Author's POV

Billy left his apartment, his mind on Reese the whole time he made his runs. She was literally always on his mind no matter what he was doing or who he was with. All of his thoughts would somehow travel back to her. She was so engrained in him now that not speaking to her some days was a strain. And while he hated the idea that she had taken control of his life (whether she knew it or not) he wouldn't have it any other way. She loved him and he knew without a doubt it was true simply from the way she looked at him. Not to mention she said it as often as possible.

He never thought words could feel that good, and yet there he was giddy as ever because of them. Especially since he felt the same way, it wasn't just some stupid girl he didn't care about screaming she loved him while they fucked. No. Reese was the only girl he ever cared about and once he realized this, it wasn't something he took lightly. And all the clichés about love and how wonderful it felt to be loved had never felt so right for Billy. He'll never forget how amazing he felt the moment when he was climbing out of bed and Reese grabbed his arm, wrapping hers around his neck. He held himself above her, staring down at her as she looked him in the eye and said, "I love you."

Billy of course didn't say it back but left her knowing he felt the exact same. He had absolutely no idea when it happened; but he knew he was in love with her the moment he saw Collin standing behind her with his chest against her back. He was of course questioning those feelings before that moment. But it was solidified when he realized he'd kill someone over a woman. He'd never felt that intensely about anyone. Not enough to outright shoot some idiot for touching what was his.

Forcing himself not to think of her was a task, but he learned to manage it.

The money he owed Bones was due and waiting to be picked up from the office. This was bribe money plus Bones' "cost of doing business", an even 40 grand. 20 to the crooked captain that would erase and evidence on his whole operation; and 20 to Bones. Billy worked his and his gang's asses off to make it.

It only took him 15 minutes to get to the office and pick up the money. He had Bodie count it out using the cash counter in front of him before he put all the money back in the duffle bag and load it his car . He couldn't help but feel a little arrogant and cocky as he strolled into his father's office. Bones had boasted about how Billy would never be able to make the money on time, and how excited he'd be to blow his and the rest of his friends heads off.

From just outside the door Billy could hear two voices including his fathers. Without knocking he walks in, ignoring the presence of the man on the other side of Bones' desk. Placing the duffle bag on the desk, as he'd been instructed not to do countless times.

"Fuckin' moron, how many times I gotta tell ya t'look where the fuck ya drop shit!"

Spit flies from the disgusting man's mouth and the threat that follows falls upon deaf ears. Because once again she is on his mind.

"There's ya money," Billy spits nodding to the bag, he turns to leave but is stopped by Bones' harsh voice. It annoyed him how much they sounded alike.

"Ah ah…get back in here. Count it out boy."

Billy sighs and turns back around. The police captain, his green eyes focused on the bag, points to the same cash counter Billy had Bodie use back at the office. Once all the money is counted for the umpteenth time Billy splits it exactly down the middle, handing both men their share before catching the captain's attention.

"I'm not gonna hear shit after this right?"

"Unh huh," the man nods, all too pleased with himself. Billy doesn't bother saying thank you. He struts out feeling a small percentage of the heavy weight on his shoulders dissipate. And now he needed a stiff drink…several stiff drinks. Billy pulled up to Four Roses hastily. The moment he opened the door he barked his order to the bartender, demanding a 5 shots of Jack Daniels. Not wanting to abuse his limit Billy left with a very small buzz. On his way out he wandered to his car, for the moment forgetting about everything else, but remembering how much he missed Reese.

Gripping his car keys he trudges to his car, looking down at his phone thinking about calling her the entire way. That is until he hears a voice. It sounds familiar and unfamiliar at the same time.

"Billy Darley," The woman's voice said.

Billy turns to face her, surprised when he saw Reese's face. The woman was 2 times Reese's age but had the girls face almost down to the t. Billy froze, it was weird how much they looked alike. Standing about half a foot shorter than Reese, the woman stared up at Billy with a stoic expression on her face.

"Yea?" he grunts staring at her in confused annoyance.

She doesn't say anything for a very long time, just staring him up and down with her hand gripping her purse tightly to her side.

"Can I help you?" Billy snaps.

Clearing her throat she says, "You've been dating my daughter."

Billy hated that term, dating. It was annoying and sounded clingy. Watching the lady intently he leans back against his car and folds his arms across his chest.

"Le'me guess, this is the part where ya tell me t'stay away from Reese," he says with a smirk on his face.

"Not as stupid as I thought, but yea. If you care about her at all then you let her go."

"No." Billy wasn't about to negotiate losing Reese to anyone, not his father or her mother. She was his.

"You don't care about her?"

Billy glares at her, his expression is all the response he planned to give.

"Don't give me that look…like I'm supposed to be scared of you," She almost sounds amused at the thought of him trying to intimidate her.

"She'll always be at risk because of you, and so will my grandchild, and I will not let that happen."

