I find a job at a local auto parts store. It’s not exactly glamorous work, and not really my field, but it’s a start. I built one business with my bare hands, and I can do it again, but I need to start somewhere. There aren’t exactly tons of job openings for power line installers.

I go to work during the day, and I spend time with Ryan at night. Leah hasn’t really explained to the boy who I am yet, and I haven’t pushed her to. I know that she’s not really his mother, but she clearly cares and she’s good for him. Besides, she has legal rights to him, at least for now. I think I could change that, and I could probably get a lawyer to help me, but I’m not ready to take that step.

Maybe it’s because I like spending time with Leah, too. I go over there for Ryan, eat dinner, read him a story, but I always linger. I know she wants me to go, but she never rushes me. We have a drink, chat about our day, and then I leave. I catch the way she looks at me, but I don’t push. I haven’t taken it anywhere, not yet at least.

A few weeks pass that way. I feel like I’m settling into Philadelphia, although it’s totally different than California. I miss the sunshine sometimes, although Philly in the summer is actually very pretty. The people are a little rough, but the city has character. I could see myself staying, for a while at least.

Too bad I have to look over my shoulder constantly. Now that I’m on Enzo’s bad side, that means the whole Gallo crime family is out to get me, or at least I imagine they are. I don’t really know how it works, but I think Enzo is pretty high up in the ranks. If he wants me dead, I’ll end up dead sooner or later.

At least my injuries heal. The bruises on my ribs turn to yellow and fade, and fortunately the pain goes away as well. I’m guessing they weren’t broken after all. The cuts scab and heal, and eventually I’m myself again.

And I’m a father again. Well, not exactly, but I’m working on it. I don’t know my son, not even a little bit, and I can only guess at what Harper put the poor boy through. I wish I could go back and save him from whatever she did, but it’s too late for that. I can only be here for him and try to get to know him again.

It’s hard, but I’m trying. He’s quiet and shy, but he smiles when I make jokes and he laughs when he plays, which makes me feel good. Leah says he never laughs for her, which makes me feel even better. It’s complicated, all so fucking complicated, but we’re managing.

I get a call around noon one Friday. It’s Leah, and she sounds a little panicked. “Listen, I need help,” she says.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, but work is a madhouse. Apparently a train derailed?”

“Wow,” I say. “How bad?”

“Bad,” she says. “I don’t think I’m going home anytime soon.”

I nod to myself. “I can get him.”

“Really?” she says, sounding relieved. “God, Connor, that would be so good.”

“I have that spare key you gave me a few days ago, so I can take him to your place,” I say. “Does that work?”

“That would be perfect. Seriously, you’re a life saver.”

“It’s what I’m here for.”

“You know the routine. I’ll be home as soon as I can.”

“Sounds good.”

“Thanks again.”

She hangs up and I smile to myself. This is the first time I’m going to be alone with my son in over two years, and it feels surprisingly strange.

The day slips by and I head over to his daycare. Ryan doesn’t seem surprised when I pick him up and take him back to Leah’s apartment, letting us in with the spare key. I sit Ryan down in front of the TV and rifle through the refrigerator.

“How’s chicken fingers and broccoli sound for dinner?” I say.

He grins at me and nods vigorously. Sesame Street is on TV and he turns back to Grover.

I sigh and get to cooking. Well, really, it’s more like reheating. I can’t exactly cook a great meal like Leah can, which annoys me. It’s something I would have learned sooner if Ryan were still with me.

But I manage to get something together. Dinner’s on the table by six, right on time, and Ryan doesn’t give me any trouble when it comes to eating. I talk to him the whole time, and although he doesn’t talk back, that’s okay with me.

There’s a knock at the door toward the end of the meal.

“Who’s that?” I ask him.

He shrugs.

“Should I get it?”

He shrugs again.

“Could be a present for you.”

His eyes go wide.

“Do you want a present?”

“Yes,” he says softly, nodding.

I grin at him. “Okay. Let me go see.”

I get up and go to the door. I ordered a Lego set for him, although he’s probably a little too young still, and paid the one-day shipping on Amazon. I’m assuming that’s the knock at the door.

I pull it open without thinking, and instead of a delivery guy, it’s Piero Gallo standing there, staring at me with his dark dead eyes.

I blink, shocked. I almost forgot about these guys.

“I’m here to see Leah,” he says in a droll, bored tone.

“She’s not here.” I stand squarely in front of him, glaring him down.

He sighs. “I’m not here for a fight. I can see you’re thinking that.”

“Sorry, but the last time I saw you, I’m pretty sure you and your brother were trying to abduct my son.”

“Mmm,” he says, a strange sound in his throat. “I’m here only to talk.”

I step forward and pull the door shut behind me. “So talk.”

He stares at me for a second. “You shouldn’t have come back into the boy’s life.”

“He’s my son.”

“We know that.” He blinks. “Where were you when my sister took him?”

“Asleep.” I clench my jaw. I’ve beaten myself up over this time and time again. “She was on a bender, I had no clue she’d come back.”

“Yes,” he drones, “well, she did. How can we trust you to raise our boy?”

“He’s not your boy,” I point out. “He’s mine, whether you like it or not.”

“No, he’s Leah’s.”

I glare at the guy. “Is that all you came to do?”

“No,” he says. “I came to make an offer.”

“Make it, then.”

“It’s for Leah.”

“I’ll pass along the message.”

He stands there staring at me, and I get the feeling that he’s the dangerous one. Enzo is louder and more aggressive, but Piero actually thinks, and that’s by far the more dangerous trait.

“Very well,” he says finally. “We’d like to buy the boy.”

I grunt, startled. “Buy him? Like a fucking slave or some shit?”

He shakes his head. “No, like an investment. We’re willing to offer a very, very generous sum.”

I gape. “My son isn’t for sale.”

“Maybe not now. But one day soon, you may find that you need money more than you need him. On that day, come find me, and I will pay you.”

I want to kill him. Rage boils up through me. I want to strange him where he stands, but I hold myself back. My temper’s gotten me into enough trouble with the Gallo family as it is. I have to stay cool.

“Fuck off,” I say. “And shove your money up your ass.”

So much for staying cool.

He nods. “Pass that message along to Leah. We remember that she is our cousin, and we’re willing to do a deal.”

“I’m not. Fuck off.” I pull the door open again, but before I can slam it in his fucking face, his hand shoots out and blocks the door.

“Be careful with us, Connor,” he says, his face still completely neutral, almost bored. “We’ve let a lot slide so far. But my brother’s itching for blood and you’re starting to annoy me as well.”

“Try something,” I say, the words harsh in my mouth. “Go ahead.”

He just nods and moves his hand. I shove the door shut and flip the lock into place.

Ryan looks up at me as I walk back over to the table, head spinning with that weird interaction. I sit down and he just stress at me, jostling a little bit in his seat.

Crap, I almost forgot. “Sorry bud,” I say to him. “Present isn’t here yet, but I promise something’s coming.”

He nods, a little disappointed, but I’m too distracted to feel guilty.

We go through the rest of his routine, but it feels hollow. I should love this, since it’s my first night with him completely without Leah, but it’s tainted by that bastard’s visit.

He thinks we’d actually sell my boy, which is disgusting. Those are the kind of people that raised Harper, and they’re the reason she’s dead. I’m going to keep Ryan away from them no matter what, no matter how much money they offer or how violent they get. I’ll never let them have him, not ever.

I read him a story, put him into bed, and head back into the main apartment. I grab a drink from Leah’s refrigerator, and wait for her to get home, buzzing with anger.