Cal

“I fucking love you, Lily. I should have said that fifteen years ago. One of the biggest mistakes I ever made.”

“If they’ve hurt my baby I swear to god I will have no problem blowing the motherfucker’s brains out on my dining table.”

“The whole restaurant is soaked, apart from my son in his fucking rain jacket with his hood up and a smile on his face. I don’t know whether to wring the little shit’s neck or laugh at the spectacular fucking prank.”

“What the fuck’s redcars all about then?” Bren asks. Lily exhales. “It’s a phrase we use when Reece is saying something that you don’t want him to continue with, like a safe word, a shut-the-fuck-up-you’re-going-too-far word.”

“I…I can’t deal with the cartel again, Reece. That shit nearly killed me the last time. What the fuck are we going to do?” She begins to cry again and paces up and down the room, her beautiful face marred with tears.”

“They set the cartel onto us, Mom!” Reece replies, desperation in his voice.”

“Blood groups were Bren A positive, Cal A positive, Oscar B positive, Finn A positive, and Connor B positive,” the kid says nonchalantly as if explaining further. “Anyway, the sixty million I took wasn’t much to you guys so I don’t know why the fuck you’re so pissed. I’ve a feeling it’s more a pride thing, am I right?” he says, sniggering. Oscar’s head snaps up, “$60 million?” The little lunatic starts laughing. “Oh shit! Wow, I thought you were meant to be the clever little hacker,” he mocks. “Jesus! Yeah, I figured I’d swipe a ten from your daddy too. You know the offshore account ending 3452? Yeah, didn’t think I’d be able to access those, did ya? Dumb fuck.” The little prick is shaking his head, laughing to himself. Oscar’s face pales and he takes a step back, almost staggering. Me? I’m fucking empty, empty. Like what the fuck is happening here?”

“He’s my fucking son?” I choke out, looking at the smug little shit. How the fuck have I created him?”

“It’s a phrase we use when Reece is saying something that you don’t want him to continue with, like a safe word, a shut-the-fuck-up-you’re-going-too-far word.”