Twisted - Tangled Limbs Sequel (Shannon Leto Fanfiction)

Chapter 30

(Trigger Warnings:  Language and Sexual Content.)

(Shannon's POV)

I ordered a double and tried to get a grip on myself. I accomplished what I'd set out to do despite handling it poorly. I was still reeling from the impact of what I'd learned, as well as what Monique had turned into. I refused to take responsibility for the way her life turned out. I was only accountable for mine and I'd made more than my fair share of poor choices too.

Holding Monique on a pedestal had disqualified so many other women before I gave them half a chance. Was it really about them not measuring up to her or had that been my way of keeping them at arm's length so I wouldn't risk being hurt again? Although life changes us, I wondered if Monique was ever what she appeared to be or if I was so infatuated that I never saw the real person.

I hated admitting there was a shred of relief having found out what happened to our child. The remorse and years of speculating about them were over now. I knew there would always be a sadness within knowing he or she never made it into the world. Onlookers may have thought I was on a wild ride all those years, when in actuality I was trying to drown out the pain of things in the past. I got stuck in some bad places as a result.

I wasn't really in any condition to face Missi, so I ordered a cup of coffee hoping that might bring me around a little. I stopped at the front desk for a room key before heading upstairs. The room was quiet, and I figured Missi was asleep.

'What the fuck?' I uttered under my breath as I stood in the bedroom doorway.

Missi was laying between Jared and Brittany, closer to my brother than I liked. He wasn't just spooning her, he had his arm across her.

Brittany's eyes opened, and she got up slowly and quietly before yanking me out in the hallway and closing the door.

'What the fuck is right.' She said quietly and led me to the kitchen.

'Fine time to show up Shannon. We just got Missi calmed down enough to sleep. How dare you disappear and hurt her like that. What the hell is wrong with you? I thought you were a stand-up guy until you pulled this shit.' She said before pushing against my chest so hard that I fell backwards.

'Get up, I'm not done with you yet.'

'Missi was so upset she started throwing up blood after we got here. Luckily the hotel had a doctor on call and he gave her something to calm her stomach and her nerves. Is that how you treat someone you claim you love and never want to be without? You could have at least answered your phone. I could slap the shit out of you, but I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt. Tell me something that might keep me from carrying through.' She said with a stone-cold look.

'Is she okay.' I asked.

'What part of that did you not understand? She's okay physically for now, but mentally will likely depend on what you have to say for yourself.'

'I wanna hold her, I need to know if she's okay.'

'Maybe you'll have the opportunity to do so after you tell me what made you disappear. Jared said you took off without notice in the past, but that wasn't any comfort to Missi.'

'If you want me to lay it out there for you then fine. I'll sum it all up nice and neat. Boy meets girl of his dreams, girl gets pregnant, parents threaten legalities to separate them, boy chokes on guilt and disappointment, runs away from anyone who might make him feel something, uses booze and broads as his mainstay, all the while trying to maintain a successful career. Then boy meets girl he can love, make plans with her, all's good until dream girl shows up out of the blue and turns his world upside down.' I snarled.