Chapter 9: Because I Can!
Tommy's P.O.V.
After Moda went to her room, I straightened my back and headed to my home office. I sat at my desk resting my feet on it and reclining in my swivel chair, thinking. Then the phone rang. I was prepared to curse out the shithead who had disturbed my deep thought...
"Yeah..." I answered lazily but with attitude.
"Hey Tom, it's Rosenberg..." he said, sniffing between sentence.
"sigh, whaddaya WANT Ken?" I rolled my eyes.
"Listen, are you really serious about keeping the kid?" he asked.
"What do you mean 'am I serious', of course I'm serious!" I shouted.
"I mean, it's just that...Well, WHY Tommy? Ain't she gonna get in the way of business?"
"Because I can!" I screamed then lower my voice as to not waken Moda "Listen, Ken...I'm not sure exactly WHY I'm keeping her but I can't turn her away...She's a fuckin' plane-crash survivor!"
"Sure you could! I mean, she's just...some kid, you hardly even KNOW her yet you're taking her shopping, and introducing her to the folks, got her her own bedroom all painted and furnished, what's the deal with that, Tommy?"
"It's just that...It's just..." I stammered.
"Ohhhhh...I get it. It's about Mercedes ain't it?" he said softly. Dammit, that lawyer always did know how to hit the nail on the head.
"Man, I'll talk to you tomorrow, Ken..." I said and slammed the phone down on the reciever.
I mean, he was right. This had a lot to do with Mercedes. Ever since she "killed" OUR child, I've had this big void in me. When I first met her, I did think she was cute. Then, shortly after the takeover and the departure of her father, Colonel Cortez, we had started talking more and seeing more of each other then boom! She up and told me she was pregnant. It had happened THAT fast. As much as I didn't show it, I was overwhelmed with joy. I had always wanted a kid. Someone who I could teach the game to so they could run this joint after my time and make me proud.
Next thing I know, she called me a few weeks later saying she "couldn't deal with the pressure of raising a child" so she had an abortion done behind my back. I felt sick to my stomach. I would've loved that kid. As for Mercedes, instead of having her killed, I showed her some mercy and just told her to stay the hell away from me, my people and my business.
Basically, I guess I'm keeping the kid to make up for Mercede's stupid mistake, and so she can be the cement to fill that void. I know it's only been one day but I sense that I could shape her into my image. Even though I've always wanted a SON, I guess this'll work. The way I see it, this is a sign. Check it, a kid falls out of the sky, nowhere to go, and comes to ME. It's like a power has already granted me a kid except all of the hard work's been done for me, right?
So yes. I'm keeping her. Maybe sometime this month, if I truly grow attatched to the kid (I've already named her, anyways), I can get Ken to put together some adoption papers to make this official.
End Chap. 9
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I know I'm moving kinda fast with the plot but, hey. I don't wanna end up stretching this entire story to like...20+ chapters or anything. And please note that I didn't put much thought or effort into this chapter. I just needed a quick way to sum up this point of the story.
R & R.