UNFORGETTABLE (Able Series Book 3) Read Online Free PDF Page A

of us—we’re just watching.
    “Steve, don’t,” Sophia says, then turns to LT. “Everything is set up outside, and I don’t want to inconvenience anyone, especially your mom since that could be another thing you pin against me. So, I’m asking nicely; please, can we have lunch outside?”
    LT narrows his eyes at her. “It.is.not.safe.outside. Too much open space, and we have less eyes. Do you understand that? You are in my house . . .”
    “This isn’t your house. It’s a rental.” It’s Sophia’s turn to narrow her eyes at LT.
    Moving slightly closer to Sophia, without blinking an eye or lowering his voice, Mr. Bull Dog makes his final speech, “This is my house . . . my rules. So, this is how it’s gonna go. We will eat inside, end of story. And, if you want my opinion of you to change, you’ll try to see it my way, because my way is to always ensure the safety of everyone around me. At this very moment, you are next to me. You’re in a house we’re renting, which you’re not paying for, breathing the same air I am. That, Sophia, puts me in control.”
    I close my eyes, feeling sorry for Sophia, willing for someone to say something to kill the silence that seems to grow. But, what Sophia says makes my heart ache for her instead of wallowing in my own.
    “I guess, I have two choices: to follow or to fight. I choose to follow. It’s not like my choice matters, anyway.”
    Everyone scampers away, expecting me to clean up the mess Damien created and leaving me with a very dejected Sophia. I pull her up and drape my arms around her as we slowly walk toward the dining room. Thinking what I should say, or maybe, there’s nothing to say at all.
    “It’s okay to follow, Sophia.”
    “I don’t know, Tami. Sometimes, I just want to be able to choose, and not be told. Just one time. . . . one time . . . to do whatever I want.”
    “You and me both, Sophia. You and me both.”
    Choices—shouldn’t they be what I want, not what someone wants? The only silver lining is I’m not the only one in this situation. But, I’m not glad Sophia is in the same boat as me because it’s hard to accept the choice you’ve made, which really isn’t the choice you want to make to begin with.

BRIAN
    EVEN THOUGH WE’VE HAD THE ‘baby talk,’ it seems there’s still something between Tami and me. Her indifference, after I told her I want to go for a walk after dinner, bothers me like an itch that doesn’t want to go away. She didn’t ask me why, or if she could come with me. She just shrugged her shoulders and continued talking to Roxy. I’m so lost in my own thoughts that I don’t feel my mom sit next to me.
    “Son, I know something is bothering you. What is it?”
    Glancing down at my mom, I know I can’t lie to her. She knows me like a book. So, before I delve into that part of my life that’s full of darkness, I ask my mom to walk with me. After ten minutes of walking, enjoying the crisp California air, I open up myself to her, knowing she’ll understand.
    “I don’t know how to tell Tami that I don’t want to have kids. Maybe in the future . . . in the very far future.”
    She stops and looks at me, cocking her head to one side. “Please tell me, you told her about Lorraine.”
    Not wanting to see the disappointment in her eyes, I turn away because she’s right, and I’m wrong. I’ve been running away from this darkness for so long, not really wanting to explain anything at all. But now, Tami is in my life, I know I have to . . . I need to.
    However, I need to want to pick at this old, but never forgotten scab.
    The Italian side of my mother comes out when she stands right in front of me and stares me down, or up since I’m taller than her. She’s not used to being ignored, not that I’m ignoring her, but merely contemplating what to say.
    “You have to stop this, Brian. It is what it is. I’ve accepted it. Your dad has. So, please, help me understand why you haven’t.”
    Running my hand