Billy's whole entire world was turned on its head. Nothing made sense. He was trying to remember how many other siblings Reese had. And unless that skinny little runt went and got his first ghetto girl pregnant then there was only one other answer. His face showed everything, the shock, the dismay and confusion that was the fact that he could very well be a father. Not only that but Reese knew and did not tell him. And with his confusion the sense of betrayal he felt by the woman he loved was palpable.

This was precisely why he avoided shitty things like relationships and anything more than one night stands. Lying bitches and pregnancy scares. The first instinct in Billy's mind was to run. He told himself to run and ignore this little issue until it worked itself out, meaning until Reese and her intrusive fucking mother got the hint that he wanted nothing to do with any child.

Of course, the instinct had not yet actually made an impression on his heart. His heart which his smart ass, gorgeous woman had in her grips was telling him to go to her. To hold her close and tell her he was terrified but wouldn't/couldn't leave her. Of course after scolding her for being stupid and not telling him first he'd hold her all night and maybe take out whatever anger he had left on her ass as he pounded into her from behind.

A fucking kid? The thought never even crossed his mind. Billy was a big fan of women's rights. His favorite things about it included quick and easy access to all forms of contraception including the abortion. Up until Reese he had no reason to question the morality of abortions, but now that the thought was smack dab in his face he was weary. Billy was sure that if ever he was faced with this turn of events it would be with some sleaze he didn't give two shits about who had no problem with a day trip to the clinic. Somehow the thought of his woman doing the same made him sick, almost as sick as the idea of her being pregnant with his baby.

"Ya fuckin' lyin'" The sneer on Billy's face was deadly. He takes two steps forward and is hovering over the woman by more than a foot. Glaring at her, waiting for her to break and confess it was all one big joke.

She didn't even bat an eye. She tilts her head to the side, waiting for him to get over his shock and behave reasonably. He was a child, she'd be damned if she let a moron like him intimidate her.

"And now you tell me on what planet would me lying about the fact that my daughter is pregnant by a fuckin' piece of shit like you makes sense."

Billy doesn't move, he doesn't speak and when he realizes his expression wouldn't make the woman falter he gives up. He had too much on his mind to waste his time on intimidating some fucking old lady. Just when he thought himself out of one situation and less burdened another one was bought to light. He takes a step back and leans against his car, his eyes focused on the dirt, unmoving.

"Why…" his voice is barely above a whisper. Realizing he sounded weak he cleared his throat and said, "Why didn't she tell me?"

"Because I told her not to," she lies. The truth was Reese was terrified of telling him and was waiting to find out if she was actually pregnant before telling him. Her mother on the other hand wanted him out of the picture, betting that he would take off like she expected. So even if Reese wasn't pregnant or was and decided to have the procedure, Billy would be out and she'd realize he was never any good for her and move on with her life.

After another long pause she says, "This was just a courtesy call. We don't expect anything of you."

Billy was still silent, glaring at the ground trying to sort through his emotions.

"Aint ya decision."

"Excuse me?" she snaps.

"What Reese and me do is none of ya business, so butt the fuck out."

"You think you can take care of a family? Provide for them? You're still a child, how do you expect to take care of a baby and my daughter?"

He doesn't say anything for a while, "Ya let me worry about that." He retorts.

"No. They're not going to sit around and wait for you to get your shit together, I'll take them away. My grandchild will not grow up here."

"Ya don't get t'say where my kid goes, they're mine, my responsibility, not yours." Despite the fact that Billy didn't even want kids his possessive nature would be damned if someone took away what was rightfully his.

Reese's mother is absolutely surprised at his response. She expected for him to let them go, take the easy way and get Reese and the baby off his back.

"Why? Why do you want that responsibility huh? I'm giving you a pass, you can go about fuckin' whatever skanks you want, shootin' up innocent people and hookin' them on that shit you make a living off of. You want to give that up?"

Billy didn't even have to think, which surprised the hell out of himself when he said yes without a moment's hesitation. His life, which his girlfriend's mother had just put into one fucked up sentence didn't sound appealing anymore. Imagining Reese being anywhere but in his arms at night and a child that looked like him calling some other man daddy broke him down. He couldn't give that up, not for all the dirty money in Boston and certainly not for any old piece of ass that couldn't make him feel half as good as Reese could with just a smile in his direction.

What the fuck was happening to him?

As all these things ran through his mind the words slipped from his mouth in Billy's most vulnerable moment to date. Reese's mother watched on in shock and awe as the hulking man stared at the gravel and mumbled.

"I love her."

They remain quiet, when Billy realizes what he's said he closes his eyes and grits his teeth, hard.

With wide eyes the woman clears her throat, she knew just from the look in his eyes that he meant it. He was in love with her daughter.

"I…I believe you."

Billy can't even look her in the eye.

"But that isn't enough. If you really love her you'll get your shit together and make a good life for your family like a real man."

Rubbing his aching shaved head he grunts, "I'll try."

"Not good enough, I can't do shit with try and neither can Reese and your child."
Billy glares at her again.

"I told you I'm not scared of you so cut it out with the looks. You need to make a choice Billy, either you grow up or do the right thing and let them go."