Free Marcus: The M Series, Book Three by Ryanne Anthony Page A

pregnant?”
    “Coffee,” we all say together.
    “And fish,” Rachel says. “She won't even look at it.”
    I nod. “That's right, even with the twins. She just can't stand the smell. It's usually a first sign. We eat a lot of seafood when she's not expecting.”
    “Daniels! Fish markets and coffee houses in a one-hundred-mile radius.” He looks at his watch. “Wait... better make 500. Some place where a crime could be hidden, especially a woman screaming,” Richards orders. “Back to who has her. Mrs. Cannon said ' this is about New York and a promise you broke.' What promise did you break? Please think a moment before you answer. Any promise you made, Marcus, since you've known her.”
    “I can't think of a single thing. Ever since that break up we had about my name, I've made sure to be one hundred percent honest with her, never promising anything I even thought I might have to back out from.”
    “ ‘Despite who their father is’ , is what I'd like to focus on.”
    I shake my head. “No, Parker… that was scripted. Next question.”
    I look at Nathan, who is muttering something behind me.
    “Wait... No, go back,” Mother says, closing her eyes. She does that when she needs silence and she's thinking deeply.
    Suddenly, Mother rushes over and sits on the coffee table in front of me, leans in and looks me right in my eyes, like she used to do when I was little and she wanted me to figure something out on my own.
    “ ‘Tell everybody I love them,” Mother recites slowly. “‘ I've always loved them, and I shouldn't have promised to do something and didn't... even though I knew it wasn't right. I was only doing it because everybody gave up on me years ago . ’ ”
    I frown at her then turn my head to break the gaze. She grips my chin and turns my head back. She speaks again in a slow tone, very deliberate, staring into my eyes.
    “ ‘Tell everybody I love them. I've always loved them, and I shouldn't have promised to do something and didn't... even though I knew it wasn't right. I was only doing it because everybody gave up on me years ago . ’ ”
    “Mother...” Joshua starts. Mother holds a hand to him.
    “What are you getting at, Mother,” Matthew says, irritatingly.
    “ ‘A freak like me’ ,” Nathan mutters. “What did she mean , ‘a freak like me, mm-hmm?’ Sounds like that damn song she used to sing when she wanted to irritate me.”
    “What song, Puppy,” Lisa asks him.
    “That song... The one she was singing the night she got that stethoscope and we wouldn't stop teasing her. She knows that song drives me nuts; an irritating, infatuated girl used to sing it at me at UIC.”
    “You mean that 'freak in the morning, freak in the evening' song,” Mandy asks.
    “Yeah, that's it,” Nathan mutters. “Wait... Who sings that?”
    “I’ll check,” Ethan says, and pulls out his cell. “Uh... that’s Adina Howard.”
    I scowl again, and am about to snap off when Mother raises her eyebrows slightly, then says, “ ‘I was only doing it because everybody gave up on me years ago.’ ”
    My eyes widen as it hits me. “No... no ! I will fucking kill–”
     
    July 1, 2011
    “She thinks you're engaged, Marcus. That's why she rejected you,” Nathan said, shaking his head. “She’s not that girl; never has been.”
    “I figured that out after she ran. I was coming here tonight to explain but when I saw her with you, I became angry. I stupidly assumed she was with you.”
    “Is that why you called her a slut, Marcus,” Lisa snarled. Damn, when that one’s mad…
    “You didn't,” Rachel gasped at me.
    “She said he implied it, right before she collapsed,” Lisa snapped.
    I took a deep breath. “I'm very sorry, Mrs. Harvey, and I have nothing but contempt for myself for implying it. I did try to apologize but she wouldn't hear it.”
    “So why are you here now, Marcus,” Thomas asked, scowling.
    “I love her,” I stated, looking straight at Rachel.
    They sat in silence,