The Warrior by Erin Trejo Read Free Book Online

what this new life holds for the new
me but it sure as hell doesn’t involve apologies. I don’t give them
and I sure as hell don’t receive them. If I’ve learned one thing in
this life I have learned that you never say sorry. You are who you
are and you did what you did. Nothing you can change.
    ***
    I decided to ask Bradon on this job with me
tonight. I still wanted to talk to him about what he started and we
didn’t get to finish. We ride out to an old warehouse that we are
setting up on top of. I bring out the long range rifle since we are
going to be a little off tonight.
    “What did you want to talk about the other
night?” I ask as I set up the rifle. I lay down on the rooftop as
Bradon lies next to me.
    “I don’t know if this is the best time.”
Bradon says as I position it and set it up ready to fire.
    “We’re going to be up here awhile and there
isn’t anyone around. I’d say this is the best time.” I say as I
watch through the scope. We don’t know how long this will take but
I'm ok with the wait. I take a deep breath and blow it out as I
keep my position.
    “You remember that girl Josie?” Bradon says
as I watch.
    “Yea. Dark haired girl right?” I say as I
hear Bradon chuckle.
    “That’s her. Well after you got sent off me
and her started hanging out. We hooked up a few times and we
started getting closer. After some other shit that went down while
you were gone Josie found out she was pregnant. I have a son
Cadence.” He says as I look over at him. How the fuck did I not
know this?
    “Where is she?” I say as I watch his face
hoping to god she wasn’t killed.
    “I got her out. One night she was supposed to
go out with her friends. I made her disappear. I couldn’t have her
here man. I mean I fucking love that girl to death but I didn’t
want anything else to happen to her or my kid.” He says as my heart
sinks. Here I thought I didn’t have a heart and now I feel it
crumbling in my chest.
    “Where is she? Are they ok?” I ask as I look
back into the scope.
    “They are pretty close by. I didn’t want her
to go far especially with my son. I needed her. She needed me and I
wanted to try to be around for her.” He says as I nod.
    “Why not just talk to dad about it? I mean he
is the fucking devil but he did always like you.” I say without
looking over at him. Bradon was always the favorite.
    “Dad found I was sleeping with her a little
while after we hooked up. He said she wasn’t allowed to be part of
his family after what she did.” He says as I look over at him in
confusion.
    “He sold her out once Cad. He said she was
nothing but trash. As soon as she was back and she told me she was
pregnant I knew I had to get her out of there.” He says and I can
see the pain in his eyes. He’s hurting right now.
    “Fuck Bra. I wish I could have helped you.” I
say as I shake my head. “I have a nephew huh?” I say with a
half-smile. Bradon nods his head as he pulls his phone out and
hands it to me.
    “That’s Josh. She called the other night when
I was going to talk to you because he was sick and she wasn’t
feeling all that well either. Doctor said they had the flu. I went
to stay over there that night. I'm just so fucking tired of all of
this.” He says as I hand the phone back to him.
    “He looks just like you Bra. He’s fucking
perfect. I don’t know what to say to you man. We will figure
something out. I don’t know what but I fucking promise you I will
figure this out. You need to be a man and be with your family. I
mean your real family.” I say as I look back into the scope.
    “You’re my family too Cad. I want you with
us. I'm going down to see them on Saturday night. If you can get
out would you come with me? I’d like you to meet your nephew.” He
says softly as my heart plummets further. I set the rifle down and
grab Bradon and pull him into a hug. I don’t normally do this but I
know he needs it.
    “You’re damn right I will. I want to meet
them