could.
"A gentleman I was locked up with. He's around Freddie's age. Good kid and smart. I grew up with his people." He shares.
Neveah nods. Not questioning it further.
"No! Freddie is coming back home with me!" Opal blurts. "I already lost my only son. I will not lose my only grandson as well."
It all makes sense now.
She doesn't want to be alone.
"Opal, come here," I say, gently.
She hesitates at first and then slowly approaches my bedside. I take her hand and kiss her knuckles, "I will always be your family, but I can't return to Riverborn. For one, I'm a wanted man there." I gently laugh, "In Vegas, I can start a new life, possibly a legal one."
YOU ARE READING
STEP DADDY 2: FAMILY TIES (COMPLETED)
General FictionThree years ago, life was simple and sweet for Neveah Greene. She was an outstanding student at Riverborn High School, with the potential to go to an HBCU college, she had a loving mother, who respectfully gave her the freedom to do as she pleased...
